Today we’d like to introduce you to Tracy Davis.
Tracy , can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
As a teenager, I was told I had scoliosis. I entered the Air Force with it. Later, my back was in pain so I sought treatment for it. The physical therapist taught me cobra pose. After I was medically discharged for the scoliosis I began practicing Bikram yoga in 2004. My back pain was completely gone.
My mom passed away suddenly in 2007 and the yoga helped me cope and build resilience to life’s challenges. With inheritance from my grandfather, I attended Bikram teacher training in 2012. At teacher training, I gained invaluable self-confidence I had been lacking all my life. In 2013 my father passed away and again the yoga was there. I taught classes full time all over the Bay Area often living out of my car and taught in Europe living in the studios themselves. I love the yoga and since I didn’t have any family or pet obligations tying me to one place I was able to live simply and enjoy new places and people. After reuniting with an Air Force colleague, we hit it off and decided to start a life together. I moved to Massachusetts and quickly found myself over an hour from any Bikram yoga studios. I spent the next year teaching and practicing yoga in Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire. I met some of the most supportive and encouraging people in the New England Bikram yoga community.
Finally, an opportunity to own a Bikram Yoga studio opened up and everything literally fell into place. This week I will be opening Stayin’ Aligned Hot Yoga studio in Northampton MA with support and generosity of the Bikram yoga community, my family and friends. It is an absolute dream come true to offer this healing yoga that helped me in so many difficult times in my life to this community in a safe and fun space. I have always believed that when you are in alignment with your purpose the universe conspires to help you and that is exactly what my experience has been.
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?
I am the child of a teen mother, my parents divorced when I was five and my mother worked two jobs as a housekeeper/ maid to raise me and my brother. We moved a lot, we lived in her car, we stayed with my grandparents and we stayed home alone. So we struggled financially. I wanted to have a different life, I earned an associates degree in small business management and went to massage school while working full time in the mortgage Industry. I wasn’t sure what I would end up using these skills for but I just did it. When I was laid off from my mortgage position I decided I wanted to spend my time doing what I love and more simply because it can be taken away at anytime. I struggled to make ends meet and let go of more and more. The more I let go the more came to me. I have a story about when I had five bucks to my name and I wanted to go to the Bikram Yoga Womans retreat in Costa Rica to re-certify as a teacher.
I registered for class expecting to get a phone number to set up payments but it went through. I was registered. My bank account was negative over a thousand dollars and I deposited every check until it was positive again and thankfully my sister lent me food and gas money. I went to Costa Rica and again, lost access to my funds and a fellow teacher helped me with finding a place to stay and get around until I had access to my funds again. Like, I mentioned before, I lived in my car lived in studios without a permanent residence for years. (I’m not the only yoga teacher who does this either). So, that is just some of the financial hardships I have faced but never lacked anything. Wouldn’t trade it for the world. If you do your yoga everything will fall into place.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Stayin’ Aligned Hot Yoga Studio specializes in Bikram Yoga. The original hot yoga sequence of 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises performed in 105 degree room with 40% humidity. This yoga is Hatha yoga and has been practiced for thousands of years. The sequence has incredible healing benefits and can be practiced by anyone, no matter what limitations you believe you have. My intention is to focus on possibilities rather than limitations and the light each situation and person has within them. I believe that each individual is like a cell in the body of humanity. If we heal ourselves we can collectively heal humanity. Through the practice of self-awareness in Bikram Yoga we can heal, love and accept ourselves first then do the same for others. This yoga practice does that. It brings to light all that you are made of so that you are aware of it and can then heal and or accept all that you are. Stayin’ Aligned is the only hot yoga studio offering strictly Bikram Yoga within’ an hour driving distance in all directions.
What were you like growing up?
Oh gosh, I was so shy and insecure. I was always picked last for team sports in P.E. I hated the class in general and received failing grades for non- participation. Often times, I would sit in the classroom instead of go outside for recess because I was insecure about what my mom dressed me in. I was embarrassed of my mom’s car and would duck down so none of my classmates would see me. I never approached others to make friends. If I received any attention whatsoever, I would turn bright red and try to hide. I was insecure about my hair color, my invisible eyelashes, and my feet. (No open toed shoes. Now, I stand in front of a class full of half-naked people telling them how to do the yoga with in my bare feet, sweating and little to no mascara on.
Pricing:
- Intro Special $40 for a month unlimited yoga
- Limited time offer (OM) Original Membership $79 a month auto pay
- Drop in (Includes mat and towel) $20
Contact Info:
- Address: 375 South Street Northampton, MA
- Website: StayinAligned.com
- Email: stayinalignedyoga@hotmail.com
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
