October 17, 2023 • 26 mins
Have you ever felt the urge to escape the unrelenting pace of life and simply breathe? If so, this episode with Rebecca Sebastian, the owner of Sunlight Yoga + Apothecary in Davenport, is just the respite you need. We delve into her journey from struggling with chronic hip pain, to discovering the healing power of yoga, and eventually becoming a yoga therapist. Rebecca's story is a testament to the transformative power of yoga and the nourishing sanctuary she has created at Sunlight Yoga.
In our candid chat, we also shed light on the often overlooked challenges faced by yoga professionals. Whether it's her podcast 'Working in Yoga' that supports yoga professionals worldwide, or her belief in collaboration with other Quad Cities yoga studios, Rebecca's dedication to building a supportive community is truly inspiring. As she shares a touching story of an anonymous card that uplifted her spirit at a difficult time, her vision for creating an inclusive space for wellness at Sunlight Yoga becomes evident. So, get ready to be inspired by Rebecca's passion for rest, nourishment, and yoga that promises to leave a lasting impact on you.
Find her on social media -
Instagram
Facebook
Listen to her podcast "Working In Yoga"
Check out the latest at Sunlight Yoga + Apothecary's website
#VisitQuadCities #Podcast #Yoga
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
There was this point during COVID where I really just
like it was a week where I'mlike I'm quitting, I can't do
this anymore and there was thiscard and it's not even signed.
I'm telling you, katrina, Istill have this card.
Whoever left it for me did notsign the card and it just said
dear Rebecca, thank goodnessyou're here, I'm so grateful
(00:21):
that I found you.
Sunlights made such an impacton my life.
Didn't sign the card.
Oh my God.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
So, to this day, you don't know who left that for?
You.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
I have no idea.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Where do you find a family of communities connected
by the storied Mississippi River, where young explorers and
dreamers, investors andentrepreneurs thrive?
Where can you connect with realpeople living and creating in a
place that's as genuine as itis quirky QC?
That's when.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Welcome to QC.
That's when I'm Katrina, yourhost, and today I've got Rebecca
Sebastian, owner of SunlightYoga and Apothecary in Davenport
, with me and I'm so excited.
We're going to chat about heryears in yoga.
We're going to talk aboutpodcasting.
So, rebecca, hello, how are you?
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Hi, thank you for having me, katrina.
I'm so excited to be here andlike chat, all things, wellness
and yoga and quantities.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
I love it.
I love it, so I'm going to haveyou start us off.
I want to hear about yourbackground in yoga and why you
do what you do.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
I am the most accidental yoga person that ever
happened.
Like many people feel likethey're very called to, like a
particular profession, and Ifought this the whole way.
I actually started yoga when Iwas 19 because I had chronic hip
pain, because I was born with abirth defect hip dysplasia and
a doctor said before I was 40, Iwould likely have my hip
(01:50):
replaced.
And so a friend of mine andthis is in the 90s, right, I'm
45, I always own my age andsomebody said to me you should
try yoga, I bet that'll help.
And so I went to my first yogaclass when I was still in
college, when I was 19.
And I've been doing yoga prettymuch ever since, and at 45, I
(02:11):
don't have hip pain.
I have two hips that are mine.
I get the joy of supportingother people who have chronic
pain and self care challenges,and so, yeah, I love my job.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
It's awesome.
And you, like, you've branchedout into so many facets, from
the podcast to the studio, tobeing a yoga therapist and
events that you have coming up,so like let's start with.
Let's start with the studiosunlight, yoga and apothecary.
(02:41):
What can people, when they comeand start classes like, what
can they expect and what is theapothecary aspect all about?
Speaker 1 (02:48):
So when you come into the studio for a yoga class
like I would challenge you tofind a more welcoming and
friendly yoga space ever like.
We want all humans to feelwelcome at our space.
We are focused definitely onlike rest and nourishing
movement.
We're not a hot space, we're anaverage regular room
(03:09):
temperature space and theapothecary is where we sell bulk
herbs and custom blended teas.
The whole business is designedto give people the opportunity
to pause, whether it's pausingfor a cup of tea or pausing for
yoga or both, because we thinkboth are really great together.
It is just that moment whereyou can pause, remember who you
(03:33):
are outside all the busyness andthe work and the stuff, and
really have a moment to yourself.
So that's what everything we dothere is based on.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
You guys are on Jersey Ridge in Denver.
Yeah, we're in the village.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
How long have you been there?
Since 2019.
So we just had four year, ourfour year anniversary.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
So, like I know and we'll get into this a little bit
like you have done trainingkind of in other state, colorado
, you have association with.
So, like from your perspective,how is the Quad Cities fit with
the yoga vibe?
Like, is this a good place todo?
You know yoga is a good placeto have that kind of business.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Yeah, it's a great place to have that kind of
business.
We have a lot of fitnessoriented yoga spaces here, which
is great.
We're definitely more of awellness oriented space, so
we're here to remind people torest and nourish and care for
themselves, which, honestly, Ifeel like we all need that
reminder sometimes, like we allneed that reminder that, hey,
(04:36):
you're doing great, no matterhow you feel, you're doing great
.
If you need somebody to remind,you come see us.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
I love it.
I will be there later.
Yes, I couldn't do it.
Perfect, yeah, so okay.
So you're training to become atherapist?
Yep, where did you do that?
And kind of what did thatjourney take you on?
Speaker 1 (04:59):
So originally, when I started being training to be a
yoga therapist, I started seeingmore people who were trying to
do private yoga classes, likeone-on-one yoga classes, and
they were asking me morecomplicated questions, like
questions about how yoga can fitinto lifestyle and how yoga can
fit Like what can I do if Ihave low back pain, those sorts
(05:21):
of things.
