Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Ciccarelli.
Mary, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
In January of last year, I decided that my New Years Resolution was to make 2017 the year of “Finding My Passion.” I was commuting into the city, working 8-9 hours a day at a job that just didn’t light my soul on fire.
So I took some time to journal about what truly brought me joy, and yoga was one of those things. I had been attending Corepower as a student for some time and decided (after much research online) to sign up for February 200- hr. Teacher Training. It was quite the time & money investment, but I felt that it was worth it to dig deeper into a part of my life where I was passionate.
Within two weeks of training, I realized that as much as I loved teaching yoga, even MORE so I loved the community that surrounded my practice. I had gained lifelong “omies” whom I felt I could be completely vulnerable with, which allowed me to grow and gain confidence as a yoga instructor and general human. After that eight week program, I took part in a 5-week continuing education program and was even more sure that this was the passion I had been looking for. Now came the hard part of taking a passion and making it a full-time job.
Thankfully, the world works in mysterious ways, and it just so happened that one of my Teacher Training Leads was leaving our studio in Medford to open to Corepower Fenway that September. After teaching three yoga classes TOTAL, I reached out and asked her if she would consider hiring me as her Assistant Manager – and she said yes! It was quite a scary leap – I had minimal practical experience and was leaving my big girl job & salary for something a little less conventional.
Three days from this interview will be exactly one year since Corepower Fenway opened and I will be hosting a birthday class as the new Studio Manager! It has been far beyond what I expected, and I could honestly cry thinking about the amazing people I get to surround myself with daily.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road has definitely had its bumps, but whose hasn’t? The biggest hurdle has probably been money – making ends meet with a job that is far more emotionally rewarding than it is financially isn’t easy. I’ve been lucky enough to supplement my salary with dog-walking and consulting for Rodan + Fields, and that’s allowed me to pursue this career path. It can be hard to be a bit less financially stable than most of your peers, but I can honestly say there aren’t many people I come in contact with who have as much joy for what they do as I do – and that is worth more than I can put into words!
There have been times where I’ve felt inadequate – I’m leading instructors who have been teaching longer than me or guiding students who have probably been practicing longer than me. It was a bit hard to go from being the student to the teacher in a matter of weeks, but if teacher training taught me one thing, it’s that holding the seat of a leader is less about being perfect and more about having confidence in what you are doing.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Corepower Yoga story. Tell us more about the practice and business.
At Corepower yoga, we specialize in rooting a physically intense workout in the mindfulness of yoga. We get a lot of students who come in the front door for the first time and enjoy the physical workout, but aren’t sure exactly why they feel a little bit lighter when they leave. We sprinkle mindfulness throughout all of our classes in a way that is inclusive regardless of how long you’ve been practicing.
I am most proud of how connected our teachers are without student base. They truly care about their students & their journeys both on and off their mat. I can’t describe the feeling I get when I am behind the desk and student after student walks out of class beaming with gratitude for their instructor.
We are giving our students the tools to live a more mindful life, and hoping that they share their experience with friends and continue on with that ripple effect.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t know that I believe that luck had a big impact on where I am today. Sure, the timing of when Fenway opened aligned with when I completed Teacher Training, but there would have been more opportunities if that one didn’t work out. I hear so many people say “you’re so lucky you love what you do” and I am gracious that people can see that because I truly do.
But I don’t feel “lucky” – I invested in something (mentally & financially) that I knew I was passionate about. Maybe I’m lucky that my passion was clear, but I truly believe that anyone can take a hard look at their life and find the things that bring them joy.
From there, it’s a matter of putting in the effort to immerse yourself in that thing in any way you can in order to find a way to bring it to life. If you are spending 8-9 hours a day at a job you aren’t over the moon about, start looking at hobbies or side-jobs that you are passionate about and see how you can become more involved.
The end goal wasn’t clear when I started out, but each step towards joy brought be a little closer to where I am today!
Contact Info:
- Address: 1282 Boylston St. Boston, MA
- Website: https://www.corepoweryoga.com/yoga-studios/massachusetts/boston/fenway
- Phone: 617-599-7835
- Email: mary.ciccarelli@corepoweryoga.com
- Instagram: @marycicc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mary.teresa02?ref=bookmarks
Image Credit:
Rachelle LeBlanc
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