We had the good fortune of connecting with Naomi McCoy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Naomi, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
My goal as a yoga + movement teacher is to help teach students tools to live a empowered, joyful life. I love to highlight the process of, critical thinking, self-understanding and the importance of discovering one’s inner teacher. Yoga’s introspective nature inspires me to cultivate compassion towards myself and others, and reminds me to remain inquisitive, exploratory and open hearted. The more I can hone in on and embody those things in my own practice, the more I’m able to share them with students / the world.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Being a former competitive athlete, I initially came to yoga for a new way to move. I lucked out having my first yoga experiences with some awesome teachers + humans (one of the most awesome being Phillip Grundy at Hidden Dragon Yoga in OKC). My practice blossomed when I began my own consistent home practice after taking a few classes at a studio. The somatic experiences I had while practicing were unlike anything I’d ever felt, a magical remedy for the major chronic anxiety, depression, and trauma responses that I had been dealing with nearly my entire life. I had to learn more. I became fascinated with yogic philosophy and spirituality, and felt a calling to share this healing practice with others. After about two years of practice and self study, I took my first Yoga Teacher Training in Dallas TX. I worked three jobs to pay for it. I’ve taught at over a dozen studios and gyms in the DFW area since, with very diverse clientele, class types, and class settings. Teaching yoga did not come easily to me, as I’ve always been a shy person, definitely an introvert. Speaking in front of people was terrifying to me, but not as much as being vulnerable. Having a strong guard up at all times was a survival instinct for me growing up that unconsciously continued into my adult life. Teaching yoga forced me out of my comfort zone and has taught me so much about vulnerability. I did my second extended training in Austin TX where I lived and taught yoga until moving back to Dallas this year. I’m very excited to be back in Dallas with my community. One of my biggest takeaways from last year (2020) was how important community is to me. Like many businesses and industries, Yoga and Wellness in Dallas suffered a lot last year. I’m very grateful to be here and able to serve + help re-build our yoga and wellness communities. My goal is to help change the narrative around what yoga is and what it’s for – to inspire practitioners to think critically, to help remind that yoga isn’t limited to just a workout (rather, it’s a work-in ;)) and the physical part of yoga is just that, one part of a much larger concept.
How we treat ourselves and others should be our practice’s main concern.
I’m very grateful and excited to have the ability to teach students on more intimate level being a lead teacher trainer at Black Swan Yoga as well as co-creator + lead teacher training of Jungle Dallas’ Yoga Teacher Training.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Matcha / coffee at Wayward Coffee, breakfast at Spiral Diner, Kinstretch class with my partner and bad ass trainer JJ at Jungle Dallas, lunch at Tribal Cafe, long boarding and dog parking at White Rock Lake, a stroll through the Dallas Museum of Art or the Perot Science Museum, plant shopping at Oasis, dinner at Pizza Lounge, a post dinner walk around Bishop Arts, and Yin yoga + Sound Bath with my dear friend Micheal Cruz at Black Swan Yoga.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have so many people to thank for their unconditional support and friendship in recent years. One that quickly comes to mind is Rachel Fox, (owner of The Refuge Meditation), one incredible, gold hearted human who believed in me as a young instructor (before I really believed in myself) and gave me many opportunities that contributed greatly to my growth as a teacher + all around human. Ram Dass’ book, ‘Be Here Now’,
Thich Nhat Hahn’s ‘True Love’ (and many of his other works) Eckhart Tolle’s ‘The Power of Now’, and Daniel Quinn’s ‘Ishmael’, are all books that have been highly influential on me in my own journey of self discovery and spirituality.
Another person that easily and quickly comes to mind is my Mom, who is to thank for my work ethic (ability to make it through the grind of being a full time yoga teacher and free lance creative). She raised my three sisters and I on her own, and her incredible resilience has been a major inspiration for me my entire life.

Instagram: @naomisusann

Image Credits
Justin Clemons, Neil Gandhi, Erica Connolly

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