Kicking the Cubicle: Caley Yoga

“Kicking the Cubicle” is a brand-new weekly interview series on The Blonde Abroad featuring women around the world sharing their inspiring pursuits of dream-worthy jobs, how they got where they are and what a day in their shoes looks like. This week, LA-based yogi and yoga instructor Caley Alyssa, 29, shares her story.

Caley and I met earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival and have since become close friends and have even traveled together to Croatia and The Yacht Week Italy! As someone who managed to translate her passion (and incredible flexibility!) into a successful business, Caley is exactly the sort of female entrepreneur I am excited to hear from.

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Caley, you’ve become a major inspiration in the yoga community for women around the world, including myself. Where did your journey as a yogi begin?

It’s funny, but I really didn’t get into yoga until after college. I had practiced off and on with my siblings and took one Iyengar class at University of Oregon, but otherwise I was really more of a dancer growing up.

Once I graduated and moved to SF, yoga found me. It came to me when I needed it most. I was in a new city, with no friends and a partner who was working his butt off to prove himself at his first big job out of undergrad.

I walked out of class, saw a sign for teacher training, and immediately signed up.

You graduated college; what did you study? What part of your education did you find most useful in becoming a yoga instructor?

I was a science nerd! I majored in General Science, my emphasis being in Anatomy and Physiology, and minored in Chemistry and Business.

I would say that anatomy and physiology were the best base for me as a yoga teacher. Seeing actual muscles, how they move, learning about the interconnectedness of the body as a whole…that first hand knowledge was priceless.

What was the experience of leaving your career to pursue yoga like?

Scary. I had feelings of inadequacy, I was afraid that I would fail and have to return to a 9-5. I didn’t like having to rely on my partner to help sustain myself in the transition. There were a lot of emotions that came up for me, but mostly… I was so HAPPY!

Happy to be free and to be working for myself. Happy to have a job where I was actually helping to make other people healthier and more happy themselves. I was really and truly happy.

What is a typical day-in-the-life of Caley?

I am an early riser so I normally wake up and do a morning mediation, go for a hike with my man and our dogs, or jump in the ocean for a morning swim.

Then it’s off to take a yoga class, make a green smoothie, and catch up on emails. My teaching schedule is sort of all over the place so you can imagine I would throw in a private yoga session or teach an evening yoga class in there somewhere as well. Then I head home to eat and relax.

Those who know me well know I am an OLD WOMAN and go to bed super early most nights. Nothing too exciting here…and I love it!

What have you found most challenging about owning your own business and developing a personal brand, Caley Yoga?

Any self-employed person will tell you that the success of their brand depends on how much work they put into it. If you put in mediocre effort, you will receive mediocre results.

If you work your buns off and give it the best possible effort, there’s not a chance you won’t succeed. Initially, the most challenging part of being a yoga teacher for me was the financial component.

I wasn’t making enough money to sustain myself and I relied upon my partner to support me. Flash forward fives years later and I am an independent woman making enough money to support myself and doing what I LOVE!

On the flip-side, what do you love most about what you do?

My job holds meaning to me. I am really and truly helping others to lead happier and healthier lives!

What advice would you give someone hoping to become a yoga instructor?

Make sure you love it. AND, make sure you have some other form of work or learning to stimulate you. If you teach all day every day, you can get sick of hearing yourself talk. It can get redundant.

But, if you have balance in your life and keep pushing yourself to learn and be stimulated in other ways, you will appreciate every opportunity you have to step on your mat and teach your students.

There are ups and downs with any business. What inspires you, and what motivates you to keep going?

My community and mentors. Honestly, yoga is just as competitive as any other “job” you could have. But the people I see succeeding are the people who truly have passion for what they do and are skilled at transmitting that passion to those who learn from it. My mentors lead by example.

They have taken me under their wing and helped me to become the best teacher I am capable of. I intend to do the same for the next teacher who comes along.

What does success look like to you?

To me, success is a state of mind. There are moments when I’m in it, and moments when I’m not. When I can feel content, calm, and at peace…SUCCESS! When I am happy, motivated, and productive…SUCCESS! When I’m not in the best frame of mind, and I realize it and take myself out of it…SUCCESS!

What are you working on now that you are particularly excited about?

Two things that I’m super excited about: First I was just featured in SELF magazine as being one of the top 4 best bodies in the world! I also recently sat on a panel with Jessica Alba and Allyson Felix on being a SELF made women.

Secondly I am about to start filming a new show with NBC Sports called Radius. This will be my first T.V. show ever and I can’t wait for you to see it!

Lastly, a few fun questions!

What did you want to be when you grew up? An Orthopedic Surgeon (!)

What’s the #1 destination on your radar? Cuba

Song that has you dancing: Le Sins – Grind

Quote that keeps you smiling: “Do something! Even if it’s wrong.” – Grandpa Bob

Caley teaches at Yogaworks, Equinox, and The Yoga Collective in Venice, California. She also teaches online for Udaya Yoga (where you can watch her yoga lessons anywhere in the world!) and on the NBC Sports Network television show, Radius.

You can find more information on her website Caley Yoga or find daily inspiration on her Instagram.