Last week I caught up with an Instagram yoga influencer who’ve I admire through the years. Melissa is not just totally lit on IG, she is an actual business coach, retreat planner, as well as host of her own wellness podcast. I picked her mind to take our readers a little bit deeper into the everyday thinking of a meditative boss babe.
Read our interview below:
1. Why did you make the transition from a fast-paced lifestyle to a more zen lifestyle?
Melissa Ruiz: After working as a TV producer for 13 years, I left everything behind to pursue my passion and purpose of yoga. My path was of a healing one! I was just getting a divorce, selling my home and re-evaluating everything in my life when I realized I actually knew very little about myself.Â
2. How does your wellness program influence this whole yogi culture and what are you doing to stand out?
MR: My program and expertise are like nothing out in the market. I came from a TV background where I was selling million-dollar shows and applied all the same business concepts and strategies to my own business and it worked. The business was birthed out of necessity, from a real need of seeing my #soultribe struggle. I saw the need and filled the gap! Traditional in yoga and meditation, people have to come into a class but the online space exploding I knew that’s where I wanted to take my business. I just kept thinking if fitness has transitioned to the online space so can all my spirit conscious leaders that are using their gifts. I just have to teach them how to soulful sell and step into their authority and I did just that. I knew I was on to something big when my 3rd month of business I had a 26k launch.Â
3. How closely do yoga and meditation go hand in hand?
MR: I find that we want these two healing modalities to go together more often than I actually see people implement them both. Although in my opinion, the two healing modalities bring you closer and closer to awareness. I find that many people do one or the other. Yoga which is the asana practice is the physical practice that allows you to release and let go of so many physical emotions that we hold on to and I would say it is the most popular one. Meditation can be a more challenging practice but is quickly getting lots of attention in the wellness space right now as a practice that can lower your stress and anxiety.Â
4. Does it get easier as you grow your network, community, and following or does it get harder? Why?Â
MR: This question is interesting. Yes, it gets easier for people to trust you and for you to take bigger swings. However, with every level, it’s a new beast. Being an entrepreneur takes an incredible amount of spirituality. It takes courage, belief in yourself and the willingness to not give up until you manifest the reality you believe is possible.Â
At every level of entrepreneurship you will have to step up to a new level of you are and that’s no easy task for anyone.Â
5. In today’s influencer culture, how do you think mindfulness can take root when everyone is always busy, hectic schedules, and burned out?Â
MR: Not only will it take root and flourish I see it already happening. I teach yoga meditation to kids k-5 and at the college level as well. Yes, we are all busy and burned out but we have seen the detrimental effects it has taken on our lives. Stressed out, overworked and busy is no way to live a life. I always ask my clients what is your purpose? Why is it you’re doing what you’re doing and if the answer is for survival then we need to continue to dig deeper. I truly believe we’re all born with gifts and our mission is to share them with the world. To inspire, to create and learn as much as possible so that we can all evolve to more conciseness. Also, I see more and more people quitting their careers in search of happiness. It’s like the old saying “you can’t buy happiness†and I think for a long time we were doing just that and in the process became an obsessive culture consumed by material things. Â
6. What books could you recommend to our readers looking to start their wellness journey in 2020?
MR: Here are a couple of books that changed my life.
Untethered Soul
Daring Greatly
New Way to Be Human
A New Earth
The Power of Now
Tapping the Power Within
7. Which thought leaders inspire you within your specific niche? Who inspires you day in and day out?
MR: One of the people I look up to the most is Eckhart Tolle. His work is profound, life-altering and so needed for our planet. His message is one of awakening!
Katie Byron is an amazing leader who is paving the way for many parents and children with troubled relationships.
Yung Pueblo is an incredible leader who is changing the word with his writing and his message is one of hope, transformation, and healing.
I’m moved and inspired by those who have had a spiritual awakening and have lived in their TRUTH.
Follow Melissa on Instagram @tvyogi
About Tahyira Savanna: Tahyira is a lifestyle journalist and writer. Her interest includes human stories and introspection. She interviews everyday people doing their part to make our world a happier place.
Follow her on Twitter @TAsterisk and Instagram @iletthegoodtimesroll
