We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Isabela Schmucker. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Isabela below.
Isabela, so great to have you with us today. There are so many topics we want to ask you about, but perhaps the one we can start with is burnout. How have you overcome or avoided burnout?
In 2018 I moved to a small town in Florida due to financial difficulties. I took on 2 jobs to support myself, an English teaching position and part-time sales role. I quickly realized that this was not sustainable and fell into a cycle of constant fatigue. Moving through dealing with clients, learning how to sell for the first time, and being a prepared teacher and having to constantly talk for hours on end, overwhelm became the norm. I started having terrible back pain, trouble sleeping, loss of appetite, brain fog, and for the first time in my life, anxiety attacks.
Feeling quite isolated in a new town and dealing with family issues, I realized that I would soon drown because my mental and physical health were starting to get to a place where there was nothing joyful or pleasurable about my life. I felt like I was becoming a stranger in my own skin.
One afternoon I found a yoga studio near my neighborhood and decided to join a class. I had taken a handful of classes in the past due to some chronic back pain. The first class I went to at this studio brought me to tears. I could physically and emotionally feel how much tension was stuck in my body, and for the first time in months I had found a way to release and process everything that led me to burnout. This was the moment I knew that I would have to dedicate my life to mindfulness & Yoga.
As I began to cultivate a deeper connection to myself through Yoga, it became apparent why I was more susceptible to burnout than others. Through self observation and reflection I realized how much of my life revolved around pleasing others and overachieving in order for me to feel valued. These were the driving forces that led me to over-do it every single day.
Meditation and breathwork helped me to rediscover my inner self, the version of me that did not need to prove herself through external validation. Other mindfulness practices like journaling let me see things at face value. I also learned to create boundaries around how I wanted to use my energy. Through deepening the connection between my body, breath, and mind, I was able to process my emotions fully.
Fast forward to 4 and a half years later, Yoga and mindfulness practices continue to be a huge part of my everyday life. I now can spot the very early signs of when my body and mental health need to be reprioritized. I understand which practices and self care routines can be used for specific imbalances and can adjust my self care plan as necessary. I no longer move from a place of needing to prove myself, rather have connected deeply to my own inherent self value. I love myself and the world around me more everyday, and know that I am always supported no matter what I do or where I go.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My business is dedicated to empowering women to live with more ease and alignment. I currently specialize in burnout prevention and recovery through the use of Yoga and mindfulness tools.
In my 1:1 private mentoring program, I help women uncover the root cause of their burnout. From that understanding I guide clients through several different coaching themes. They include learning how to set boundaries, reframing limiting beliefs, cultivating self love, creating an intentional self-care routine, and more. Each week is coupled with movement, breath, and meditation practices tailored to each client’s physical and mental wellbeing.
After my own experience with burnout, I have a deep understanding of how impactful these practices can be, and their benefits trickle into every aspect of life. With my services I hope to inspire women to trust in their inner ability to heal, to know that they are not alone in this process, and to empower them with practical tools that will help them create a lifestyle that is truly nourishing and fulfilling. The power of transformation is what fuels me, as I know what was possible for me, is also possible for you.
Along with my program, Mindful Renewal, I am offering weekly Yoga classes, workshops on Yoga for burnout, and will be expanding my offers into the corporate space.I am also in the process of launching a monthly membership for deep rest and extreme self care.
Follow my instagram @heartsrisingyoga for all updates! Or contact me via www.heartsrisinginfo.com
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Trust, self-love, and radical acceptance have been the most impactful mindset shifts that have led me to where I am today. No matter what the challenge may be that you are facing, trust that this is happening FOR you, and not to you. Ask yourself, what is being revealed to me through this challenge? What am I supposed to learn and gain that will take me into the most aligned version of myself?
Accept the challenge/ situation for what it is. Notice the things that you have been denying or avoiding to feel. Allow yourself to truly accept that the situation is what it is, and invite yourself to feel deeply to begin processing the emotions that are coming forth through this challenge. Radical acceptance allows us the opportunity to release control and to understand that the challenge or feeling resulting from these challenges are just that, they are not a part of your identity. They are not who you are.
These two skills are possible through self-love. Wanting the best for yourself, taking the leap of faith that you are being guided through life and that anything put in your way is an opportunity to learn and connect more deeply to your true authentic self. When we love ourselves deeply, the world becomes a better place as we are more equipped to share that love outwards.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
If you are highly driven, passionate about your purpose, and identify as a female, I am the coach for you! Whether you are just starting to feel the effects of chronic stress, or have been through burnout several times, I am here to support you. Burnout can be caused by various scenarios, and it is easy to feel alone and unseen when we are in a constant state of stress. You may have invested in massages, exotic vacations, or had to quit jobs. But it just isn’t enough. You know you weren’t born just to “get by” and are ready to truly THRIVE. If you are ready to make 2024 the healthiest and most fulfilling year yet, contact me today.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.heartsrisinginfo.com
- Instagram: @heartsrisingyoga
- Facebook: facebook.com/info.heartsrisingyoga
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/isabela-schmucker-16057b295
