Today we’d like to introduce you to Alicia Easter.
Alicia, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I just finished taking a yoga class at White Heat Yoga in North Hollywood. It’s one of my favorite styles of yoga, Hot Power Fusion, because its about opening the heart, stretching, twisting, and compression in order to expand to your fullest. Which…is how I ended up where I am today; a proud black woman born in Baltimore, raised in Atlanta, traveled the country, and landed happily in Los Angeles. Twists, compression, sweat, heartbreaks and explosions could not cloud the higher calling on my life. It only made me stronger, when I had to be, and soft with myself at the same time. Just like my beloved, Hot Power Fusion style yoga class.
I am the daughter of Cynthia Geneva Lawson, the granddaughter of Eleanor Cecilia Lawson, and my name is Alicia Crysta Easter. I stand on the shoulders of the 10,000 plus who came before me. They have entrusted me with honor of one day being shoulders to stand on for those ready to reach their highest height.
I started the journey to where I am today when a work assignment landed me in the city of Chicago, and I took my first yoga class at the Southside YMCA. The class was led by an elegantly strong and beautiful black woman yoga teacher. This was my first introduction to the yoga world, and it was a beautiful diverse experience. It wasn’t until I attended different yoga studios where I noticed the yoga world was not as diverse as I thought. I kept those thoughts in the back of my head because I knew me noticing was no accident. I would eventually be called to do something about this gross disparity in diversity. I was surprised by how much I loved the classes even though they were not as fast-paced, and I was barely breaking a sweat. Being an athlete most of my life, moving fast and sweating hard was what I had learned to associate with a legit workout. It did not take me long to get used to the pace of the class, because something was breaking and opening in my body. I began freeing my body of trauma that had been stuffed inside of me for as long as I could remember. Before landed in LA, I lived in about 22 different cities over a six-year period and Chicago was a city I always loved coming back to because I had begun to find myself while living there. Even though it snowed in April, something I hadn’t experienced, it was like home where I relished in every opportunity to practice yoga with that teacher at the YMCA. Atlanta, we got snow, but nothing compared to Chicago not even close. In fact, mentioning it in the same sentence might get me banned from the Chi, ha!
In November of 2011, I took a leap of faith and moved to Los Angeles. It was the first time, in a long time, I felt like roots needed to be planted. Staying in one place for longer than six weeks, was not something I was used to, so it took some time to adjust. In order to sanely navigate through emotions and make sense of life, I would always turn to yoga. After attending a few classes and still not seeing many people who looked like me, a person of color, I knew I wanted to share my new love with my fellow brothers and sisters. I have always felt at home on my mat, no matter who was in the room or teaching. I learned to assimilate at an early age when we moved from Baltimore to Atlanta. While in Atlanta, we lived in a predominantly nonperson of color part of town but most of my extracurricular activities left me typically one or two of black women. It was fun and I played sports which was awesome. The serious disparity in diversity never dawned on me, then, nor did it stop me from doing what I loved. In Jennifer Pastiloff’s book, On Being Human, she writes, “How quickly the mind latches on to what it wants to believe is truth. How little it takes to seal the deal,” speaks to how I thought about life (or didn’t think) during that time in life. Where did I belong and how could I fit in, was a question I asked myself often…that is truly all I wanted. I eventually found a beautiful group of humans who I call family and sisTARS, here in LA.
After taking a few classes, and realizing yoga saved my life, I yearned to learn more. I wanted to teach yoga and share how great of an impact yoga had on my life. Yoga is for everyone and everybody, and it became part of my soul purpose to share its magic. After running out of excuses as to why I couldn’t commit to a yoga teacher training, I finally signed up for my first training in 2016. What a journey it was, finding my true voice while learning to trust myself in a way I had yet to experience. Living in the same place, I was faced with the undeniable grief l had run from for six years while traveling. I missed my mother deeply who lost her life to pancreatic cancer when I was nineteen years old. My mom was incredible and continues to inspire what I do today. It’s incredible to be able to live my life, the way I am living it and I know my mom is proud. Some days I battle with knowing my worth, we all do, but I am my mother’s daughter so that fuels me.
