I must confess I love practicing yoga at home and when I stumbled across Allie from The Journey Junkie on Youtube and I tried her Yoga classes they made me feel so good within I had to share this amazing Yoga Teacher and absolute Wellness Inspiration with you.
I made the time to interview Allie exclusively to find out more about the girl who is on a Yoga Mission to Make Others Feel Good from within.
Here is our Spa it Girl Exclusive Interview with Allie from The Journey Junkie:
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Hi, my name’s Allie – I’m a born and raised Florida girl from the States, a year away from being the BIG 30, recently married to my longtime beau, a forever yoga student, a certified yoga teacher, an online inspiration leader, a marketing girl by trade, and an overall enthusiast for living my journey wholeheartedly and unapologetically.
How did you get into yoga and teaching? I started practicing yoga with my roommates/best friends at a local hot yoga studio. Immediately, I fell hard for the practice and tapped into something I’d been missing for years – fluid movement, strength, flexibility, self-expression, sensuality and a greater connection to my body, mind and soul. It was like pure magic.
Eventually, three years into a regular yoga practice, I became intrigued with becoming a yoga teacher and started the process of researching local yoga teacher training programs. At the time, I was working a full-time office job and needed a flexible program to balance the two.
My training program was profound, eye opening, challenging and exactly what I needed in that moment. It was truly the start of a new journey for me, one that I will forever be grateful for.
What Inspired you to start your own yoga Youtube channel? After blogging about yoga/travel for over two years, I knew my community was ready + wanting more from me. I sensed it in the emails I received, the comments I read, and the overall online yoga community.
And at first, I was scared shitless! I talked myself out of recording videos for months upon months, but finally faced my fears and got to work. Now, creating + filming + sharing videos is one of my favorite aspects of what I do!
……funny how that fear thing always works itself out.
What do you love the most about having your YouTube channel – The Journey Junkie? I LOVE gifting people yoga in the comfort of their home! Before I started my online channel, I was incredibly jaded that everyone attended classes in a yoga studio environment.
Like hello Allie, that would be incredible, but impossible!
I learned that many people either can’t afford a studio package, don’t live close enough to one, have a packed schedule, or are juggling the role of working mom, wife, and trying to be healthy all at the same time. These challenges are what drive people to online free yoga channels, like mine, and it’s an honor to be part of their journey!
What are some of the benefits of establishing a home yoga practice?
- Flexibility
- Releasing fear of judgement
- Comfort of your home
- Free – duh!
- Ability to take your yoga with you anywhere
Do you have any tips for newbies starting out a Yoga Home Practice?
Start with learning the postures, I have an EPIC free resource that teaches 30 poses in 30 days, you can sign up for it here
Create a sacred space in your home to practice. For home yoga space inspiration,
Look for beginner or hatha yoga flows to learn the foundations.
Do you think practicing Yoga can help with self-love and self-acceptance? Absolutely.
I am a pure testament of how the yoga practice can + will inspire your journey! I started my yoga journey a girl wrapped up in materialistic shit, confused about who or what I could be, fixated on looking skinny, and endlessly gossiping about nonsense.
Fast forward five years, I’m a confident, know my purpose woman who’s turned on by authenticity, leaning into my discomfort, conscious conversation, healthy living, creating + helping others, and the simplest of people, places and things.
Yoga is my answer to both self-love and self-acceptance, and I think it can be the answer for many, many more!
As a dedicated yogi do you practice yoga every single day or do have rest days when you need to? I don’t practice yoga every day, because it’s not what my body, mind and soul need anymore. However, the first two years or so, I practiced 5-7x a week for over 60 minutes a session. Now, I practice 3-5x a week, but also film a plethora of classes each week too.
I think there’s a sweet spot that each yogi needs to discover through their personal yoga journey.
Do you think we have to practice yoga for a certain amount of time? Or is it ok to tune in and choose what suits us best? I fall into the latter category and tell my community all the time – YOU DO YOU.
Do what you need for that day, that moment, in the body that you’re in. Each day is a new opportunity to move, bend, breathe and connect – and each day we need something different.
Some days we might not a powerful 75 minute yoga flow and others days we might need a 20 minute stretch sessions. And some days, our yoga might be consciously interacting with our friends + family.
I like to empower people to choose their form of yoga – both on and off the mat – but to always be on the path of living their journey by connecting to their yoga practice.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BSjiUn5FAEM/?taken-by=thejourneyjunkie
When we roll out our yoga mat at home what are some things we should generally try to focus on? Whether you’re rolling out the mat at home or in a studio, the main focus I like to to preach is:
Turn down the exterior & Light up the interior
Our physical practice is a beautiful way to build strength + gain flexibility, but it’s greater purpose is to calm the monkey mind, experience clarity, and reconnect to our true Self within.
Besides from practicing yoga how else do you like to keep healthy and fit? I love LONG walks outside and luckily live in a very warm climate, so walking is always available. I also love short HIIT workout routines, specifically the Bikini Body Guide by Kayla Itsines.
I don’t do HIIT regularly, but when I’m feeling like I need a tune up, I’ll dabble with this style of movement.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BRmTaXZFna8/?taken-by=thejourneyjunkie
Do you have any spiritual teachers or gurus you love to follow or who inspire you? I absolutely do!
For yoga teachers, I follow the below people:
- Jason Crandell
- Tiffany Cruikshank
- BKS Iyengar
- Rachel Brathen
- Kathryn Budig
….. and truthfully, so many more!
For inspiration leaders, I follow the below people:
- Danielle LaPorte
- Elizabeth Gilbert
- Rich Roll
…. and again, so many more!
Do you have a go-to healthy snack that we should know about? I LOVE all fruits + veggies + nuts and am usually snacking on this type of food in-between meals.
Do you have any tips for cultivating a daily meditation practice? Start small and with guided meditations. I recommend using an app, there’s many out there, and doing two – five minutes per day. Once you get comfortable + gain more quiet time, start to add onto your meditation practice. Another minute. Another two minutes.
Eventually, you’ll find that sweet spot of connection to unite your body, mind and soul.
If you had one wish for everyone what would it be? Do more yoga. Breathe deeper. Connect harder. Live your journey.
How can we stay in touch with you?
My Youtube Channel: The Journey Junkie
Website: thejourneyjunkie.com
Instagram: @thejourneyjunkie
Here are some of Allie’s – The Journey Junkie YouTube Yoga classes to get you started however if you subscribe to her: The Journey Junkie YouTube Channel there are so many more. Enjoy
Hashtag #SPAITGIRL and tag @Spaitgirl + @thejourneyjunkie on Instagram to share your yoga journey with us.