Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristen Rider-Daughtrey.
Hi Kristen, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started out just wanting to make a difference in the world. I was that millennial kid that watched Captain Planet and Care Bears, and wished utopia could be a reality. Learning to navigate life as a bi-racial kid with divorced parents, I soon realized that utopia was an unrealistic societal aspiration. After earning a BA in Behavioral Science from Cal State Dominguez Hills in 2010, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. However, I did know that I wanted to help people, which led to my first career stop: Homeless Services.
As a Case Manager and Program Coordinator for a non-profit organization in Watts, I served some of the most vulnerable people living on the streets at a time when LA was considered the homeless capital of the nation. It was an amazingly rewarding experience that I loved and will be forever grateful for. After seven years I made the hard decision to try a new career. The job was taking its toll on me mentally and physically, and I felt like I was at a dead-end. I needed a break. On a whim and at my husband’s suggestion, I decided to become a real estate salesperson. It seemed like a sensible move, considering I had been housing the homeless and could now potentially get paid much more to house everyone else. I quickly learned that being a salesperson wasn’t for me, but my stubbornness and desire to succeed kept me there for longer than I should have stayed. I became very unhappy and later realized that I was going through depression and anxiety.
Feeling at my lowest point of defeat and lacking a sense of self-worth, I began some soul searching and re-building with the help of an intuitive healer and coach. I exercised daily and began practicing yoga on and off until the COVID-19 pandemic hit. I was so drawn to yoga practice that I decided to get certified online through a local black-owned company called Get Loved Up. Yoga has been a profoundly liberating and grounding practice for me. It has helped tremendously in regaining control over my mental health. I began teaching yoga late last year, and am currently launching my own business in yoga and wellness!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
What road in LA doesn’t have bumps or at least some cracks? Overcoming my mental health issues was a big challenge in the beginning. Daily yoga practice has been very instrumental in mood and energy regulation. It’s one aspect of yoga I’m very excited to share with others. Another challenge has been learning how to start and operate my own business amid a pandemic, but I’m totally up for it! I’ve learned to count on things not going as planned so that I don’t get all bent out of shape about it.
Despite the challenges, it has been a blessing to have the knowledge and ability to help my family and friends with improving their wellness. In the middle of getting my LLC paperwork processed, I was able to travel to help a family member who was going through a really hard time. She had some pre-existing health conditions that were exacerbated by the stress of COVID-19, resulting in a complete meltdown. I saw it as an important reminder that there are so many people in need of help who have been quietly suffering through this pandemic, struggling with mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. I believe everyone can benefit greatly from yoga asanas, breathwork, and meditation. I feel very fortunate and grateful for my mentor Koya Webb’s guidance and for having a very supportive and patient husband.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about KRD Yoga?
KRD Yoga is a yoga-based wellness company that empowers people to greater levels of self-love, wellbeing, and vitality. We are dedicated to supporting people who want to take a holistic approach to their wellness journey, welcoming beginners as they explore the many benefits yoga has to offer. We do this by offering practices in yoga, meditation, and introspection. By joining the KRD Yoga community, you will get a free copy of our Daily Yoga Reset Routine –a simple reference guide to help you feel grounded on your busiest and most stressful days. We currently specialize in Vinyasa-style yoga and hope to offer additional class styles before the end of 2021. Beginning in May 2021, you can sign up for a variety of grounding, uplifting, and energizing yoga classes. For a more personal touch, we offer private sessions as well. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified when these new offerings are available.
What’s next?
My plans are to keep learning and pushing forward! We hope to continue to collaborate with Get Loved Up Studios for virtual classes. I’m currently working on Acro Yoga certification with Koya Webb, founder of Get Loved Up which has been a lot of fun. Eventually, I want to incorporate trauma-informed yoga into our practice and build out yoga offerings for social work and related professions at the corporate level. I want to help the help! Having experienced firsthand what it’s like to feel the weight of people in dire circumstances being dependent upon your help, always in crisis mode, I know how difficult it is to prioritize your own self-care. Developing a built-in resource for companies might help employees to be more mindful about their wellness and reduce stress on and off the job. A more short-term goal is to roll out some fun yoga and wellness challenges to help deepen the mind-body-spirit connection.
Pricing:
- Live virtual class offerings through KRD Yoga are free.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: krdyoga.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristenriderdaughtrey/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/krdyoga
Image Credits:
Robeson Parks Kristen Rider-Daughtrey (last photo only)