So I went, okay, I need moretraining and yoga therapy is now
a credentialed profession and Iwent away for many, many
thousand hours of training sothat I could take the full scope
of yoga, which is movement,breathwork, meditation and
lifestyle, and apply that toindividuals who want to use yoga
(05:43):
to help change their lives.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Is that where your association with Colorado comes
from?
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Yep, so I trained at a school called Interpeace Yoga
Therapy and they're based inDurango, colorado, and I
actually work for them as amentor sometimes still for up
and coming yoga professionals.
Like, the profession of yoga isa real passion of mine and the
industry is a passion of mine,so that's one of the ways I can
help support the industry andthat's what your podcast is all
(06:12):
about.
Yes, my podcast is calledWorking in Yoga.
It's for yoga professionals farand wide where we can talk
about our experiences.
I think a lot of like thegeneral public has no idea what
to expect from a yogaprofessional, like who we are,
how we train.
I think they all expect us tobe, you know, very young and
(06:33):
very tiny and always trying toshow off how flexible we are.
And we're just average peopleand we're trying to, like, work
our way through a world and helpsupport people's wellness with
yoga.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
I listened to some of your podcast episodes and I
just I was kind of enlightenedin the way that, like, yoga
professionals need support too.
Yes, because I think, like thegeneral public, and granted,
I've taken one yoga class in mylife and I loved it, I would
(07:08):
love to do more.
Very cool, and I just I went toit and the like vibe I got from
the instructor was like veryzen, very together, here to
instruct you, here to help you,but then you know who's there to
who's there to take care of theyoga instructor.
So I kind of liked that andthere was like there was some
funny mixed in with some seriousin the podcast and I listened
(07:31):
to one that was are we dateable?
That shared like the red flagthat you guys filled with.
And then, yeah, and it was just, it was just fun and it was
real, and then you've got someguests on.
So talk to us a little bitabout the podcast and kind of
the trajectory it's on to helppeople in your industry.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
Yeah, well, part of it is that it's varied.
We have only one professionaltrade organization and they kind
of work off on their own andthe professionals themselves
don't interact with them a lot,so we get lonely.
Honestly, yoga professionalsare a pretty lonely crew.
If you go to a yoga class, youryoga teachers in the front of
(08:10):
the room.
Very likely they're the onlyone in the studio.
They've maybe texted their bossor one of their coworkers, but
we work solo oftentimes and so,like that baseline of support is
not often there, and then itends up being well, who, if
we're wellness professionals,who helps us with our wellness?
(08:30):
You know, we just feel like wehave to be that perfect person
with all the answers in thefront of the room who's always
healthy, never gets sick, ourskin is always glowing, like we
have the right answer foreverything, and the truth is
we're just real people who areon the path, just like you.
And so, yeah, like it's a wayfor us to talk to each other,
(08:53):
and how do you link up withpeople on the podcast?
So I'm pretty active within theindustry.
I do a lot of speaking,actually nationally at
conferences and things like thatand honestly, I just decided as
an adult I was going to bereally good at making friends
and I've been really lucky tomeet amazing human beings who
are funny and interesting and Ijust invite people who I really
(09:17):
like on my podcast and we talkabout things that need talking
about.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Do you feel like, okay, so like having been in the
village since 2019, like I know, the community over there as
far as business owners is verytight and people get along and
businesses in the Quad Cities ingeneral help each other out a
lot.
And then you know, do you withother, like yoga studios and
yoga professionals in the QC, doyou guys find the time to get
together or to you know, shareand laugh and cry?
Speaker 1 (09:46):
Yeah, we do.
I mean, it's been.
It's kind of like a new thing.
That sort of happened for mesince COVID, because oftentimes
it's very funny to talk topeople who are considered your
quote, unquote competition, buthonestly, like there's.
I'm thinking of two yogastudios in the Quad Cities.
Both of them are hot.
(10:06):
One is One Tree Hot Yoga,heather Larson, and the other is
Jenny Kavanaugh who runs Houseof Ohm Hot Yoga in Rock Island,
and I regularly have coffee withboth of them and it's just so
amazing to sit with somebody whohas your job.
Like you know, you don't oftenas business owners, really we
don't often get to sit down withother people who have your job
(10:29):
and be like gosh.
It's really weird to have tomanage, you know, 15 people who
work for you one to two hours aweek or like all these little
things that are unique to us.
It's just lovely to sit andchat with people and they're
both so nice.
If you want hot yoga, supportthem.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
And there's like room for everybody because you guys
don't do exactly the same niche,nope, nope.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
There is room for everybody.
The more wellness professionalsthat there are in the Quad
Cities supporting each other,the better off we all are.
There's space for everybody.
You don't need to be I don'tthink you need to be hyper
competitive or reallyterritorial, and maybe some
people would disagree with me,but I just like them so much.
I want them to do well as muchas I want myself to do well.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Yeah, you know, I think that's kind of like,
that's kind of a draw of thisarea, like speaking on a tourism
front.
There are multiple like.
There are, you know, notduplicates, but there's multiple
versions of kind of the youknow the same business or like
in the same industry, and so youknow you can come here to do
(11:36):
one thing and find X, y and Zother activities that like apply
to you or you know, just kindof fit your lifestyle.
You know like, for instance,this is kind of probably the
most forward facing example Ican think of, like we have three
casinos that you know somecommunities might look at as
major competition from oneanother, but internally what we
(11:58):
see and what we're seeing inreality is that these three
casinos can really work togetherto attract a whole fleet of
people who have never been here.
