We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Stephanie Acosta. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Stephanie below.

Stephanie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

I think a moment that really defined my career was the day a latina student came up to me during my first few konths as a yoga teacher and was so happy to see me. I thought she knew me at 1st but she said she was happy to see someone who looked like her. She felt like i was relatable and felt seen as a practitioner. I was suffering from imposter syndrome and I was constantly questioning if i belonged in wellness spaces but hearing her excitement about coming back to take class is what helped me realize my importance in these spaces.

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?

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Stephanie is a 500+ Hr NY/NJ based yoga Instructor Half Puerto Rican Half Ecuadorian originally from the Bronx. I found yoga during a trying time in her life 12 yrs ago and has been practicing ever since. Seeing the mental and physical benefits of yoga is what inspired me to teach in hopes of helping others just like my favorite instructors had done for Me.

When I’mnot practicing or teaching …I’m a mom to my 7 yr old daughter…creating content on instagram and being a community leader. I think its safe to say I’m a woman who wears many hats.
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Back then had often felt the void of the Latinx Yoga Community as a student and as a teacher. I realized my importance as a Latinx teacher when Latinx students would stop me before or after class to tell me how they’d never taken a class with someone who looked liked them. This is what inspired Me to create Yogis Unidos. In a wellness world where majority of the teachers look the same I wanted to break boundaries as POC and bring together the Latinx Community like they’ve never done before. During the height of the pandemic I connected with thousands of Latinx teachers from all over the world and created a community we had so longer for.

When I’m not talking about Latinx Visibility in wellness spaces I am talking all tuings body acceptance and body positivity in wellness spaces because yoga is for EVERY BODY.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

I think believeing that you belong in these wellness spaces is whats going to keep you here in the long run. Finding your community of people. Also knowing that you’ve done the work and the trainings and truly deserve to be seen and heard.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

I would choose being a yoga teacher a million times over. As someone who had a huge fear of public speaking becoming a leader in wellness soaces has helped me Step into a different kind of power on and off the mat.

Contact Info:

• Website: Yu-yogisunidos.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/Stephanieacostayoga
• Facebook: Facebook.com/Stephanieacostayoga
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-acosta-936baa119

Image Credits
Grant Henry Media Ig @GrantHenryMedia GrantHwnryMedia.com