Conversations with the Inspiring Lori Yearwood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lori Yearwood.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Lori. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’m a Canadian gal hailing from Windsor, Ontario… right across the river from Detroit, Michigan. If anyone had told me about the journey I would end up on back then to eventually land in Phoenix, it would have seemed like pure fiction to me!

I grew up as a competitive dancer. I’d say I always had a great balance of things I excelled at and things I was pretty bad at. I thrived in dance and academics but joined sporting teams at school where I would only be allowed to play in exhibition matches because my talent just didn’t cut it for the real thing. Being not-so-good helped shaped me to eventually become a great teacher. I learned how to combine the knowledge of my craft in dance and academics relating to the feeling of a student who needs very clear instruction and encouragement with their struggles. I lived in Toronto, Vancouver, and Los Angeles before arriving in Phoenix just this past June. Moving and creating a new life certainly prepares you for a lot and definitely shapes and grows your character!

Over my years as a grown up, I have spent my time as a dance teacher and choreographer for all levels as well as teams, performing at events such as half time shows at the Staples Center in Lost Angeles. I have taught in classrooms of all grade levels and even worked on several Hollywood film productions teaching minors who needed to miss school to make their movie. Always evolving with my own fitness practices, I have become immersed in the world of yoga and Lagree Fitness and am now a certified and active coach here in Phoenix for both.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have learned that the road is what you make of it. Your attitude can change your reaction to everything. You can look at something as a setback, or as just a bump in the road, or a short detour. The healthiest way is to know that you are constantly moving forward no matter what on a highway towards success… whether that be business or just happiness related.

There were times when a move to a new city was very isolating with people who just didn’t vibe with us. Imagine making a little humorous comment only to have everyone stare at you like they just didn’t get you! Our family is of mixed ethnicity and there were plenty of times I was mistaken for the Nanny or assumptions made that I clearly adopted my kids. Children at school would be really curious about my children and make comments or just have to touch their hair. It’s crazy to think that in this day and age there are still areas in our modern North America where a husband and wife of different nationalities is so unusual. Various moves also had me face requirements in taking additional courses and certifications to be considered qualified to teach in that region. Also, crazy as I only moved within Canada and the United States but each province and state has its own way of doing things. I remember having to re-take the driver’s behind the wheel test when we moved to California and I was scared out of my mind! You are ready for that at 16, but not to do it again in your 30s.

My biggest ‘earthquake’ along my path occurred this past year when my husband left us. Feeling that shattered drowning feeling, I very quickly decided to skip the part of recovery where I might spend months in a depression or an active rant of rage and instead jumped right into survival mode to preserve my mental health. I enlisted the help of a therapist, of which it is such a shame that society places a stigma on, and together with her wise advice and strategies I have learned just how brave I can be. All of the growing I did in my life has prepared me for this. I have learned new skills and passions and found yoga to be a great source of renewal. When I teach, I am able to pass on my knowledge to others in little snippets of wisdom I drop during classes. With an effort on attitude, I can say that I have achieved real joy and am loving my new home city of Phoenix and the community of people I have encountered.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am a certified Lagree Fitness Coach and a 200-hour RYT certified Yoga teacher.

What the heck is Lagree you ask?! You can read all about it here: https://www.burntbc.com/the-megaformer-workout.

It is basically the most efficient high intensity/low impact workout you can find. While you balance and glide on the Megaformer machine, I will ensure your muscles burn and shake! According to our clients they say, “Her classes are really hard… but she’s so nice about it! You can find me at Burn Total Body Condition with nine classes spread across their Phoenix and Scottsdale locations.

In Yoga, I take my class through experience, not just poses. I teach Vinyasa Flow, Slow Flow and Yin with an Ashtanga foundation. You can find me at One Tribe in Tempe and at Nrysh in Phoenix. I am also part of a mobile yoga company bringing yoga to you wherever you are at any time in any way. Yoga’s Arc is the name… tell them Lori sent you!

Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
My grandmother started the first ever girls softball league in our home town. It grew into something massive and I admire the work she put into creating an opportunity for girls to play sports in a time when it must not have been easy to do so.

My other grandmother survived concentration camps with her three young boys and aging parents. Her stories of heroism fuel me forward and remind me of the human ability to survive.

Contact Info:

• Email: lori@ahimsamedia.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phoenixmoments/
• Others: Burn Total Body Conditioning: https://www.burntbc.com/One Tribe: https://onetribe.life/Nrysh: https://nrysh.org/Yoga’s Arc: http://yogasarc.com/

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.