Ashley and Anita, the founders of Feelosophy Yoga and Social Yoga, originally bonded over their shared experience of craving more from the everyday yoga class. Anita is a connector, and believes that yoga should foster community and conversation while adding unconventional into the everyday. Ashley is a feeler, who knows first hand how important touch can be, as a way to offer support and love. They created yoga based companies founded on the belief that people were searching for connection, love, deep conversation, and a good old head massage.
Back in January, Social Yoga hosted a Yoga + Massage class, teaming up with Ashley from Feelosophy Yoga. Together they combined restorative yoga, also known as, supervised nap time, with massage based adjustments and Saje Essentail Oils. Anita’s magic touch combined with Peppermint Halo, and Ashley’s famous head massages using Stress Release, proved to be a winning combination - and since then this unconventional duo have been spreading feels around the town.
We got the inside scoop from Ashley & Anita on how they incorporate yoga into their everyday, and how in a world obsessed with the word hustle, they manage to make time for themselves.
What does your typical day look like:
Anita: As cliche as this sounds, every day looks a little bit different. I often start my day with either a workout, home yoga practice, or teaching a private yoga class. A few yoga classes later, I spend my afternoons doing fun behind-the-scenes work such as meetings, emails, planning, promo, etc. At the same time, on a particularly sunny day, I may just throw it all to the wind and head out for a run or a nap in the park. At night, I teach Social Yoga classes and if I'm lucky, I can convince some pals to go for food or drinks after work at 9PM. (Believe it or not, it's often a tough sell for my 9-5 buds.)
Ashley: I am an early riser, and a coffee addict, so I start most mornings with a cup of coffee on my way out to teach class. I am lucky enough to be able to schedule my days with a balance of emails, meetings, workouts and more coffee. Some days, if the emails are slow, I shut down and go for a hike, or paddle board in Deep Cove. But, if a new season of Orange is the New Black is on I watch every episode before becoming a productive human. It is one of my goals to cook more meals at home, so lately I have been inviting friends over and finishing my days cooking them a meal, while they bring the wine.
What is one thing on your bucket list that you are hoping to accomplish this year?:
Anita: Asides from work goals, and ongoing personal goals, I don't have too many bucket list items for this year except to hike Mt. Cheam.
Ashley: I would love to go to Iceland or Spain this year. I also want to preform an original rap on stage (this is one I have been to chicken to do for the past few years)
Who is your number one supporter, your go to for business/life/love advice?:
Anita: I am very fortunate that I have two people in my life who play such a role- my sister, and my best friend. Both great at listening and providing advice.
Ashley: My Dad calls me every Friday for his “Friday I love you call” - he supports everyone of my crazy ideas and I am so grateful for that. I also surround myself with some incredible entrepreneurial women who give me the best advice and keep me grounded, Jess, Neets, Ally, thank you!
If you are too busy for a class, what tool do you use to stay calm/grounded?:
Anita: I try to keep a pretty consistent meditation practice as it helps me stay grounded.
Ashley: I am a big believer in alone time and a thick journal. I like to lock myself in my bedroom, burn a candle and write out all my thoughts. Over time I am learning that I am not defined by my crazy rollercoaster thoughts, but that it is okay to feel these emotions. That is why I am a big believe in feeling #allthefeels and not numbing them or pretending they are not there. I also love listening to Podcasts - one of my favourite is the LIGHTMAKER podcast, or Sickboy which was started by a guy I did my yoga training with, it brings humour to the sometimes dark side of living with a disease.
If you could do yoga with one person today, living or dead, who would it be?:
Anita: I’d love to do yoga with The Pope. I'm not religious; however, it would be fascinating to see how the different philosophical/ religious beliefs would mix (or not) and could lead to some interesting conversations.
Ashley: I am surprised Anita didn’t say Beyonce, because I mean who wouldn’t want to practice with her. I would love to practice with my 6 year old niece. There is something so mesmerizing about kids, they aren’t trying to impress anyone or be anything - they move because it feels good - something I think more adults (including myself) needs to embody.
How do you treat yourself?:
Anita: Weekend getaways and pizza.
Ashley: Wine, island trips, massages, watching the Bachelorette and not feeling guilty about it.
Who would you love to teach yoga or where would you want to bring Social Yoga/Feelosophy?:
Anita: I’d love to teach Social Yoga to people from a totally different community/ culture. Again, the possibility of interesting conversations are particularly enticing.
Ashley: I would love to take Feelosophy on water. Imagine, yoga + massage, while floating on the ocean, pure heaven. Lets just hope you don’t fall in.
The most embarrassing thing that has happened while teaching yoga?:
Anita: Wardrobe malfunctions. I was wearing a sports bra that had a zipper up the front one time and while demonstrating a heart opening pose... well, let's just say I suppose I opened up across my chest a little too much
Ashley: I instructed Camel Pose as Camel Toe. Yep… enough said.
You can catch Ashley and Anita at Wanderlust this summer, combining Social Yoga and Feelosophy into a juicy, blissful, yoga and massage practice that will leave you feeling more chill than Netflix ever could.