We had the good fortune of connecting with Chrissy Cortez-Mathis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chrissy, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factors behind my success is inclusivity and fun. My Yoga classes are accessible for most folks especially my Chair Yoga classes. People will tell me that they thought they would never be able to practice yoga but when they come to a Chair Yoga class, they feel successful and become aware of their bodies in a new way. It helps them disconnect from the thinking mind and come in to the sensations of the body. They learn to discern what feels good, what feels challenging as well as when the body does not like a particular posture. Ultimately, they learn to listen to their body and find acceptance of where they are in the moment. Lastly, we have fun. It’s nice to take time to enjoy each other’s company and have a laugh while we take care of ourselves. All of my classes have become little communities of people who care about each other.

What should our readers know about your business?
My career began in healthcare working in clinics as well as becoming an administrator. My heart has always been with patient care so I went back to working as a Case Manager at a Pain Management Clinic. It was there that I learned about Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction from Jon Kabot Zinn. I loved how this program helped our chronic pain patients and I saw the transformation for many. MBSR went hand in hand with my personal yoga practice so I began to include more of the meditations in to my daily practice.

When I was laid off from this clinic, I was going through my Yoga Teacher Training. It was a perfect time to launch in to building my own company. A few years prior, I had an injury that made a traditional yoga practice not available and the studio was introducing Chair Yoga for Seniors. I asked if I could join them and was welcomed whole heartedly. This began my love of working with older adults and developing Chair Yoga practices that could help everyone.

What I hope people take away from this is when we have set backs, those might be the inspiration for a whole new direction in our lives. It’s been 12 years since I was laid off and I am so thankful that it happened. While the hustle to find places to teach and developing workshops I hope will resonate with my clients and the public is real, it has been worth the effort especially for those folks who never thought they could practice yoga. Yoga is for everybody.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My husband and I are Texas Master Naturalists so we love to take folks to the natural places in Richardson. The Prairie Creek Wetland and Wildscape is a lovely place that the Master Naturalists as well as community members have been working to restore. It is a remarkable place in our urban environment.

We also love to visit the Spring Creek area in Richardson as well as in Garland. UTD has a great Asian Art Museum that is free so we like to take folks there too.

As far as places to eat and drink, we love Civil Pour for their service and comfy atmosphere. They have yummy sandwiches as well as coffee and beer. We also have two local breweries we like to visit, Four Bullets and Oak Highlands. Both have nice patios and a fun vibe.

Most of the time, we just hang out in our garden. The front and back yards are native plants, pathways and seating areas. The front yard is open to the public so our community has a place to wander and take in the natural beauty and creatures that call our garden home.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am grateful to all my teachers and mentors over many years. The Mat Yoga Studio has been a place of great friendships and teachers. The support of this community has been a touchstone for my practice as well as a place I can share my ideas and teachings. The encouragement has been endless. It’s a wonderful place to grow and learn. I also want to include my amazing husband as he has been a constant support through out my career.

Website: https://www.ChrissyCortezMathis.com

Instagram: ChrissyCortezMathis

Linkedin: Chrissy Cortez-Mathis

Facebook: Chrissy Cortez-Mathis

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@yogawithchrissy7532

Other: https://insighttimer.com/chrissycm

Image Credits
Samantha Martin

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.