Hi, I’m Kelly

Let’s get the dirty details out of the way: My name is Kelly, 40, married, no kids, a dog, a horse, and a career staring at spreadsheets.

How did I end up deciding to take 200 hour yoga teacher training, start teaching yoga and writing a blog? Honestly, great question, and one I found I had to remind myself of frequently going through teacher training while still maintaining a full time job, a house, a marriage and keeping a dog and horse alive. And the answer to that question is – I felt lost. Something you can relate to?

Five years ago, I found myself back to living in the small town where I had a new job, new home, new everything and the only person I knew was my now husband (we landed in his hometown). At the time we had been dating for 2 years, and I took a leap of faith in leaving everything I had built for the last ten years in pursuit of our future together. It was a decision we made together and one I will still defend, even on days I wonder how in the hell I ended up back in a small town.

A fresh start, I was excited about the possibilities of new friend groups, new conversations, and opportunities of a new career. Instead, I found myself with no local friends, none of my usual hobbies available to me, miserable in my new job and 40lbs heavier (and a fun new medical diagnosis to boot). Being my usual Type A doer self, I got to work and called my old therapist. Through our work, I started to slowly come out of my funk and started trying to establish myself in the community – horse riding lessons, trying fitness studios, work with a nutritionist, and learning to be more open to the new and not constantly pining for “what was”. And for awhile, it helped. We got engaged and I spent my time planning a wedding and living in newly married bliss.

Something was still missing though – I felt happy, but not fulfilled, and really had moments of feeling lonely or lost, wanting to get out and do something but not knowing what that something was. One fateful day, I got an email from my old yoga studio about a class outside on the college football field. I’m always up for a new adventure and it was in the same town as a dear friend of mine so I signed us up! And it was in that class where I finally felt what I was missing – a community. Next thing I knew, I am chatting with my husband, convincing him I need to finally take 200 hour yoga teacher training, and it will be a new fun way to build community in my new community. And so in January 2024, I embarked on one of the most meaningful journeys I’ve ever done.

I finished YTT in May of 2024, found out a new fitness studio was looking for instructors, reached out and landed myself a gig as a yoga teacher. I still work a day job in finance, but in the midst of all the chaos, I found a job with a culture that truly makes me feel at home. I had a moment a few weeks ago where I found myself crying happy tears – after 40 years, it feels like all the strings are finally coming together and find me where we are today – Life, Now.

My intent in writing this blog is to share my experience – maybe you can relate, maybe it helps you feel seen or heard, knowing that you aren’t alone in whatever your experience is. And maybe, just maybe, start to grow my community.