We recently connected with Siobhan Armstrong and have shared our conversation below.

Siobhan, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

In 2018, I began practicing yoga. After being diagnosed with Gastritis in 2015, I knew I needed something life changing. After studying the importance of yoga and applying it to my daily routine, I knew this was something I wanted to share with the world. They say if your dreams don’t scare you, they’re not big enough. Let’s just say I was scared and excited all in the same breath. I knew I would wake up every day and be in pure bliss doing this line of work, but struggled with execution. I wanted to ensure all the T’s were crossed and the I’s were dotted. I easily got lost in all the details, simply because I wanted to remain professional and put together. In October 2020, I signed up for a 200hr Yoga Training Course. It was brought to an immediate pause 3 weeks later when I was struck by an intoxicated driver which left my vehicle totaled & body mis-aligned. I was restricted from a lot of the workouts & it crushed me, but I knew this wasn’t the end. I focused on gardening and herbs during my recovery which is essentially what kept me in high hopes. I began working on things I had control over. I spent a lot of time on my logo because I knew this was going to be my brand for life. I followed experts on social platforms to keep my mind fresh on the material. I ate, slept and breathed yoga even though I was limited for months. About 6 months later, I was presented the opportunity to be a contestant for the “2021 Yoga Warrior Competition”. I was stoked to raise awareness for the Military Veteran Yoga Project. I made it to the final round in my group with seconds left on the clock in 1st place. This was one of the most liberating experiences of my life due to the amount of support I received. I realized how important it was to pursue and fulfill my dreams. That doesn’t mean I didn’t struggle, because I did. In a simpler sense, I was afraid to execute and fail at something I love so much. The thought of that was disturbing. Opportunity after opportunity to instruct had presented itself, but I wasn’t ready. I kept telling myself “Once I get this & once I get that”, not realizing the time was right at that moment. My execution should have been in the “Now”. I was afraid of my potential to be great because of all the obstacles, trials and tribulations I had endured in the last 2 years. From anxiety, social isolation, heartbreak and depression it all took a toll on my mental state.

It was time to take back control and figure things out. I started seeing a Life Coach to help keep me on track, she literally saved me. She is a part of my daily routine and has pushed me through the unthinkable. I was able to release a lot of unwanted energy and people in my life. Her testimony became my motivation that I can execute my dreams no matter what has taken place.

I began putting together packages and routines, as well as generating my business cards & materials. My vision was beginning to become a reality. I started instructing with friends and family to assist in my confidence to guide others. I knew this was the beginning to something so much greater. It was launch time!

Siobhan, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

In 2015, I was diagnosed with Chronic Gastritis. Gastritis is where the lining of the stomach becomes inflamed and absolutely nothing will stay down. I didn’t understand the severity of it until I experienced endless months of agony, significant weight loss, sleepless nights & the constant worry of job security. I realized how important my health was and how much it was affecting my ability to compete with daily life. I made a decision to begin working for myself as a Virtual Freelancer and have been for the last 3 years. In turn, that allowed me more time to focus on my business as a Yoga Instructor/Healing Herbalist. My mission is to guide others on how to create more space in their bodies. My goal is to bring self-awareness to one’s soul. Yoga/meditation, breathing exercises, crystal/stone education, herbal medicine, plants/gardening, essential oil uses and more! These are a few services Healing Realist will offer with massages, reiki healing, sound bowl singing yet to come. Tapping in, slows you down and I firmly believe we are all moving with the pace of life. Oftentimes that pace is too fast and we aren’t nurturing ourselves properly.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to unlearn the systematic way of living to become more financially free. With that being said, I watched my parents and still do till this day work endlessly and own nothing. I admire that they’re hard workers and never accepted any handouts. I don’t admire the fact that they will never get to enjoy their life freely. I don’t want that for myself or my family. I want more out of this life and for my family to be able to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Yes, there’s a few I can name:

Eckhart Tolle “The Power of Now”

Robert Kiyosaki “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” & “Why the Rich Keep Getting Richer”

Toni Jones “YouTube Affirmational Mental Health Influencer”

Laroy Hall “Life Coach/Motivational Speaker”

C. Norman Shealy M.D, PH. D “The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Healing Remedies”

Kevin Trudeau “Natural Cures They Don’t Want You To Know About” & “More Natural Cures Revealed”

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vonn_armstrong/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/healingrealist
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siobhan-armstrong-91660218b/
• Other: https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~01faf7805161fcb708