And then, hey, guess what?
You've got three differenttypes of experiences that you
can have, you know, instead oflike competing against each
other.
So I love that you guys kind ofhave found that in your
industry as well, that you'vefound the camaraderie and you
(12:20):
know found a way that just haveoutreach in your same field.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
Yeah, it's honestly the best.
It was really, like I said, fora long time, especially before
I owned a yoga studio.
It's a pretty lonely professionand like it just makes me so
happy when we all get togetherand I can just chat with them
and we can support each otherand I can say, hey, have you
tried this?
Or they'll say, oh yeah, thisis the kind of merch that's
(12:48):
really selling and you know,it's just the best.
I love it so much because thereis room for all of us here and
like 400,000 people in ourgeneral area.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
Like there's plenty of room for everybody to grow
and thrive, yeah, and likelinking back to your podcast, so
that's kind of a way, you know,it's like digital boots on the
ground, you know of reaching acomputer screen that maybe has
never heard of the Quad Citiesor has not ever heard of your
studio personally.
Like, have you ever seen inaction that you've connected
(13:19):
with somebody or had a visitfrom somebody, just through the
podcast or through some kind oflike online marketing?
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Yeah, totally, that has absolutely happened to me.
It terrified me the first time.
It happened, if I'm beingtotally honest, because I like,
especially in my podcast, I liketo speak truth to our
experiences as Yokoprofessionals and some of that
truth is uncomfortable.
And so this the scout emailedme from a metro area not far
(13:45):
from here and they were like Ijust turned your podcast, I'm so
excited to see you're in Iowa,and I was like that's terrifying
, because they were like it's, Iloved everything about it.
I'm like, oh God, what did Isay?
Right, right, right.
But it was actually like we'veconnected, we have a really nice
connection and like she has astudio actually in it's in
(14:09):
Decora, iowa, and so she runslike this amazing studio.
She actually has a yogafestival every year, the
Drithvist yoga festival.
It's a socially justice forwardyoga festival the middle of
Iowa.
And I just like we justconnected on that level, like
yeah, it's fun.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
Isn't the internet great for that?
Yes, talk to me about yourevents coming up.
What are you doing in yourstudio space?
How can people get involved?
Speaker 1 (14:37):
So the apothecary sells actually one of my other
passions.
I really love tea and we had acouple businesses closed during
the pandemic time that soldherbs and teas and I went where
am I going to get all my teafrom?
And I decided that if it'simportant for me to shop local
as opposed to going online, thatit might be important for Quad
(14:59):
citizens to shop local for theirtea and herbs.
So in my lobby I have aapothecary.
It's about 300 square feet.
It's tiny, but we have 32 teasthat we blend.
About 40% of them are my blends, so they're my recipes.
And during the holidays, theapothecaries hosting a holiday
(15:20):
bizarre every Saturday, fromsmall business Saturday right
after Thanksgiving till December23rd, and I'm just opening my
doors to vendors to come in andthey can bend for free.
You can sell your art and yourcrafts there.
So I've got people signing uponline to secure a spot and
people can come and shop everySaturday during the holidays.
(15:43):
The village is such a charmingplace to come and shop at anyway
, so you can stop by myapothecary and get a cup of tea,
shop at our vendors, wanderaround the village, get all of
your Christmas presents sortedfrom local businesses, which is
the best.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
So yeah, that's what we're doing.
That's so exciting.
Did you come up with this ideajust out of like?
What was your motivation?
Was it like a way to engagepeople, or was it like a way to,
kind of like, get people downto the village?
What was the intent?
Speaker 1 (16:14):
Well, there, was a couple of different reasons.
One is a way to engage people,because I know a lot of folks
don't know, especially, that theapothecary exists yet, because
the apothecary is fairly new.
We just opened that at the endof 2021.
So really, we're really onlylike in our second year of the
apothecary and, of course, asyou know, in 2021, people
weren't out quite as much.
(16:36):
And also I just we run afarmer's market stand at the
freight house during thesummertime and I realized how
many of my farmer's marketfriends might not have a place
to sell during the holidayseason and I was like gosh, I'm
lucky I have this Birkenmorderspace and it's better for
everybody, like the whole themeof this could be.
It's better for everybody whenwe all work together.
(16:58):
So I just thought I'm going toopen up my space up.
I have a giant wide, open space, because that's what a yoga
studio is.
It's a big empty room whennobody's doing yoga in it.
So I'm opening it up andvendors can come and sell their
art and crafts there and have acup of tea.
We'll serve you a cup of teaand, yeah, I'm excited to have
(17:18):
people come down and check withus during the holidays.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
That'll be cool.
That's one thing I love aboutthe Quad Cities.
I've been here for like 10 plusyears.
I originally was from Michiganand I just have seen it blossom
over the last decade.
As far as, like you know, newtypes of events and kind of the
like combination of, you know,of industries getting together
and people exploring new places.
(17:40):
It just seems like every yearthat passes by there is
something new to add to the ticklist of like I have to go do
this, I have to check this out.
You know.
I don't know if you've noticedthat too, but it just really
seems to grow year after year.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
Yeah, we're really lucky that we have lots of
creative people in this area,like hosting lots of different
sorts of events, and like youcould find an event for whatever
your thing is that you wantfrom this area, which is super
cool.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
Yeah, so true, so true, so okay.
You have been in the yoga realmfor like 20 plus years.
Is that fair to say, yeah, waytoo long, way too long, and yet
not long enough because there'sso much work to be done.
