Meet Emilia Garth

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

Emilia, 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?
I first began studying Buddhism in high school and maintained a (albeit sometimes loose) practice. I have always been intrigued by exploration of the mind and consciousness. My mom is a professional dancer, and for me dancing is an outlet for complete physical liberation.

Curveball- this is where it gets juicy and vulnerable- Mom and Dad, if you’re reading this, please skip this section….

I moved to Miami at age 18 to go to college and, as you may guess, with all the dancing and mind altering substances available, I partook in a fair share of recreational drugs. Perhaps more than a fair share. I was in pretty deep and I didn’t see any end in sight. At the same time, I was singing house (electronic) music, so was constantly in an environment conducive to this lifestyle. This was my norm until the end of my twenties when I began a regular yoga practice.

In the yoga classes I attended, the teachers would play mantra (songs with sacred syllables as prayers for spiritual evolution). I began to study the mantras and their meanings, and began to comprehend that every word we utter carries energy and value. I went to India to study yoga and meditation and came back with the realization that I no longer wanted to sing songs with lyrics that weren’t uplifting. Now, I”m meticulous with my song choices and I employ artistic license if I’m singing a cover song and don’t agree with a certain term- always with all due respect.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
In today’s hustle and grind world, I offer experiences to return to bliss through relaxation. For some people, relaxing is difficult and/or is not priority, but Newtonian physics state that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. For every ounce of energy we expend, we must also replenish; whether that be mental or physical.

Relaxation looks different for everyone, so I offer various modalities:

Retreats:
Internationally and domestically, I offer retreats with yoga, meditation, nature immersion, and workshops for spiritual and personal development.

Concerts:
For those who can’t or don’t want to make the commitment to a retreat, I offer unique concert experiences that blend mindfulness, meditation and music.

Workshops:
Additionally, I am passionate about empowering people to sing and embrace the uniqueness of their voice, so I also offer collective song circles and voice workshops online and in person.

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?
First of all, thank you for the opportunity to reflect. This question sparked a beautiful journey down memory lane. Two qualities came to mind for me.

Curiosity:
I’ve been told I’m inquisitive. I believe this has significantly contributed to my journey. When something unfamiliar crosses my radar, I usually lean towards it, rather than away from it. This curiosity has gotten me into precarious situations, but has also led me down a unique, colorful path. In life, we have countless options and every choice we take will open an entire hallway of new opportunities. Choose the adventure!

Resilience:
When life doesn’t go the way you expected, it’s because there’s something better for you in store. When you let go, or are let go, it opens space for something new in your life. Each experience is an opportunity to learn something and acquire a new skill. Three different instances in my life, I”ve been physically incapacitated to the extent that I was unable to walk. I’ve also moved across the country and to different countries (Brazil and Argentina) by myself. Reframing hardships and heartbreaks as lessons in Earth school has expedited my suffering/mourning phases and (literally and figuratively) gotten me back on my feet with renewed gratitude.

What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?
Life is about balance. Exclusively leaning towards what comes naturally to you means playing it safe.
Where’s the personal growth? Where’s the adventure?
In the science of ayurveda (a holistic life science from India), we work on balance and harmony within the body and therefore within our life. We acknowledge our natural tendencies and implement practices and foods that diminish those inclinations so that we don’t lean too far off-balance.
In daily life, this can look like someone who doesn’t believe they have rhythm taking a dance class or drumming class.
Personally, I told myself that I couldn’t play any instruments. Somehow that idea got programmed into my mind and until I was almost 30, I never even tried. Now I teach ukulele.
Everything is possible, and you never know until you try.

Outside our comfort zone is where growth and adventure await 🙂

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