Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany Leonardo.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Tiffany. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
“Change your focus, change your life” These words first held meaning in my life’s story when I made it my New Year’s resolution to move to California in 2015. At that time, I didn’t have the resources one needs to relocate, but I laser-focused on what I did have and the steps I needed to take to get there. Within six quick months, I moved to San Jose California, and that was the catalyst of my wellness journey! Being a New Yorker deep in the hustle culture, it was both refreshing and inspiring to be surrounded by active lifestyles. I was looking for a form of movement that called to me, something that could balance out my grind & hustle mentality. Upon visiting my fourth studio, I found my tribe of fresh, motivated Changemakers (thank you Groupon). This community of vibrant millennials captured my heart with their funky fresh beats, edgy studio style and bond that felt like home upon making my way to the front desk.
Fast forward to present, I’ve shifted from existing to actually living life; this is honestly thanks to yoga! I experienced the impact from ‘doing’ yoga to ‘being’ yoga by embodying the mindset off the mat. Like most Changemakers, I was ranting to anyone that would listen about yoga and how it opened up my eyes to the world around me. More importantly, how it made me realize I’m the owner of my story & how I choose to respond to life around me. I’ve be teaching yoga for over three years (I was blessed to receive training from my home studio) and feel like I’m living my best life!
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?
As much as the old me wishes it was smooth and that I always learned from inspiration, desperation is what made me change. My life’s been filled with a healthy amount of uncertainty, obstacles and finding myself. What ‘inspired’ me to finally take the leap and move to California was a five years relationship that ended in cheating. While I was healing through the abrupt reality of being alone, I was trying to keep loan collectors away while I focused my efforts on working two jobs to keep up with the full balance of my rent and life expenses.
Another pivotal moment in my journey, I experienced burnout one month post Yoga Teacher Training. I was doing all the things including 11 hour workdays at my corporate job, subbing 2-3 yoga classes a week to gain experience and I managed a summer yoga program. My body responded with my shoulder giving out and a shooting pain up my neck depending on the direction of my head. In the weeks it took me to recover, I realized I was ‘doing’ yoga but not ‘being’ yoga. I wasn’t embodying the lifestyle of yoga.
I quickly learned to pay attention to the whispers in life and be led my inspiration, and not desperation because life couldn’t get my attention otherwise.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I teach boss babes to mind-body balance and incorporate self-care into their daily practice through Yoga. My jam is teaching Slow Flow & Yin Yoga, to invite these babes to slow life through movement and soak in the self-reflection themes. I enjoy taking these teachings off the mat and into the media world where I host the “Be You Too Full” podcast. Regardless of the environment, my dream life is to help others explore and discover their fullest selves through a relationship with their mind and body.
I’m most proud of my ability to excel at my corporate job and finding life balance with teaching yoga. Being a yoga teacher holds me accountable in being a good student and responding (instead of reacting) to life. Because I actively practice presence in corporate and in life, it’s a gift to call high performing babes my students that I get to share my life lessons with. These lessons find new life and meaning through the students I share space with.
What were you like growing up?
I was always the odd ball in my family. This involved being fascinated with the biology of animals, learning and loving house chores. My mother’s a single parent, as an older sister I took on the role of momma bear to my younger brother. I supported my mom in raising my brother and taking care of the house. I received lots of praise from my family by taking on this role, as a result the little Tiffany within me is still so driven by hard work and making a difference. My favorite part about my childhood are all the instances where my mom said, “You can do anything you set your mind to mi hija”. These simple words were the foundation of my expansive mindset and have allowed me to lead a life of fulfillment. Thanks, Mami!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/curlcrushyoga
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credit:
Matrix Quevedo
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