Yes, what would you say is likea standout moment from all
(18:31):
those years of yoga training,interacting with people,
developing products like yourpodcast, like what really stands
out to you?
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Every time somebody comes and says to me you made my
life a little bit better, youmade me feel a little bit better
like Business ownership and Ithink anybody is listening to
this who's a small businessowner will say like it's hard,
it's not for the faint of heart.
We work very hard, we losesleep making sure that our staff
members are taking care of, andit's so funny how every time
(19:03):
like I get those we all getthose moments where you're like,
oh, this is too hard for me todo it, and somebody will like
leave a card on my desk at thestudio that says thank goodness
you're here, I'm so grateful forthe work you do, and like those
tiny little moments add up towhy I get up in the morning to
like open my business andsupport folks.
(19:25):
Feeling better, that's awesome.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
Yeah, thanks, I love it.
I mean, do you, do you have aone in particular, that that you
get a favorite memory?
Speaker 1 (19:40):
Honestly, I think my favorite one was during COVID
and and, like I said, those ofus who lasted through COVID
there was this point duringCOVID where I really just like
it was a week where I'm like I'mquitting, I can't do this
anymore.
And there was this card andit's not even signed.
I'm telling you, katrina, Istill have this card.
(20:01):
Whoever left it for me did notsign the card and it just said
dear Rebecca, thank goodnessYou're here, I'm so grateful
that I found you.
Sunlights made such an impacton my life.
Didn't sign the card.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
To this day.
You don't know who left thatfor you?
Speaker 1 (20:20):
I have no idea, but it is tacked up like I have this
giant corkboard at my officethat's got all my plans.
That looks like I'm likehunting a serial killer, right
like all my plans on there andmy car.
That card is still on mycorkboard.
I have no idea if it was astaff member or a customer or
whoever, but it was like thatmoment because it was
(20:41):
Thanksgiving week and I just waslike I can't, I'm so tired, I
can't, and that card was thereand I just like, oh, whoever
left me this card, thank you.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
I Thank you.
The littlest things that peoplecan do make such an impact and
I know people obviously feelthat coming from you and it's so
cool to hear the tables turnthat people do that for you in
that.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
It was amazing, like one of those moments where just
the timing was so perfect, of acard Like go send people cards
they love it.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
Yeah, it was like divine intervention.
So social media, do your thing.
Who are you?
Who left the card for Rebecca?
I gotta know I want like areunion, like a, like a card
reunion for you guys, yeah, yeahoh my gosh, it's too cool.
So In your perspective, fiveyears, ten years down the road,
(21:35):
what is?
What is sunlight yoga going tobe and what is your Roll going
to be in the yoga industry?
Speaker 1 (21:42):
Oh, that's a great question.
Thank you.
I have so many answers.
Okay.
So I have two main things thatI want Sunlight to be the yoga
portion.
I would love to find a way to beit as wildly Inclusive and
(22:02):
accepting as possible.
So someday to me that meansbeing in a space where there are
doors that can open wide enoughthat I could have, I could
support folks with disabilities,like wheelchairs, like they
could roll right in the studio.
We could have a wheelchairaccessible yoga class, like as
wildly accessible and welcomingas To as many people as I
(22:24):
possibly can make it, becauseyoga and wellness oftentimes
doesn't feel accessible orWelcoming to a lot of different
folks.
And if I can change that herein the Quad Cities, I'm gonna
For the apothecary.
I would love to like expand tohave a space where I could make
you those tea lattes that I'mmaking at home for Myself and my
kids in the summertime, like.
Like I want a place where youcan come and drink like
(22:47):
delicious tea and Pause and restand bring your book or connect
with your favorite somebody Like.
I would love for that to happenand I would love to talk to
more people on a national andinternational level about how
important it is for us to carefor Ourselves the way we care
for other people.
That's in my yoga therapypractice.
(23:08):
That's what I'm telling peopleall the time is that it's like
scales the degree to which youcare for other people in your
life Is the degree to which youare required to care for
yourself so that you can show upas your whole self for all of
the amazing people in your life.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
That is like words of wisdom.
Thank you, I love that.
And and what are your?
What are your parting words foryour fellow yoga instructors?
To just keep going, keep, keep,keep chugging along.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
Yes, Well, I mean Connect with your students.
I think that's really whatkeeps us going is when you find
these amazing humans who come tosee you for yoga, and it's a
really nourishing profession.
Connect with your students,connect with your fellow
co-workers, give them a hug,talk to them about your
challenges.
If you're in yoga, in this area, come talk to me about your
(24:04):
challenges.
I could talk about it all day,like like you're not alone.
While on this professionals,like I said, we're just on the
same journey that everybody elseis on and I think supporting
each other Is so important.
On that note, rebecca.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
I'm gonna have you fill in the blank QC that's
where.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
Qc that's where people come together to support
each other.
I love it.
I love it, so where?
Speaker 2 (24:34):
can people find you on social, how can people Make
sure they get to the holidaybazaar and all the wonderful
things that you offer?
So if you follow me on, social.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
You can follow me on Facebook or Instagram at
Sunlight Yoga Apothecary.
There's underscores betweensunlight and yoga and yoga and
apothecary, and that's the bestway to connect with me and find
out all the stuff that mybusiness is doing.
We do fun events too.
We just finished a forestbathing event with tea last
weekend which was incredible,where we got lost in the woods,
(25:05):
and you can come see our awesomecrafters and artists at our
holiday bazaar in December.
I'm excited for that.
So, yeah, that's a great placeto connect with me Instagram or
Facebook.
Well, we're so excited for you.
