Have you ever dreamt of being someone totally different, someone much cooler, and then tried to embody that version of yourself—only to get smacked back into reality? Yeah, that’s me. I’ve been trying to *become* a yoga teacher for almost seven years.
I’ve had plenty of comical setbacks, along with some serious ones, like the pandemic and my growing commitment to Reiki. It was becoming super clear that I was meant to be a 56-year-old soccer mom, balancing volunteering at school with yoga classes squeezed between cooking and laundry. My dream of becoming a full-time yoga teacher felt out of reach. Until last November…
I was invited to practice yoga in Malibu, in the backyard of a celebrity. Fun, right? Especially when I learned that this wasn’t just any celebrity, but Brooke Burke—TV star and fitness guru. She led a cardio-style yoga session followed by a sound bath. It was surreal.
After savasana, I opened my eyes to see her walking toward me. She smiled and asked, “Are you a dancer?” (After all, she hosted *Dancing with the Stars* and even won one season.) I laughed and replied, “No.” Then, she asked, “Are you a yoga teacher?” I stammered for a bit. I mean, I have an advanced teaching certification (500h), and I’ve taught here and there, but I didn’t teach regularly at a studio. Finally, I said, “Yes” then “sorta”.
To my shock, she invited me to sit by her at lunch and share my story. I told her about the auditions, the obstacles life threw my way, and how despite it all, I kept dreaming of teaching regularly. She listened and then said, “That’s it! You are exactly who I want to help. Give me your number, we’re going to connect.”
It felt like a scene from a movie—me being plucked from obscurity and invited into the spotlight. She offered me the chance to teach at her next wellness event, attended by movie producers, documentarians, wellness gurus, and other interesting people. I said yes immediately. But inside, I felt like the dog who catches a pick up truck—now what do I do?
Brooke promoted me on every post to her hundreds of thousands of followers, hyping me up as if I were already a star. I was nervous. Beyond nervous. But I also knew this was a rare opportunity, and I had to dig deep. I had to shine.
And you know what? I did it. Was it perfect? No. But I showed up. I stood in the role I that had dreamt of for so long. I delivered. The universe had conspired in ways I could never have predicted, bringing someone into my life who saw potential in me when I wasn’t even sure I could see it in myself.
That day wasn’t about perfection; it was about stepping up. I learned that sometimes, you just have to say yes before you feel ready because you may never be ready. But when your dream arrives, even if you feel like you’re not fully prepared, you owe it to yourself to try.
So, here I am, still navigating this unexpected path, still figuring it out as I go. But now, I’ve got more faith in myself. When life gives you the chance to become who you’ve always wanted to be, you might just find that you’ve been ready all along. You just needed someone to help you step into the spotlight. Thank you, Brooke!
