Stories are incredibly powerful – their ability to teach, inspire, and create understanding is why we are so in love with storytelling. Most stories have a defining moment and so we’ve asked some of the most talented, insightful folks across a broad range of industries and markets to tell us about a defining moment in their story.

Dr. Trudy-Ann

A defining moment in my professional career came during a personal crisis when I found myself on the bathroom floor for the third time, overwhelmed by the inability to face work and life. This period forced me to confront a failed marriage, job dissatisfaction, and low self-esteem, ultimately leading me to rediscover my identity through faith, perseverance, and self-worth. Read more>>

Shana Bell

I spent 14 years as a university lecturer, where teaching was a core passion of mine. My journey into yoga began 25 years ago, following a long practice of tai chi. Initially, yoga was a personal endeavor for internal growth; I never intended to teach or engage in healing work. However, in 2014, everything changed. I developed an excruciating wrist problem that prevented me from practicing yoga and skydiving—two activities that defined me. Read more>>

Ann M. Hester

I’ll never forget the day. Several decades ago, while a 3rd-year medical student, I had a middle-aged patient who made an appointment at the clinic due to drainage from her outer left breast. Not only did she have thick green drainage, obviously due to infection, but there was also a golf-ball-size lump underneath the drainage. Read more>>

Viktoria Sima

My defining moment was when I first started taking care of my health, eat well and do aerobic. And later on I started going to the gym. Later on I decided to try myself out in fitness modeling and I started to compete in bikini competitions. I placed 2nd in my first competition and it gave me more confidence and belief to continue it. Read more>>

Sarah Anderson

While working on a massage client I had a strong visualization of my finger tips extending into needles and communicating with nerves and bones and fascia. I knew in that moment I had to continue my education. I had considered it for quite a while but something in this moment was so compelling, and I knew I wanted a broader scope of practice with more tools. Read more>>

Brenda Austin

Absolutely, there was a defining moment that transformed the course of my career as a licensed massage therapist. Over my 15 years in the field, I’ve encountered a wide array of clients, each bringing their unique experiences and challenges. One recurring theme I noticed was the close connection between physical pain—such as tight muscles, tension headaches, and general discomfort—and emotional distress. Read more>>

Meg Adams

My career path took an unexpected turn during a challenging time in my life. After leaving my job in education to focus on my daughter, I found myself helping my sister care for our mother who was rapidly declining with dementia. The pandemic made everything even more isolating. To cope with the overwhelming emotions, I started therapy. Read more>>

Sammie Terbrack

My passion for health and fitness ignited in high school, leading me to earn a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Oakland University, MI. Right after college, I became a personal trainer, and my journey naturally expanded into nutrition, transforming me into a dedicated nutritionist. Read more>>

Aylin Montoya

A defining moment in my life came after I suffered injuries from several car accidents. Just after completing my 200-hour YTT, I found myself unable to maintain a consistent yoga practice due to a debilitating back injury. I endured chronic pain for months, struggling with the physical and emotional toll it took on me. Read more>>

il’il Sat Prem

Meeting my teacher was a turning point in my professional journey—a game changer in every sense. I came to see him for a healing session. As I walked into the room, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but as soon as I stepped inside, I could feel it—an indescribable thickness, a multidimensional quality in the air surrounding him: Read more>>

Janet gourand

My defining moment was the moment I decided I was done with alcohol. I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. For more than a decade I had been trying (and failing) to control my drinking. I finally accepted that I would have to quit completely. That moment came the morning after a major blackout. I had absolutely no memory of about 6 hours of the previous day (even though my friends told me I was walking and talking and seemed ok) Read more>>

Myra Sack

My life changed when my older daughter, Havi, was diagnosed with a fatal neurodegenerative disease in December 2019. Havi died on January 20, 2021 of Tay-Sachs disease. At the time of Havi’s diagnosis, I held an MBA in Social Impact from Boston University, and graduated with a B.A. cum laude from Dartmouth College, where I captained the women’s soccer team and earned All-America honors. Read more>>

Vanesa Soledad Nicolosi

When I finished high school, I was not very sure what to do with my life. I was torn between a career in sports and one in English Teaching. I was too young to know it then and I went with what my parents and other adults advised me. So, I ended up becoming a teacher of English. Read more>>

Dana Johnson

My defining moment came in 2015 when I read the book “Ido in Autismland”. The author, Ido, a nonspeaker with autism who spelled to communicate talked about how OT did “nothing for me”. As an OT, that caught my eye. I soon learned that what I was doing as an OT working with individuals with autism wasn’t enough. Read more>>

Radiance Thompson

“Thompson – one day, you’re going to be something.” I remember when my favorite teacher in the whole world looked me right in the eyes and spoke life into me in front of a room full of people when I was in 6th grade.  His name was Mr. Ouweleen. Picture a Tom Cruise-esque teacher wearing suit pants and a dress shirt to everyday. All the single and married teachers had a crush on him – secretly or not-so-secretly. Read more>>

Arielle Schwartz

I grew up with a lot of anxiety. While I had been introduced to yoga as a child, I had lost interest as a teenager. However, my anxiety had worsened when I left home for college. When I was 19 a friend of mind took me to a yoga class. While in yoga, I found a sense of peace and ease that lingered after class. Read more>>

Sadiq Hussain

Friday 12th Sept 2014 at 5:33:18 pm. This was the exact day and moment in time specific to the T, that completely shifted the trajectory of my life and career forever. Why so specific? Because my friend shared a concept and paradigm shift with me which completely changed my life and altered my story altogether. Read more>>