I'll make sure that if you'relistening to this podcast.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
You can find all those links and social handles
in the description Of whateverplatform you're on.
Take a look and you can findSunlight Yoga's events on our
events calendar.
Go to the Quad Cities.
Comm slash events will makesure that those all get there,
and I really appreciate yourtime, rebecca.
I really hope that we canfoster some more connections in
the Quad Cities.
Yay, thank you so much forhaving me.
Speaker 1 (25:41):
This is awesome.
Thanks for listening to QC.
That's where a podcast poweredby Visit Quad Cities.
Speaker 3 (25:46):
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There was this point during COVID where I really just
like it was a week where I'mlike I'm quitting, I can't do
this anymore and there was thiscard and it's not even signed.
I'm telling you, katrina, Istill have this card.
Whoever left it for me did notsign the card and it just said
dear Rebecca, thank goodnessyou're here, I'm so grateful
(00:21):
that I found you.
Sunlights made such an impacton my life.
Didn't sign the card.
Oh my God.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
So, to this day, you don't know who left that for?
You.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
I have no idea.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Where do you find a family of communities connected
by the storied Mississippi River, where young explorers and
dreamers, investors andentrepreneurs thrive?
Where can you connect with realpeople living and creating in a
place that's as genuine as itis quirky QC?
That's when.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Welcome to QC.
That's when I'm Katrina, yourhost, and today I've got Rebecca
Sebastian, owner of SunlightYoga and Apothecary in Davenport
, with me and I'm so excited.
We're going to chat about heryears in yoga.
We're going to talk aboutpodcasting.
So, rebecca, hello, how are you?
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Hi, thank you for having me, katrina.
I'm so excited to be here andlike chat, all things, wellness
and yoga and quantities.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
I love it.
I love it, so I'm going to haveyou start us off.
I want to hear about yourbackground in yoga and why you
do what you do.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
I am the most accidental yoga person that ever
happened.
Like many people feel likethey're very called to, like a
particular profession, and Ifought this the whole way.
I actually started yoga when Iwas 19 because I had chronic hip
pain, because I was born with abirth defect hip dysplasia and
a doctor said before I was 40, Iwould likely have my hip
(01:50):
replaced.
And so a friend of mine andthis is in the 90s, right, I'm
45, I always own my age andsomebody said to me you should
try yoga, I bet that'll help.
And so I went to my first yogaclass when I was still in
college, when I was 19.
And I've been doing yoga prettymuch ever since, and at 45, I
(02:11):
don't have hip pain.
I have two hips that are mine.
I get the joy of supportingother people who have chronic
pain and self care challenges,and so, yeah, I love my job.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
It's awesome.
And you, like, you've branchedout into so many facets, from
the podcast to the studio, tobeing a yoga therapist and
events that you have coming up,so like let's start with.
Let's start with the studiosunlight, yoga and apothecary.
(02:41):
What can people, when they comeand start classes like, what
can they expect and what is theapothecary aspect all about?
Speaker 1 (02:48):
So when you come into the studio for a yoga class
like I would challenge you tofind a more welcoming and
friendly yoga space ever like.
We want all humans to feelwelcome at our space.
We are focused definitely onlike rest and nourishing
movement.
We're not a hot space, we're anaverage regular room
(03:09):
temperature space and theapothecary is where we sell bulk
herbs and custom blended teas.
The whole business is designedto give people the opportunity
to pause, whether it's pausingfor a cup of tea or pausing for
yoga or both, because we thinkboth are really great together.
It is just that moment whereyou can pause, remember who you
(03:33):
are outside all the busyness andthe work and the stuff, and
really have a moment to yourself.
So that's what everything we dothere is based on.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
You guys are on Jersey Ridge in Denver.
Yeah, we're in the village.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
How long have you been there?
Since 2019.
So we just had four year, ourfour year anniversary.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
So, like I know and we'll get into this a little bit
like you have done trainingkind of in other state, colorado
, you have association with.
So, like from your perspective,how is the Quad Cities fit with
the yoga vibe?
Like, is this a good place todo?
You know yoga is a good placeto have that kind of business.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Yeah, it's a great place to have that kind of
business.
We have a lot of fitnessoriented yoga spaces here, which
is great.
We're definitely more of awellness oriented space, so
we're here to remind people torest and nourish and care for
themselves, which, honestly, Ifeel like we all need that
reminder sometimes, like we allneed that reminder that, hey,
(04:36):
you're doing great, no matterhow you feel, you're doing great
.
If you need somebody to remind,you come see us.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
I love it.
I will be there later.
Yes, I couldn't do it.
Perfect, yeah, so okay.
So you're training to become atherapist?
Yep, where did you do that?
And kind of what did thatjourney take you on?
Speaker 1 (04:59):
So originally, when I started being training to be a
yoga therapist, I started seeingmore people who were trying to
do private yoga classes, likeone-on-one yoga classes, and
they were asking me morecomplicated questions, like
questions about how yoga can fitinto lifestyle and how yoga can
fit Like what can I do if Ihave low back pain, those sorts
(05:21):
of things.
So I went, okay, I need moretraining and yoga therapy is now
a credentialed profession and Iwent away for many, many
thousand hours of training sothat I could take the full scope
of yoga, which is movement,breathwork, meditation and
lifestyle, and apply that toindividuals who want to use yoga
(05:43):
to help change their lives.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Is that where your association with Colorado comes
from?
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Yep, so I trained at a school called Interpeace Yoga
Therapy and they're based inDurango, colorado, and I
actually work for them as amentor sometimes still for up
and coming yoga professionals.
