We had the good fortune of connecting with Andi Fitzgerald and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Andi, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
My work life balance has changed drastically over the past few months due to COVID. Before COVID, I was teaching anywhere from 10-12 group yoga classes a week at studios, senior living communities and recreation centers. Since the places I used to teach at have been shut down, and most students still don’t feel very comfortable taking in person classes, I’ve gone to teaching zero in person classes and moving to a completely online format. I’m filming and teaching virtual classes from my house, trying to find the best location to teach and trying to work around barking dogs and lawn mowers. My work life balance has gone from completely separate to completely intertwined in a matter of days. Between caring for my 5 month old and working on all the various household tasks throughout the day, I’m also now trying to squeeze in virtual classes and learning how to be a tech savvy yoga instructor. Teaching yoga this way is never something I would have imagined when I started my career as an instructor. I think a lot of yoga instructors are in the same boat. It’s a big adjustment!
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve been a Certified Yoga Instructor since 2018, focusing on accessible yoga- a yoga for every body approach. During my initial 200 hr training, I realized there were segments of our society who could benefit from yoga but needed a compassionate instructor to show them how. My mission from that day forward became to provide access to yoga practices for people that have been traditionally excluded from yoga. I’ve exclusively taught senior citizens, individuals with injuries and recovering from injuries, those with chronic illnesses, and ALL body shapes and sizes. My goal is to make anyone and everyone feel welcome in a yoga class so they can experience the benefits of yoga. I’ve come across so many people who think that they cannot practice yoga and I’m most proud of being able to prove them wrong! I’ve taught yoga to 100 year olds, cancer fighters and survivors, and people recovering from all kind of surgeries.
Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
Where do I start?! Coming from a very small town in Arkansas, I find the DFW area to be full of adventure. As a proud Dentonite, I would have to start with a few places around Denton and my most favorite is the Community Market. You can find some really amazing local vendors at The Community Market. A perfect Saturday morning is hitting up the Market, grabbing coffee and a cinnamon roll from Jupiter House Coffee (best Cinnamon Rolls in TX) and strolling around the square making sure to stop in at Recycled Books, Records, & CD’s. There are so many great places to eat in Denton. Boca 31 for incredible empanadas or Thai Square for some of the best Thai food you’ll ever have. For a drink in the evening, hands down, Paschall Bar. Venturing to Dallas, you have to stop in at Velvet Taco. As you can tell, I love food. From there, one of my favorite places in Dallas is The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. There’s also so many amazing venues for great live shows. I try to take anyone visiting to see a show. There’s almost always a great artist playing in Dallas!
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have a couple shoutouts. First, Stacy Olsen of Ludivine Life Coaching. Stacy has been a constant form of support over the years. She has helped me find so much confidence in myself, my yoga practice, and my business skills as an instructor. She led me through my initial 200 hr Yoga Teacher Training. I remember my first day in class, I could barely speak in front of the group. Stacy truly helped to bring out confidence that I didn’t even know I had. She’s an incredible personal coach. Secondly, my accessible yoga training was made possible through Yoga Vista Academy. What I bring to the classes I teach and all the knowledge for accessible yoga that I’ve gained has been because Yoga Vista gave me the tools I needed. If you’ve benefited from and enjoyed my classes, it’s because of Yoga Vista and the instructors I’ve had the opportunity to learn from. I highly recommend them for their vast amount of resources and certification programs.
Website: yogawithandifitz.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yogawithandifitz/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yogawithandifitz/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpADaUmH3nYKR0ZX6yP8foQ
Image Credits
Jessica Bishop