Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Misha Reed. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Misha, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’re complete cheeseballs and so we love asking folks to share the most heartwarming moment from their career – do you have a touching moment you can share with us?

Although this story is not directly related to my current work, it is related to the helping field. When I was 18, I worked at Camp Oakledge, a girl scout camp in Missouri. Because this was a resident camp, most sessions were 2 weeks long. One session, I was assigned to a camp for little girls aged 5-7. While camp is fun for most, it can be really hard for kids who are homesick.

Back home, I grew up going to girl scout camp and went to my first resident camp at 7. I loved camp and had been going to as many day camps at this particular camp as possible so I knew the counselors. Soon into my first week there, I became incredibly homesick and cried all the time. I really connected with one of the art staff who lived in our unit. She comforted me by singing songs with me, making me things and she even gave me one of her stuffed animals. That experience made me want to become a camp counselor and instilled a little extra love for homesick campers.

During the session with the young campers, I noticed one little girl who was incredibly sad. She wanted to go home to be with her mom. I recognized myself in her. At first she cried all day, she didn’t want to sing the songs or play any games, so I did what was done for me. As camp went on, she was only sad at night. Each night, I offered all my campers a “hug, high-five, or pass” and she always chose a hug. By the second half of camp, she was loving it. When it was time to go, I gave her a friendship bracelet and walked her to the bus. Not 5 minutes later did she come running back, crying saying that she didn’t want to leave. She said she loved me and called me mom. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Misha Reed. I’m from Topeka, Kansas and graduated from Washburn University with a degree is Human Services. I have always wanted to help people. Before I settled on my major, I competed for Miss Kansas in 2015. As Miss Greater Topeka, my platform was “Rape Culture: The Education of Consent”. As a contestant, I did several speaking engagements in my community discussing the importance of consent. During this time, I became interested in yoga and other healing modalities. In 2017, I completed my 200 hour yoga teacher training. Following the completion of the program, I took my first job as a yoga instructor at a local YMCA and new studio. Shortly after that, I started my business Yoga on the Go.

Yoga On The Go is a mobile yoga service that delivers yoga to you. With certifications through YogaWorks, Healing Today, Yoga Alliance, and Yoga Renew my services include public group yoga classes, private 1:1 and group yoga classes, yoga classes in retirement communities, 1:1 self-myofascial release sessions, 1:1 Reiki sessions and private Reiki parties. Styles of yoga include chair, gentle, restorative, yin, and yoga nidra. By using mind-body therapies, manipulative body-based practices, and energy healing, I take a holistic approach to healing, recovery, and restoration. These mind-body therapies enhance the mind’s interactions with bodily function, to induce relaxation, reduce stress and anxiety, and to improve overall health and well-being.

Since earning my degree, I have worked as a Shelter Advocate at the YWCA and currently work as a Case Manager at a community mental health center. As the Shelter Advocate, my job was to do lethality assessments, intakes and assist clients during S.A.N.E exams. When I wasn’t performing those tasks, I helped clients feel safe and comfortable during their stay as well as help them prepare for life after the shelter. This may have included replacing documents such as birth certificates, social security cards and IDs, searching for employment and affordable housing. Currently, the population I work with have serious and persistent mental illness and or substance use. I help my clients manage their lives and function in the community.

I am most proud of the fact that I am able to help people in one way or another.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

When I started my business in 2018, I was teaching in retirement communities. When the pandemic started, all of those places closed their doors and I was out of business. This was my main source of income and I was uncertain of the future. I was worried that my dream was over. Although I was unable to teach in nursing homes, I didn’t want to quit. I began offering private in-home services. First, I would have an initial meeting with a client to determine how I could help them. After that meeting, I would go to their homes and teach yoga there. Each time, I would load my equipment into my car and teach individual classes. It was a slow process, but I did build a small clientele that I taught on a weekly basis. I was still studying for my undergrad at this time, but I knew I wanted more. I decided to take the time to expand my knowledge. I traveled to different states and cities to experience and learn different styles of yoga and healing modalities. Toward the end of the pandemic, I had experience with four different styles of yoga and had become a Myofascial Release and Reiki practitioner. In the summer of 2020, I graduated with my degree and a certificate in Trauma and Recovery. I turned lemons into lemonade by pressing on and continuing my dream.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

The most helpful thing to have in this line of work is passion. No matter what I’m doing, passion is my driving factor. It gets the ball rolling early in the morning and keeps me going late at night. In the helping profession, you have to want to see other people succeed and that will be the key to your success.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.yogaonthego.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yogaonthego785/

Image Credits
The first picture was taken by Christa Johnson.