Like, the profession of yoga isa real passion of mine and the
industry is a passion of mine,so that's one of the ways I can
help support the industry andthat's what your podcast is all
(06:12):
about.
Yes, my podcast is calledWorking in Yoga.
It's for yoga professionals farand wide where we can talk
about our experiences.
I think a lot of like thegeneral public has no idea what
to expect from a yogaprofessional, like who we are,
how we train.
I think they all expect us tobe, you know, very young and
(06:33):
very tiny and always trying toshow off how flexible we are.
And we're just average peopleand we're trying to, like, work
our way through a world and helpsupport people's wellness with
yoga.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
I listened to some of your podcast episodes and I
just I was kind of enlightenedin the way that, like, yoga
professionals need support too.
Yes, because I think, like thegeneral public, and granted,
I've taken one yoga class in mylife and I loved it, I would
(07:08):
love to do more.
Very cool, and I just I went toit and the like vibe I got from
the instructor was like veryzen, very together, here to
instruct you, here to help you,but then you know who's there to
who's there to take care of theyoga instructor.
So I kind of liked that andthere was like there was some
funny mixed in with some seriousin the podcast and I listened
(07:31):
to one that was are we dateable?
That shared like the red flagthat you guys filled with.
And then, yeah, and it was just, it was just fun and it was
real, and then you've got someguests on.
So talk to us a little bitabout the podcast and kind of
the trajectory it's on to helppeople in your industry.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
Yeah, well, part of it is that it's varied.
We have only one professionaltrade organization and they kind
of work off on their own andthe professionals themselves
don't interact with them a lot,so we get lonely.
Honestly, yoga professionalsare a pretty lonely crew.
If you go to a yoga class, youryoga teachers in the front of
(08:10):
the room.
Very likely they're the onlyone in the studio.
They've maybe texted their bossor one of their coworkers, but
we work solo oftentimes and so,like that baseline of support is
not often there, and then itends up being well, who, if
we're wellness professionals,who helps us with our wellness?
(08:30):
You know, we just feel like wehave to be that perfect person
with all the answers in thefront of the room who's always
healthy, never gets sick, ourskin is always glowing, like we
have the right answer foreverything, and the truth is
we're just real people who areon the path, just like you.
And so, yeah, like it's a wayfor us to talk to each other,
(08:53):
and how do you link up withpeople on the podcast?
So I'm pretty active within theindustry.
I do a lot of speaking,actually nationally at
conferences and things like thatand honestly, I just decided as
an adult I was going to bereally good at making friends
and I've been really lucky tomeet amazing human beings who
are funny and interesting and Ijust invite people who I really
(09:17):
like on my podcast and we talkabout things that need talking
about.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Do you feel like, okay, so like having been in the
village since 2019, like I know, the community over there as
far as business owners is verytight and people get along and
businesses in the Quad Cities ingeneral help each other out a
lot.
And then you know, do you withother, like yoga studios and
yoga professionals in the QC, doyou guys find the time to get
together or to you know, shareand laugh and cry?
Speaker 1 (09:46):
Yeah, we do.
I mean, it's been.
It's kind of like a new thing.
That sort of happened for mesince COVID, because oftentimes
it's very funny to talk topeople who are considered your
quote, unquote competition, buthonestly, like there's.
I'm thinking of two yogastudios in the Quad Cities.
Both of them are hot.
(10:06):
One is One Tree Hot Yoga,heather Larson, and the other is
Jenny Kavanaugh who runs Houseof Ohm Hot Yoga in Rock Island,
and I regularly have coffee withboth of them and it's just so
amazing to sit with somebody whohas your job.
Like you know, you don't oftenas business owners, really we
don't often get to sit down withother people who have your job
(10:29):
and be like gosh.
It's really weird to have tomanage, you know, 15 people who
work for you one to two hours aweek or like all these little
things that are unique to us.
It's just lovely to sit andchat with people and they're
both so nice.
If you want hot yoga, supportthem.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
And there's like room for everybody because you guys
don't do exactly the same niche,nope, nope.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
There is room for everybody.
The more wellness professionalsthat there are in the Quad
Cities supporting each other,the better off we all are.
There's space for everybody.
You don't need to be I don'tthink you need to be hyper
competitive or reallyterritorial, and maybe some
people would disagree with me,but I just like them so much.
I want them to do well as muchas I want myself to do well.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Yeah, you know, I think that's kind of like,
that's kind of a draw of thisarea, like speaking on a tourism
front.
There are multiple like.
There are, you know, notduplicates, but there's multiple
versions of kind of the youknow the same business or like
in the same industry, and so youknow you can come here to do
(11:36):
one thing and find X, y and Zother activities that like apply
to you or you know, just kindof fit your lifestyle.
You know like, for instance,this is kind of probably the
most forward facing example Ican think of, like we have three
casinos that you know somecommunities might look at as
major competition from oneanother, but internally what we
(11:58):
see and what we're seeing inreality is that these three
casinos can really work togetherto attract a whole fleet of
people who have never been here.
And then, hey, guess what?
You've got three differenttypes of experiences that you
can have, you know, instead oflike competing against each
other.
So I love that you guys kind ofhave found that in your
industry as well, that you'vefound the camaraderie and you
(12:20):
know found a way that just haveoutreach in your same field.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
Yeah, it's honestly the best.
It was really, like I said, fora long time, especially before
I owned a yoga studio.
It's a pretty lonely professionand like it just makes me so
happy when we all get togetherand I can just chat with them
and we can support each otherand I can say, hey, have you
tried this?
Or they'll say, oh yeah, thisis the kind of merch that's
(12:48):
really selling and you know,it's just the best.
