We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Andrea Edde. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Andrea below.
Andrea, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
As a wellness expert and yoga & Pilates teacher, my resilience stems from a combination of personal experiences, inner strength, and the teachings of mindfulness and self-care. I have faced various challenges and obstacles in my own life, and these experiences have helped me cultivate resilience.
Practicing yoga and Pilates has been key in helping me connect deeper to myself and having an outlet to just be. These disciplines emphasize the mind-body connection, allowing me to tap into and build mental and physical strength. Through regular practice, I have learned to stay present, adapt to change, and find balance amidst adversity.
Additionally, my understanding of self-care and holistic well-being has played a significant role. I prioritize taking care of my physical, mental, and emotional health. This includes practices such as meditation, eating well, resting (which is my biggest work in progress), and seeking support from loved ones, including my therapist.
The supportive community and relationships I have built over the years have been a game-changer. Surrounding myself with positive and like-minded individuals who share similar values has provided a strong support system during tough times.
Approaching setbacks and obstacles as opportunities for growth and learning, rather than as insurmountable barriers is a game changer. By reframing challenges in a positive light, I can navigate through them with a sense of optimism and determination – what is this teaching me? Is a question I ask often when I’m feeling down. This will not change the situation, but it will definitely put things into perspective and help navigate rough situations.
Life happens, and sometimes it simply sucks. But having tools you can always go back to have truly made a difference in my life to get me back on my feet and be more empathetic with myself – allowing myself to feel it all and process what comes to find the brighter light on the other side.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
SAFARAE began as a Pilates on-demand platform a couple years ago and has evolved into an incredible community wellness platform offering two key programs in 2023: SAFARAE mama & SAFARAE reset.
The latest project, SAFARAE reset will launch August 1st. A 7-day program with a daily 45-minute commitment, where we’ll exercise the body & mind. Curated yoga and Pilates flows, plus breathwork and meditation, makes it the perfect way to reset your routine whenever necessary. If you’re in a funk, came back from a trip, are taking a trip, or are caught up in a routine that is not serving you, a simple 45 minutes will change your perspective and show you change is possible.
SAFARAE mama is strategically designed to provide mothers with magic in this new stage of their life and, in that way, empower them because everything starts within. Because a mother’s well-being affects her surroundings, the program is dedicated to supporting them on their journey and, through self-love practices, motivate mothers to take care of themselves – body, mind, and soul.
As the founder, my mission is to inspire and empower people to implement exercise and healthier habits into their daily routines to create a happier, balanced, more conscious lifestyle. My passion is to help others feel stronger, healthier and happier while celebrating everything your body CAN do.
At SAFARAE, we understand that modern life can be stressful and chaotic, and that finding time to take care of ourselves can be a challenge. That’s why we’ve developed a unique approach that combines physical activity with mindfulness practices to help you connect with yourself on a deeper level.
In addition to the physical benefits of exercise, our program also incorporates mindfulness practices to help you connect with your thoughts, emotions, and inner self. Through guided meditation and mindfulness exercises, we’ll help you cultivate a greater sense of self-awareness, compassion, and resilience.
We believe that the mind-body connection is a powerful tool for improving overall health and wellbeing, and we’re committed to helping you develop a stronger, more positive relationship with yourself.
Change is gradual and consistency is key. Plant the seeds, do your part and let life work its magic, too!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
In my journey, three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that have been highly impactful are resilience, continuous learning, and self-reflection. Here’s my advice for individuals who are early in their journey on how they can develop or improve on these:
Resilience: Cultivating resilience is crucial for navigating through challenges and setbacks. To develop this quality, it’s important to embrace a growth mindset and view obstacles as opportunities for growth. Embrace failure as a stepping stone to success and learn from each experience. If you don’t try, you’ll never know. Surround yourself with a supportive community and be sure to always listen to yourself and intuition.
Curiosity: Being curious is key to personal and professional growth. Stay open-minded, seeking out new knowledge, skills, and experiences. Embrace opportunities for formal and informal education, workshops, seminars, or online courses. Engage in self-study, read books, listen to podcasts, and explore different perspectives. Surround yourself with people who inspire and challenge you intellectually. Remember to practice what you learn so it sinks in, but most of all just be present as much as you can. You’ll be surprised at everything there is to see and absorb.
Self-Reflection: Engaging in self-reflection allows you to gain clarity, understand your strengths and weaknesses, and make informed decisions. Take time regularly to reflect on your experiences, actions, goals, and values. Journaling, meditation, breathwork and therapy can help immensely. Actively seek feedback and be open to self-improvement. Embrace a growth mindset and be willing to adapt and evolve as you learn more about yourself and your journey.
If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?
The biggest challenge I’m facing this year is reinventing myself professionally. I have been a full-time corporate employee for over a decade and the sense of security and stability that brings is immense. This year, I made the decision to dedicate myself to SAFARAE and am working to make it become what I’ve been dreaming of for a very long time. Pouring my heart and soul into it, and learning from everything that goes right and wrong to make this dream a reality. Having an entrepreneurial spirit has allowed me to see the “other side” while still meeting and exceeding corporate goals.
It’s challenging to be the one with the goals, the vision and strategy for clear execution. But the passion is so great, that I am excited to truly dive into SAFARAE full-time and see where it goes. I have no doubt that with my hard work and dedication, which has built SAFARAE so far, it will now step into a new phase which will be bigger than I can imagine. Add a little bit of magic, and let it unfold.
Contact Info:
- Website: safarae.com
- Instagram: @safarae_
- Other: https://linktr.ee/safarae_
Image Credits
@catirephy
