Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cree Lawrence. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Cree, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
When I graduated from college, I did what everyone told me to do and I took a job with a small marketing agency. Honestly, I was not happy. I quickly realized that sitting in an office and getting people to buy things and writing blogs about SEO was not my purpose. The best part of my day was going to the yoga studio in the evening and teaching or taking a class. It was the highlight of nearly all my days. I love teaching yoga and fitness because I get to help people connect to their breath, body, spirit and emotions. It is an honor to watch people get stronger in many ways and show up for themselves.
I realized that I wanted to teach full time even though it was scary to leave the comfort of a nine-to-five job with benefits. I took the leap because I felt most alive and in the flow when I was teaching and I knew deep inside that this is one of my life purposes. I had to overcome society’s, family’s and others’ expectations of me in order to fully dive into full time teaching.
I knew when I was in college that I wanted to teach yoga so I took my first 200 hour teacher training while completing a full academic course load. Following that, I took a 50-hour extension vinyasa focused training, another 200 hour teacher training, a sculpt training, a hot yoga training, and a yin training over the course of about five years. With each training I fine tuned my own teaching style and found my voice as a teacher.
Reflecting on the hard work is the easy part. I’m grateful that I took the leap and decided to follow my dreams. At the beginning of the road, it was not so easy or simple. I had a lot of classes with one or two people there and I even considered quitting teaching. I’m so glad that I persevered because now I get to teach full time, guide yoga retreats around the world and I am on the path to lead teacher training myself.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
A large chunk of my focus is curating weekly classes. I teach 14 classes per week and I often sub one or two more per week. Each week, I create new sequences and playlists for the different styles of classes that I teach. I enjoy creating an environment where everyone feels welcome so I take extra time to create sequences that are accessible to everyone with lots of options to modify or up level so that everyone feels successful.
In addition to weekly classes, I teach local and international yoga retreats with my partner who is also a full time yoga instructor. I love teaching retreats because theres more time to dive deeper into many facets of health. Of course we practice yoga, and we also work on journal prompts, meditation, breath work and other limbs of mindfulness. My goal is to teach four or more yoga retreats per year and be able to travel the world and make a positive impact on retreat goers lives.
One of my newest endeavors is guiding teacher training. This year, I will be shadowing a few of my favorite teachers who have been leading teacher trainings for over a decade to learn from them on how to teach people how to teach. I want to empower aspiring instructors to find their teaching voice and give them the tools and knowledge they need to be successful instructors.
Some of my favorite classes to teach are special events and workshops. For example, this year I’ll be guiding a Spring Cleaning workshop focusing on letting go of old stories and creating space to accomplish new goals come the Spring. I get the chance to be super creative and work with some of my favorite people and best friends at many of my workshops and special events.
Through brand partnerships, I collaborate with like minded companies to promote yoga and mindfulness. I love partnering with brands like prAna Boulder to create impactful and accessible events for the entire community.
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?
For anyone early in their yoga teaching journey, the best advice that I can give to you is: develop your people skills, be consistent with teaching and practicing, and cultivate resilience.
First, being able to connect with people has been essential in becoming a full-time yoga instructor. I’ve had to learn how to build and nurture relationships with owners, managers, students and fellow teachers. Connecting with students and genuinely caring about them comes naturally to me and I feel blessed because it is such an important part of what I do. If you are looking to develop your skills to connect with people, I would recommend starting by sparking up conversation with some of your favorite instructors, baristas and people in your community. Put more value in making genuine connections with your community.
Second, create sequences that are well-rounded and well thought out. One of the best pieces of advice that I’ve received is if it feels good in your body, teach it. Do not teach things that do not resinate in your own body and practice. I believe that yoga can and will always meet us where we are at. If I’m personally having a hard day, I will teach a class that is much more gentle on the body. If I’m feeling energized and ambitious, my classes tend to lean more active and challenging. Being genuine and adaptable has taught me how to be a great instructor. Furthermore, keep your own practice going. It is so important to practice what you preach.
Third, resilience is key. There have been times in my life where I’ve felt absolutely lost and unsure of myself. The moments right after those feelings are often breakthroughs and growth spurts. It is important to mute the noise when life feels so loud. It can become easy to compare class numbers or harp on what one student said after class that does not sit well, but ultimately what I get to do is a privilege and a gift. I know that the majority of people who come to my classes leave feeling reset, calm and connected to their mind and body.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am excited about the possibility to collaborate and partner with brands that align with my passion for yoga and mindfulness. I’m particularly interested in connecting with retreat centers, resorts, and yoga centers that are excited about creating wholistic healing events and yoga retreats.
I’m also passionate about expanding my audience and offering classes to people who would not typically go into a yoga studio to practice. More specifically, I would like to integrate yoga into corporate settings. Yoga can significantly benefit both employees and organizations, fostering a more mindful, productive, and stress-free work environment.
If you are interested in collaborating with me, please contact me at: @creetureyoga on Instagram
Contact Info:
- Website: https://creetureyoga.com
- Instagram: creetureyoga
- Youtube: creeture yoga
Image Credits
IMG_6414 & IMG_6433
Image credit – Kayla Gray
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