I love it so much because thereis room for all of us here and
like 400,000 people in ourgeneral area.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
Like there's plenty of room for everybody to grow
and thrive, yeah, and likelinking back to your podcast, so
that's kind of a way, you know,it's like digital boots on the
ground, you know of reaching acomputer screen that maybe has
never heard of the Quad Citiesor has not ever heard of your
studio personally.
Like, have you ever seen inaction that you've connected
(13:19):
with somebody or had a visitfrom somebody, just through the
podcast or through some kind oflike online marketing?
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Yeah, totally, that has absolutely happened to me.
It terrified me the first time.
It happened, if I'm beingtotally honest, because I like,
especially in my podcast, I liketo speak truth to our
experiences as Yokoprofessionals and some of that
truth is uncomfortable.
And so this the scout emailedme from a metro area not far
(13:45):
from here and they were like Ijust turned your podcast, I'm so
excited to see you're in Iowa,and I was like that's terrifying
, because they were like it's, Iloved everything about it.
I'm like, oh God, what did Isay?
Right, right, right.
But it was actually like we'veconnected, we have a really nice
connection and like she has astudio actually in it's in
(14:09):
Decora, iowa, and so she runslike this amazing studio.
She actually has a yogafestival every year, the
Drithvist yoga festival.
It's a socially justice forwardyoga festival the middle of
Iowa.
And I just like we justconnected on that level, like
yeah, it's fun.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
Isn't the internet great for that?
Yes, talk to me about yourevents coming up.
What are you doing in yourstudio space?
How can people get involved?
Speaker 1 (14:37):
So the apothecary sells actually one of my other
passions.
I really love tea and we had acouple businesses closed during
the pandemic time that soldherbs and teas and I went where
am I going to get all my teafrom?
And I decided that if it'simportant for me to shop local
as opposed to going online, thatit might be important for Quad
(14:59):
citizens to shop local for theirtea and herbs.
So in my lobby I have aapothecary.
It's about 300 square feet.
It's tiny, but we have 32 teasthat we blend.
About 40% of them are my blends, so they're my recipes.
And during the holidays, theapothecaries hosting a holiday
(15:20):
bizarre every Saturday, fromsmall business Saturday right
after Thanksgiving till December23rd, and I'm just opening my
doors to vendors to come in andthey can bend for free.
You can sell your art and yourcrafts there.
So I've got people signing uponline to secure a spot and
people can come and shop everySaturday during the holidays.
(15:43):
The village is such a charmingplace to come and shop at anyway
, so you can stop by myapothecary and get a cup of tea,
shop at our vendors, wanderaround the village, get all of
your Christmas presents sortedfrom local businesses, which is
the best.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
So yeah, that's what we're doing.
That's so exciting.
Did you come up with this ideajust out of like?
What was your motivation?
Was it like a way to engagepeople, or was it like a way to,
kind of like, get people downto the village?
What was the intent?
Speaker 1 (16:14):
Well, there, was a couple of different reasons.
One is a way to engage people,because I know a lot of folks
don't know, especially, that theapothecary exists yet, because
the apothecary is fairly new.
We just opened that at the endof 2021.
So really, we're really onlylike in our second year of the
apothecary and, of course, asyou know, in 2021, people
weren't out quite as much.
(16:36):
And also I just we run afarmer's market stand at the
freight house during thesummertime and I realized how
many of my farmer's marketfriends might not have a place
to sell during the holidayseason and I was like gosh, I'm
lucky I have this Birkenmorderspace and it's better for
everybody, like the whole themeof this could be.
It's better for everybody whenwe all work together.
(16:58):
So I just thought I'm going toopen up my space up.
I have a giant wide, open space, because that's what a yoga
studio is.
It's a big empty room whennobody's doing yoga in it.
So I'm opening it up andvendors can come and sell their
art and crafts there and have acup of tea.
We'll serve you a cup of teaand, yeah, I'm excited to have
(17:18):
people come down and check withus during the holidays.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
That'll be cool.
That's one thing I love aboutthe Quad Cities.
I've been here for like 10 plusyears.
I originally was from Michiganand I just have seen it blossom
over the last decade.
As far as, like you know, newtypes of events and kind of the
like combination of, you know,of industries getting together
and people exploring new places.
(17:40):
It just seems like every yearthat passes by there is
something new to add to the ticklist of like I have to go do
this, I have to check this out.
You know.
I don't know if you've noticedthat too, but it just really
seems to grow year after year.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
Yeah, we're really lucky that we have lots of
creative people in this area,like hosting lots of different
sorts of events, and like youcould find an event for whatever
your thing is that you wantfrom this area, which is super
cool.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
Yeah, so true, so true, so okay.
You have been in the yoga realmfor like 20 plus years.
Is that fair to say, yeah, waytoo long, way too long, and yet
not long enough because there'sso much work to be done.
Yes, what would you say is likea standout moment from all
(18:31):
those years of yoga training,interacting with people,
developing products like yourpodcast, like what really stands
out to you?
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Every time somebody comes and says to me you made my
life a little bit better, youmade me feel a little bit better
like Business ownership and Ithink anybody is listening to
this who's a small businessowner will say like it's hard,
it's not for the faint of heart.
We work very hard, we losesleep making sure that our staff
members are taking care of, andit's so funny how every time
(19:03):
like I get those we all getthose moments where you're like,
oh, this is too hard for me todo it, and somebody will like
leave a card on my desk at thestudio that says thank goodness
you're here, I'm so grateful forthe work you do, and like those
tiny little moments add up towhy I get up in the morning to
like open my business andsupport folks.
