Meet Naomi Hutchinson of Healthy+Well in North Hollywood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Naomi Hutchinson.

So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My story began on July 4, 1997 in Louisville, KY. At the time, my family was getting ready for a 4th of July bbq and I quite literally crashed the party! I didn’t know it then but my entry into this world on Independence Day would greatly shape the woman I am today. Growing up, I always loved being the life of the party, I started dancing at the age of three and I was so eager to show everyone my little routines. Dance was my life and for a long time, a huge part of my identity. I danced all throughout school and I got my B.F.A. in dance from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA. The next step for me was Los Angeles so on August 3, 2019, I made the big leap across country.

Although my motivation to be in LA was to pursue my dance career, I felt like LA was where I needed to be to move into my next chapter. Anyone who has moved to LA knows that it is not easy but the struggles and challenges you overcome in the process are what build you and push you to grow. When I moved from Philly to LA, I told myself “this is only the beginning” and it truly was. Moving to LA was the beginning of coming into my own. I know that sounds nice but the process was actually really tough. When I came to LA, I didn’t have an agent, I hadn’t booked any paid gigs but I was determined to do what it takes to make it. I immediately started training and looking for auditions. I was working 5-6 days a week and trying to squeeze in as many dance classes without breaking the bank. It was hard, so hard but not for the reasons you would think.

My biggest obstacle in LA was not talent or passion but it was confidence and self-worth. I realized that in order to “make it” in LA or anywhere you have to be confident. You have to be so secure in who you are and feel free to express that unapologetically. Now, what does that have to do with dance? Well for starters, I wasn’t having much luck with dance. I wasn’t booking anything, I wasn’t getting called out in the “popular” classes and it started to take a toll on me. I didn’t know who I was or what my purpose was outside of dance so when dance wasn’t taking off, I felt like I wasn’t good enough but let me tell you life has a funny way of shifting your perspective. Once I noticed that my self-worth was suffering, I decided to do something about it. I became more diligent about reciting affirmations, spending time with God and practicing self-care. I cut back some of the classes that weren’t making me feel good and started taking more classes that did. I let go of my personal time table of how my career was supposed to unfold and started trusting God’s timing. I started putting more faith in God and more faith in the gifts he had blessed me with. All of these mindset shifts allowed me to go into any class or audition without an attachment to outcomes. It helped me to be more present and to not overthink and move from a place of fear. By the end of 2019, I started feeling very secure and confident and in January 2020, I got signed to Clear Talent Group. Getting signed wasn’t the grand prize though and it definitely didn’t mean that the self-work was over but it was a reflection of the hard work I had done so far.

Throughout February and March, I continued to build myself up and only take classes that would feed my spirit, I was fully in love with dance and enjoying every moment but then . . . COVID hit. I know that not everyone feels this sentiment but COVID 19, quarantine, etc. allotted me the opportunity to really dig deep. With studios being closed and dance gigs dwindling, I had to find out who I was outside of dance and lemme tell you, it was amazing! I fell in love with reading, doing yoga and learning all the things about health and wellness. I found my true purpose which is to be a source of love and light and to be a blessing to others. This realization led me to think about all of the things that I can do outside of dance, it pushed me to stop limiting myself to one talent but to actually cultivate other God-given talents like service, kindness, compassion and faith. In doing so, I started an online community called Healthy+Well. What started as just an Instagram account is now a resource for holistic health and wellness. I started this as a way to share my journey and now I’m able to educate, encourage and empower others on their own journey!

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It hasn’t been a smooth road but it never is when you’re on a journey. Some of my obstacles have been the death of my mom, failed relationships, self-worth and financial insecurity but what gets me through is my will to move forward. I believe in being responsible for your own healing so no matter what adversities I face or how many wounds I get, I will find a way to overcome. I’ve learned that the best way to deal with life’s challenges is to stay ready. Always practice self-maintenance which for me looks like journaling, staying consistent with my morning routine, prayer, practicing yoga, doing reiki and letting go of things that no longer serve me. Nourishing my mind, body and spirit in this way gives me the strength to face any challenge.

Please tell us about Healthy+Well.
Healthy+Well (@_healthyandwell) is a growing online community for all things holistic health and wellness. We provide resources to help you live healthy+well in mind, body and spirit. Our goal is to encourage, educate and empower others on their wellness journey and we do so by sharing motivational quotes, #FitnessFriday workout videos, yoga classes, nutrition information and by hosting challenges like “30 Days of Self Care.” What I’m most proud of with Healthy+Well is the impact its making. It always warms my heart when someone tells me that they gained something from a post I created or that they enjoyed a yoga class or workout. I love health and wellness so much and I feel like everyone should have access to it.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I’m not big on luck but I do believe that I’ve been very blessed with God’s favor. I feel like God has divinely ordered my steps so I never really have bad luck. If I don’t get something, that just means that it wasn’t meant for me. The fact that I was able to move to LA and support myself financially is a huge blessing that not everyone has so I am very, very grateful.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.healthyandwell.online
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_healthyandwell/channel/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/healthyandwell4life
• Other: https://instagram.com/__naomibrooke?igshid=drp4itd987nj

Image Credit:
Alissa Rose Photography, Caff Adeus Photography

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