Check Out Angela Minard’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Angela Minard.

Hi Angela, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Twelve years ago, I was in an inpatient eating disorder treatment facility in Florida. I had struggled for over 20 years with Anorexia Nervosa, mainly due to a sexual assault that happened when I was 11, and at the age of 42, it was taking a toll on myself and my family. I knew I needed help, or I wasn’t going to live much longer. While I was in treatment, one of the therapies offered was yoga, and so once I was strong enough, I was allowed to participate. I was surprised by how much it calmed my anxiety.

When I came back to Kansas City, I wanted to find a studio to practice, but I was also nervous and it took me a year to get up the courage to actually go. I started taking classes at Darling Yoga in Overland Park, and a few years later I completed my 200 hr. training there. I became passionate about yoga for mental health. I took yoga for eating disorders training and trauma-sensitive yoga training and began teaching yoga in behavioral health settings here in Kansas City. I also teach classes at Darling Yoga, work with private clients in my home studio, and enjoy teaching at outdoor venues around the city.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely wasn’t a smooth road. I struggled with financial issues at the beginning of my yoga career. When I first started out I was only teaching at the studio, and it’s very difficult to make a living solely with studio classes. I had been working for many years as an Autism Instructional Assistant for the Olathe School District, and so I continued to work there until I was hired to teach yoga at Two Rivers Behavioral Health Hospital in Raytown as part of their expressive therapy department. I also started teaching at McCallum Place, which is an intensive outpatient eating disorder program. Two Rivers closed in 2019 and I had to pick up a lot of studio classes to make up for that income which was becoming exhausting. Luckily last year I was hired to teach at Cottonwood Springs in Olathe, which is also an inpatient behavioral health hospital.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Besides my love for yoga, I am also a poet. I’ve been published in a couple of anthology books and often share my poetry in my classes. I’m working on publishing my first book of poetry and find the process of writing to be healing.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Passion is what has been most important to my success. When I discovered how yoga could heal my anxiety and poor body image and help me deal with stress, I wanted to share the knowledge. As a sexual assault survivor, I’m passionate about teaching yoga in a trauma-informed way. I want everyone who works with me or takes a class with me to feel safe, seen, and supported.

Contact Info:

• Email: yogagoddess66@gmail.com
• Website: http://hereandnow4angel.blogspot.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelamyogini/
  https://instagram.com/destination_yoga_kc/

Image Credits
The rooftop yoga photo, Keely Edgington took that photo.