I began teaching in 2016 and lead my first workshop, I AM FREE, the following year. It was an incredible experience one I will never forget…I had found my way; I was yet again home. Dr. Maya Angelou writes, “You are only free when you realize you belong no place – you belong every place – no place at all. The price is high. The reward is great,” which to me means I will forever come home to myself and of myself…what a gift. I started ACE Yoga LA, this same year and its movement is one where I get to marry my love of yoga and marketing under one umbrella. I don’t have all the nuts and bolts figured out, but I know this for sure, God is real and each day we must make a choice to surrender to the journey and growth along the way. For me to be where I am today, working in marketing for a global real estate firm, to teaching yoga classes throughout LA each week, that is something I could have never outlined for myself I just knew I had a greater calling on my life and this the path for me.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
If it were all smooth, I would be my cat’s beautiful fur, not a spiritual being having a human experience. Some of the struggles along the way include, but not limited to, having the confidence in myself to teach a yoga class and ask for what I want out of life. Coming fully into my own as a black woman born in Baltimore and raised by a single mom in sometimes not the best home environment. Remaining brave in the face of adversity and being vulnerably within the last year when my life turned upside down (or so I thought) but in the end life sure has a way to teaching you lessons when you are ready to learn. Another form of escapism I am recovering from is busying myself, so I don’t have to face what is really happening. I had been teaching way too many classes a week, while grieving the loss of my relationship, working a full-time career, and missing my mother’s earthly presence deeply. As I had groomed myself very young to do, I carried a lot on my shoulders which sent me nearly into a nervous breakdown. For me to be the best teacher, I knew I needed to relinquish a few classes I loved to give myself space to heal. It wasn’t an easy decision, but I knew it had to be done in order to continue to fully bloom. There were necessary adjustments I wanted to make when I moved to LA officially. Even with the solid foundation I have here, it still was the first time in nearly a decade I lived somewhere longer than eight weeks. Trusting in Gods plan for my life, especially during difficult times when life seemed bleak, keeps my head above water now.
I now know I am enough and the key to this thinking is to never stop learning. I love enhancing my “tool belt,” in order to facilitate a safe space for anyone who steps into my class or signs up for my workshops. Truly anyone whose path I cross I always pray they we learned something from one another. We all have our struggles, but in order to overcome we must do our best to trust God (whomever you pray or have faith in) that they always, always have our backs.
Please tell us about Ace Yoga.
I teach yoga classes throughout Los Angeles and host I AM FREE workshops. I specialize in yoga, meditation, and very much love building people up while watching them walk into their greatness. On and off the mat! I am most proud of ACE Yoga because it allowed me to meet different people at unique parts on their journey through this life. It is something special about holding space for people as they allow themselves to be vulnerable and free in class. It’s an honor to have been called to do this work and I love it so much. I am MOST proud of starting, putting myself out there, and getting out of my own way. My mom is very proud of me, I know it! The company is in its infancy, but I am so excited for its growth!
I am only just beginning, so I believe everything I have done thus far (mistakes included) are all apart of the plan. I truly wouldn’t change a thing!
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I am only just beginning, so I believe everything I have done thus far, mistakes included, are all apart of the journey. I wouldn’t change a thing…truly!
Pricing:
- Private personal yoga session starts at $150 an hr
- Private group yoga session starts at $250 an hr
Contact Info:
- Address: 11135 Weddington Street
- Website: ACEYOGALA.COM
- Phone: (404) 624 – 6223
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @aceyogala
- Facebook: @aceyogala
- Twitter: @aceyogala
Image Credit:
Lillian Trahin, Luis Alvarado, Gabriel Nivera, Patrice Russell, Alicia C. Easter
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