Today we’d like to introduce you to Alley Florin.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I guess I’ll just start from the very beginning. I grew up as a dancer, starting at the age of 3. I danced competitively with a studio and with my high school dance team. When I turned 16 I started teaching dance to tiny humans and choreographing for competitions. I decided to go to FIDM for college where I began working in the corporate world of fashion. This is when the heavy drinking began which led to me being let go from my job. I then worked in the makeup industry where I was somehow recruited to gogo dance in the Long Beach area (gotta love the makeup industry). At this time I was about 22 years old. Loved the gogo scene. I started bartending and gogo’ing full time. Now, my 20’s were alot of fun, but I don’t wish my story on anyone. I got into alot of trouble and am still exhausted when I think about it. I ended up with 3 DUI’s in 3 months and a fourth DUI 6 years later. 7 visits to jail in 3 different county’s, and addicted to meth love and sex. I found myself homeless and having no purpose…no Dharma. On my 30th birthday, July 9, 2014, I went to rehab. My life started to change a little. I had to re learn how to live, how to grocery shop and even how to eat and dress. I found yoga in that first year of recovery and it continues to save my life. Narcotics anonymous and yoga were my life for awhile. They got me on my feet, I found a community where i felt accepted and I am forever grateful for both of these. I had a relapse in 2015 and got clean again in 2017. That relapse scared me to death and when i got clean for the second time I really changed everything. My mindset, my willingness, my honesty, my programming, and my relationship with God. Relapse doesn’t have to happen, but it happened for me, and I’m grateful for it. Today I am married to the kindest human who continues to root me and support me in such a loving and healthy way. He shares his 10 year old son with me who is the best big brother to our 2 year old son. I have a bed to sleep in every night and toilet paper to use every time I go to the bathroom (if you know you know). I teach yoga full time now. I remember being in a garage once, and I was “stuck” in a chair for proabaly 12 hours. I just couldn’t will myself to get up. And I remember wishing I could somehow start dancing again or do something that had meaning to me. At the time I was hopeless, but God brought Yoga into my life the first month of recovery and it’s just been such a beautiful journey. I went back to school for counseling. I became a case manager for a Substance abuse and Mental health in patient facility. After 2 years I shifted from counseling to leading meditation and movement groups within the treatment houses. I currently lead women circles, sound baths and women retreats. I teach at Purple Yoga and Ra Yoga (shout out to all my OHMIES). I have an online platform, HakiniYoga.com. My inspiration is my son, Kyah and other moms. My website offers “Tiny Hands” yoga (where Kyah and I are practicing together), meditation, 30 minute vinyasa and stretch sessions, and Yoga 101. I am so grateful to God for the life I have today. Not every day is easy, life still shows up on life’s terms, but it’s manageable. I have dreams and goals and I keep my side of the street clean. I show up for my family and for events. I go to bed every night and I don’t wake up sick of being sick. Thank you to my communities, to my students and to my teachers. Thank you to my mom and dad. Thank you to my husband. Thank you to God for the grace and unconditional love.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Haha, no it has not. My drinking landed me in jail and meth led to me being homeless. My license was taken away for 3 years from the 4 DUI’s which ended up being a total of 5 years without a license. Having to start over a multiple of times was a struggle. Keeping my mom up at night and losing respect from my dad, this broke my heart once I was able to get out of my own way and see all the destruction I had caused.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I teach yoga!!! Theres so many different branches of yoga it’s just a never-ending cycle of learning. I’m known for my hot Vinyasa classes and my hot Bikram classes. I host sound baths at the studio, Purple Yoga and those seem to be popular. My women circles are very magical. They are my favorite to set up for. Honoring other women and creating a safe haven for my sisters. We do rituals and get weird and celebrate each other. I bring all of this energy into my women retreats held in Joshua Tree, Ca. “Energy Recovery” is my 1 on 1 sesssions where I offer reiki, adjustments, sound meditation, hands on healing. I curate it to what my student is needing. It’s a cool opportunity to do some self care. I’m pretty proud of my online platform, Hakiniyoga.com. My 2 year old son, Kyah, gets to do recordings with me for the “Tiny Hands” segment. I really wanted to create a place for moms and their littles to bond. I remember when Kyah was born I just wanted to do yoga but I couldn’t leave the house because of baby schedules. So I want to bring the yoga to the moms. My website also offers 30 minute practices of stretching, flows, sound bath and much more.
What were you like growing up?
When I was younger, before my teen years, I was a big observer. Not much of a talker. Big eyes and binky in the mouth. Think Maggie from The Simpsons.
I was really into dance and that brought me out of my shell a little. I think the best to describe my teen years are sassy and smart and wanted to do everything my parents told me not to. All while holding a high GPA in school. Dance really was my life until about 22. I danced competitively in studio and on the high school dance team. I started teaching and choreographing at the age of 16 and I loved it all.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.HakiniYoga.com
- Instagram: @hakini_yoga_
