Meet Chanelle Macnab

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Chanelle Macnab. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with CHanelle below.

Hi CHanelle, so great to have you on the platform. There’s so much we want to ask you, but let’s start with the topic of self-care. Do you do anything for self-care and if so, do you think it’s had a meaningful impact on your effectiveness?

I cannot recall why I signed up for that first yoga class in college at 18 years old. Yoga was being offered as an elective and I decided to try it. Mind you, yoga was not mainstream and popular thirty years ago. Little did I know that this one small decision would become a life-long practice for me, a deep inner relationship with myself. Despite living in other countries, moving several times, graduate school, being pregnant twice, navigating a divorce, I always found a class or a studio to attend. My commitment to yoga has been ubiquitous. Thirty two years later, at fifty years old, my practice is more alive than ever. I practice yoga almost every single morning before I commence my day.

Someone recently asked me, “Why do you do yoga every day?” It felt almost condescending, like, what’s the point of it? I took a long pause before I responded, I had never asked myself this question. I thought long and hard. Why do I do yoga? The words flew out effortlessly like a long anticipated epiphany. Because yoga heals me, every single day. Every day is a different practice. Some days I feel tight and stiff and arthritic in my joints. Other days I am open, energized and seamlessly flowing through the poses. No matter what I am feeling that day, I show up. I show up to my mat with all of my meandering thoughts, my roller coaster of emotions and my judgments of myself and others. During that transformative and often arduous one hour every day, I work through challenges, both in my head and in my aging body.

Perhaps what gets me to class (for over 30 years) is that I inevitably walk out feeling better than when I arrived. My joints are supple instead of locked, my lungs breathe with ease, my stride is different. No matter what ails me, yoga heals it. If my joints ache, they feel better, if my back hurts, it becomes less obtrusive. If my knees limit my flexibility, they slowly unlock and relax. If I feel toxic, I sweat out toxins. If my head hurts, it improves after class. ALL of my physical body issues, resolve in a mere 60 minutes. The best part is that I do not have to drag myself to class. Getting to yoga is on autopilot. I wake up, get dressed, go to yoga. It’s non-negotiable and habitual. Like brushing my teeth or combing my hair, it’s my daily ritual and my life routine.

The way that yoga bleeds into the rest of my life is that I arrive at work glowing and radiant. I put my oxygen mask on first, making me completely present and available to take care of others. I arrive with a sense of calm yet energized. I am less reactive to stressors, because my nervous system is relaxed. I am a better problem solver. I am patient in line at the grocery store or the DMV. I am patient with my children, my spouse, my friends and family.

Finding a life-long discipline, a practice that is there for you no matter the circumstance, is a true commitment to the most important person in your life, you. Daily habits that make you feel good, make your body feel younger and healthier and make your life more meaningful leads to a more fulfilled life. This will inevitably have a ripple effect on every aspect of your life, your relationships and your ability to show up in your community.

It is my hope that others can read this article and stick to their self care through devotion, discipline and a desire to feel their absolute best. A healthy mind and a healthy body, leads to a healthy joyful life. It’s that simple.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am a licensed Acupuncturist and owner of West Sixth Wellness in Austin, Texas with over 23 years of experience.

My Story
After studying pre-med in college, I was inspired to travel to Spain where I embarked a transformative pilgrimage called the Camino de Santiago. This experience called me to holistic medicine, I later lived and studied in Italy under industry leading practitioners before getting my Masters in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). I graduated from one of the top schools in San Diego, California and did clinical studies in the oldest TCM universities in China. I believe the body is designed to heal itself. My duty is to be shepherd, guiding people on the journey of self-healing through holistic medicine.

Products/Services
West Sixth Wellness is a small wellness center in the quaint neighborhood of Clarksville. We offer acupuncture, cupping, sound bowl healing, chakra balancing and indulging Medicinal foot soaks.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

The greatest assets to hone while growing a small business are to be open to change, to seek out the best mentors in your field and to accept that the journey will always take you into unknown territories. The best example of this is during COVID when every business had to pivot and change its operations. The truth is, this will always be a constant in business. Stay curious and excited to learn and don’t be afraid to make bold choices, even when it goes against the grain.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

My number one obstacle is hiring the right people, that are aligned to my vision, and can help grow my business. I probably went through five different marketing firms/independent contractors before I found the right fit. The same goes for booking software and automating medical forms, all the way down to the location of the business and fellow office mates.

Delegating and being extremely clear about your vision, your personality, your tone, your branding, your goals and milestones is essential to growing a business. I hired one person to focus only on social media. I hired the best online booking software to facilitate with daily operations. I pay a high overhead but I’m in a very desirable location, central and close to downtown.

All of these small actions add up to big progress.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.chanellemacnab.com
• Instagram: @chanelleMacnab
• Facebook: @chanellemacnab

Image Credits

Credit Image Chad Wadsworth