Today we’d like to introduce you to Anh Chi Pham.
Anh Chi, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
In 2008, after about eight years of pursuing fiction writing as a career, I realized that: (1) I was almost broke and; (2) there was no way in hell I was going back to the corporate world (which I did before writing).
So, I pursued my other love: yoga. With my last chunk of change, I took a teacher training at Kripalu and started teaching out of my chiropractor’s office.
I grew up in an immigrant household where I was taught that work is about survival and pragmatism, not about following my passion. I’m very grateful to know in adulthood that this is not true. The universe provides if you follow your heart
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?
Teaching yoga has taught me so much about trust, surrender and believing in my true worth. When I first started, I struggled with comparing myself to other teachers and feeling like I wasn’t good enough.
Eventually, I realized that I was doing a disservice to my students by believing in this. So before I teach, I always set the intention to be of service and to listen for guidance so that I can be responsive to the people in the room.
This intention allows me to be both grounded and creative in my teaching, and it has been instrumental in growing my confidence and business organically.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Chi Yoga Wellness story. Tell us more about the business.
I specialize in teaching holistic pelvic health and empowerment for women through workshops, privates and longer programs. I came about this niche after practicing yoga and other embodiment & spirituality forms for over fifteen years.
As the first person in my Vietnamese family to be divorced, there was a lot of shame that was put on me. Unconsciously, I carried it and it affected my relationship with my body, my health, my romantic relationships, as well as my self-confidence. Learning to love and honor my female body –seeing the power in this—inspired me to learn more about the pelvic floor, women’s health and the way our spiritual path is different from men’s.
This is what makes my work different from other pelvic floor specialists. I help women to work with symptoms such as pain, incontinence, or lack of desire from multiple levels, from the physical to the emotional, social and spiritual.
My signature program is a three-month women’s circle dedicated to pelvic health and empowerment. Students have called this work life-changing, transformative and deeply healing.
My mission is to make this work accessible to every woman so that we do not needlessly suffer from pelvic imbalances and are more empowered and informed in taking care of this vital part of ourselves.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I think we’re as lucky as our thoughts allow us to be. In other words, if you work on acknowledging and befriending your darkness –the shame, depression, anger, whatever it is that comes for you—and learn to master the mechanism of your mind, then eventually your “luck” will improve.
When I was 27, I was struck by a falling tree in Golden Gate Park. It messed up by neck and broke my low back. Around the same time, my newly minted ex-boyfriend became a multi-millionaire. Needless to say, I didn’t feel very lucky at the time, but we have to learn to see past appearances.
Through this tree incident, I found yoga. Compared to who I was then, I am now infinitely wealthier. Yoga practices gave me the tools to be honest with myself. In meeting my darkness, I found what is completely unaffected and free from it. This gives me steadiness, peace and a natural sense of well-being that is priceless.
Pricing:
- Privates: $85 – $135 (depending on package)
- Core Radiance Program: $398-498 (early bird, regular)
Contact Info:
- Address: 377 S. Glassell Ave, Suite 200, Orange, CA 92866
- Website: www.chiyogawellness.com
- Phone: 877-409-8089
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chiyogawellness/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chiyogawellness/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/chi-yoga-wellness-orange-3
Image Credit:
Headshot – Sandro Eristavi
Getting in touch: VoyageLA 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.