(19:25):
Feeling better, that's awesome.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
Yeah, thanks, I love it.
I mean, do you, do you have aone in particular, that that you
get a favorite memory?
Speaker 1 (19:40):
Honestly, I think my favorite one was during COVID
and and, like I said, those ofus who lasted through COVID
there was this point duringCOVID where I really just like
it was a week where I'm like I'mquitting, I can't do this
anymore.
And there was this card andit's not even signed.
I'm telling you, katrina, Istill have this card.
(20:01):
Whoever left it for me did notsign the card and it just said
dear Rebecca, thank goodnessYou're here, I'm so grateful
that I found you.
Sunlights made such an impacton my life.
Didn't sign the card.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
To this day.
You don't know who left thatfor you?
Speaker 1 (20:20):
I have no idea, but it is tacked up like I have this
giant corkboard at my officethat's got all my plans.
That looks like I'm likehunting a serial killer, right
like all my plans on there andmy car.
That card is still on mycorkboard.
I have no idea if it was astaff member or a customer or
whoever, but it was like thatmoment because it was
(20:41):
Thanksgiving week and I just waslike I can't, I'm so tired, I
can't, and that card was thereand I just like, oh, whoever
left me this card, thank you.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
I Thank you.
The littlest things that peoplecan do make such an impact and
I know people obviously feelthat coming from you and it's so
cool to hear the tables turnthat people do that for you in
that.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
It was amazing, like one of those moments where just
the timing was so perfect, of acard Like go send people cards
they love it.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
Yeah, it was like divine intervention.
So social media, do your thing.
Who are you?
Who left the card for Rebecca?
I gotta know I want like areunion, like a, like a card
reunion for you guys, yeah, yeahoh my gosh, it's too cool.
So In your perspective, fiveyears, ten years down the road,
(21:35):
what is?
What is sunlight yoga going tobe and what is your Roll going
to be in the yoga industry?
Speaker 1 (21:42):
Oh, that's a great question.
Thank you.
I have so many answers.
Okay.
So I have two main things thatI want Sunlight to be the yoga
portion.
I would love to find a way to beit as wildly Inclusive and
(22:02):
accepting as possible.
So someday to me that meansbeing in a space where there are
doors that can open wide enoughthat I could have, I could
support folks with disabilities,like wheelchairs, like they
could roll right in the studio.
We could have a wheelchairaccessible yoga class, like as
wildly accessible and welcomingas To as many people as I
(22:24):
possibly can make it, becauseyoga and wellness oftentimes
doesn't feel accessible orWelcoming to a lot of different
folks.
And if I can change that herein the Quad Cities, I'm gonna
For the apothecary.
I would love to like expand tohave a space where I could make
you those tea lattes that I'mmaking at home for Myself and my
kids in the summertime, like.
Like I want a place where youcan come and drink like
(22:47):
delicious tea and Pause and restand bring your book or connect
with your favorite somebody Like.
I would love for that to happenand I would love to talk to
more people on a national andinternational level about how
important it is for us to carefor Ourselves the way we care
for other people.
That's in my yoga therapypractice.
(23:08):
That's what I'm telling peopleall the time is that it's like
scales the degree to which youcare for other people in your
life Is the degree to which youare required to care for
yourself so that you can show upas your whole self for all of
the amazing people in your life.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
That is like words of wisdom.
Thank you, I love that.
And and what are your?
What are your parting words foryour fellow yoga instructors?
To just keep going, keep, keep,keep chugging along.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
Yes, Well, I mean Connect with your students.
I think that's really whatkeeps us going is when you find
these amazing humans who come tosee you for yoga, and it's a
really nourishing profession.
Connect with your students,connect with your fellow
co-workers, give them a hug,talk to them about your
challenges.
If you're in yoga, in this area, come talk to me about your
(24:04):
challenges.
I could talk about it all day,like like you're not alone.
While on this professionals,like I said, we're just on the
same journey that everybody elseis on and I think supporting
each other Is so important.
On that note, rebecca.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
I'm gonna have you fill in the blank QC that's
where.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
Qc that's where people come together to support
each other.
I love it.
I love it, so where?
Speaker 2 (24:34):
can people find you on social, how can people Make
sure they get to the holidaybazaar and all the wonderful
things that you offer?
So if you follow me on, social.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
You can follow me on Facebook or Instagram at
Sunlight Yoga Apothecary.
There's underscores betweensunlight and yoga and yoga and
apothecary, and that's the bestway to connect with me and find
out all the stuff that mybusiness is doing.
We do fun events too.
We just finished a forestbathing event with tea last
weekend which was incredible,where we got lost in the woods,
(25:05):
and you can come see our awesomecrafters and artists at our
holiday bazaar in December.
I'm excited for that.
So, yeah, that's a great placeto connect with me Instagram or
Facebook.
Well, we're so excited for you.
I'll make sure that if you'relistening to this podcast.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
You can find all those links and social handles
in the description Of whateverplatform you're on.
Take a look and you can findSunlight Yoga's events on our
events calendar.
Go to the Quad Cities.
Comm slash events will makesure that those all get there,
and I really appreciate yourtime, rebecca.
I really hope that we canfoster some more connections in
the Quad Cities.
Yay, thank you so much forhaving me.
Speaker 1 (25:41):
This is awesome.
Thanks for listening to QC.
That's where a podcast poweredby Visit Quad Cities.
Speaker 3 (25:46):
Text visit QC to 38314 for insider events,
activities and updates sentstraight to your phone.
That's V-I-S-I-T QC.
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