Today we’d like to introduce you to Catie Macken.
Catie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up in Minnesota in a small farming community (population of about 2000 people). I went to college at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota and graduated with a degree in Real Estate. I started working in Real Estate after college. I worked for the county in Residential Property Appraisal and then moved to Minneapolis in 2011 and worked for Hennepin County in Commercial Property Appraisal. I started to be interested in health and wellness after college. I took up running, then cycling, then yoga. In 2012, after moving to Minneapolis, I completed my 200 hour yoga teacher training. I was still working full time, but teaching part time on the side. Once I started teaching, I realized that it was my calling in the world to inspire others. I told my mentors that I would move just about anywhere to manage my own studio. I was working for CorePower Yoga at the time, and they were beginning to open many new markets in the US. Boston was one of the markets that was presented to me. I had never been to Boston at the time, but loved NYC and eventually wanted to move there. I saw Boston as a strategic step towards this goal.
I moved to Boston in October of 2013, and immediately fell in love with the city and the people. I opened and managed two studios for CorePower in Boston before leaving the corporate fitness world to pursue my goals and ambitions as an independent contractor. I was an ambassador for lululemon in 2014-2016. I started teaching cycling at Flywheel in December 2014. I am forever a student and spend a lot of time furthering my knowledge and education through different trainings. I am became certified to teach AcroYoga in 2016 and then completed the Level II training in Greece in 2017. I received my 500 hour certificate from Laughing Lotus in NYC in February 2018. Now a days you can find me teaching for various studios in the city including Everybody Fights, Flywheel, Yogaworks, and Sadhana. I am fiercely passionate about mindfulness and self-awareness especially within the corporate setting. I have developed a mindfulness based seminar /workshop that I offer to companies and their employees. Traveling is one of my number one passions and I offer and co-lead retreats around the world. I am also developing a podcast, Intuitive Science, with a friend and colleague which we will be launching this summer.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I giggled at this question. Is it ever a smooth road? I tell my students all the time, “life is never going to be easy, there will always be challenges. But life is SIMPLE, you show up and you do your best with what you know at that moment.” Our challenges are our biggest lessons if we allow ourselves to learn from them rather than be defined by them!
I have dealt with my fair share of challenges. In my early 20’s, I struggled trying to find my “place.” There was always a feeling deep within my soul of resistance or restlessness, that I couldn’t pin point. I didn’t feel fully content with where I was living, what I was doing, and the direction my life was heading. I was searching for SOMETHING, but I didn’t know what that was. I was still figuring out who I was and what was important to me. I was starting to awaken to hard truth that most of the choices I had made were based on what I thought I should be doing/societal norms and not what I truly wanted for myself. I know now that life was navigating me into my path and my purpose, but in the moment, it’s UNCOMFORTABLE. Moments of discomfort are our compasses towards growth and healing.
My mother passed away from cancer in November 2016. Navigating the loss of a parent is an interesting and difficult situation and this experience catalyzed a period of necessary healing that I did not realize was present. Childhood trauma including sexual assault and repressed pain and fear were pushed to the surface and I spent much of 2017 processing, healing, and re-integrating myself. As challenging and painful as it was in the moment, it was also one of the most beautiful and joyful times in my life. My whole being and existence expanded. I feel more freedom, love, and connection with myself than I ever had before. The work of the soul is rarely easy or comfortable, but it is the most rewarding work we can do for ourselves in this lifetime.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Catie Macken – what should we know?
I am a fitness professional, specializing in yoga and mindfulness. I am an RYT 500, Level II AcroYoga instructor, cycling instructor, and speaker. I’m most known for giving awesome hugs and making the best guacamole in the Universe. haha
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Wow, so many people deserve credit for being supporters, inspirations, and soul mates on this journey I call life…the “short” list:
My dad and step mom for always supporting my crazy ideas.
Vinny Amendola for being my first mentor.
Those that started as teachers, became friends, and then transformed into my family: Jess Ray, Erica Bornstein, Mary Dana Abbot, Felipe Gonzalez, Pascal and Julia Weis.
My teachers for continually expanding my mind and my practice: Kenny Frisby, Ali Cramer, Sheri Celentano, Deborah Langley, Abbie Galvin.
The friends I’ve loved the longest…for holding space for me to transform into the person I am today and bearing witness to my transformation with honesty and grace: Jessica E, Blaine K, Jaclyn P, Lindsay H
Kathleen Pizzello, for showing me the way of the witch and guiding me on the path with love and integrity….but also for being my soul sister and inspiring me through many lifetimes.
Chris Capozzi my PIC, who always inspires me to dream the BIGGEST/BOLDEST dreams without restriction.
Rachele Pojednic, for challenging my beliefs through deep discussion and being my counterpart in #teamtiny world takeover.
Mucci, Fitz, Cordy, Levy, Batty, The Woodrow Family, Kurt, and my extended Boston family.
All of my friends, co-workers, students, and family all over the world, I can’t name you all, but if you exist within my world I owe you credit, gratitude, and love.
Contact Info:
- Address: Boston, MA
- Website: www.catiemacken.com
- Email: catherine.m.macken@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catiemacken/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catie.macken
- Other: www.intuitivesciencepodcast.com
Image Credit:
Sam Nipatnantaporn, Chris Capozzi
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