We recently connected with Katrina Jarvis and have shared our conversation below.
Katrina , we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
When I first started teaching yoga I struggled with self esteem and self confidence. Mostly because everyone you see on social media is doing these amazing poses, acrobatic, jaw dropping… OH MY GOD things.
And here I was…barely certified teaching classes and not able to do those things I saw on social media. So I did struggle with imposter syndrome and confidence at first. 100%
But then I realized I did have something valuable. Even though I couldn’t do those crazy acrobatic things… yet 😉… I did have knowledge and it was more than the average person had about yoga. And I could share that and be a part of their journey… And not only that but show MY full journey as well.
The ups and downs, the falling on my face, talking about my strengths and struggles alike.
It was more important to be authentic then it was for me to get that jaw dropping response or be “perfect.”
I focused in on what I excel at, which for me is empowerment. I love to build people up and encourage them. I love community. I love speaking life into other people’s goals and dreams and helping them believe that the dream in their head is absolutely achievable.
So with teaching, I didn’t want to just lead these people thru a flow, or a workout. I wanted to truly interact and know them and give them their own self confidence.
The strength and the fancy poses came later and naturally with practice.
But I will tell you right now, that there isn’t one person in my classes who comes to class because of what I can do… they come to me because of what I help them believe THEY can do.
I know it sounds cheesy but truly I drew my confidence and self esteem, from helping to cultivate and grow confidence not only in my students but other teachers I’ve met via social media, my studio, or even at other studios I practice at.
I believe we all have a unique talent and can learn from each other. Once you stop comparing yourselves to others and view everyone as someone you can either teach or learn from, the self doubt kind of disappears.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’ve been practicing massage therapy for a little over 20 years. I specialize in deep tissue, sports, rehabilitation, and injury. I believe so many of us have experienced negative touch in life, either from abuse, or trauma, and I believe that massage therapy can introduce these people to the healing touch that they desperately need.
Between yoga and massage I do feel like it was almost a calling for me to be a healer, or at least be involved in healing.
So many people have misconceptions about massage therapy, like it’s just rubbing someone down and getting out knots… which kind of I guess.
But it’s also an energy transfer. It’s allowing a safe space for someone to rest, relax, and experience safe touch, and to HEAL. That’s important to me as someone who has experienced physical abuse.
Being a yoga teacher is also a perfect companion for massage for many of the same reasons.
Yoga is the first form of movement that made me love my body. My goal wasn’t to build this dream body. It was to love the skin that I’m in and to really appreciate all that my body does for me. Sharing that energy is sacred to me and I am so grateful for anyone who chooses me as their teacher.
It’s truly an honor for me to be involved in anyone’s mental or physical health journey at any capacity.
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?
Empathy- empathy is my greatest quality. And truly I believe empathy to be the most powerful trait you can possess. The ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and really being able to FEEL what they are feeling is a gift… and it is lacking in the world today.
Sense of Humor- you have to be able to laugh at the stumbles, and falls, and blunders… not just metaphorically but physically as well. We are going to fall. Success isn’t linear. Growth isn’t linear. It’s ups and downs. Laughing thru the downs will help you get thru them.
Being open to learn, being teachable, and never ever stop being a student. This is true of anything in life but for me with yoga. I am always wanting to book another course, learn a new skill, get certified in something else. I also love going to other teachers classes and seeing the way they cue, the way they hold space for their students, etc.
We will never know it all, and often times there are limitless ways to get from point a to point b. Seeing how other people do things, keeps you humble, keeps you learning, and can even inspire you in ways you didn’t know you needed.
For anyone just starting out I would tell them, if you focus on what you can offer others, and in what you can help them to achieve, over what YOU are able to personally achieve … you will be successful. Also what is more gratifying, impactful, and lasting than being of service to others?
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Always always always looking for people to collaborate with.
Strength comes in numbers and I’m open to learning more and collaborating with spiritual healers, energy workers, life coaches, trauma therapists… all of the above.
It would be amazing to be a part of some sort of woman’s retreat. You see yoga retreats all over the place but where do you see one that encompasses EVERYTHING.
As a mom of 4, I understand how moms tend to put our own needs absolutely last. So many of us are operating in survival mode and burnt out.
To be a part of something that would give these women the space to thrive? I’d be ecstatic.
Probably the best place to contact me for collaborations would be via my Instagram messenger Instagram.com/katrina_danielle_yoga
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vagaro.com/katrinajarviswellness
- Instagram: Katrina_danielle_yoga
Image Credits
Just me and my cell phone😜
