Meet Jamila Smith | Yoga Therapist | Transformational Healing Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jamila Smith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jamila, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
When I think about risk, I think about how risk is second nature for an Aries, and, you guessed it, I’m an Aries! I have never been one to shy away from going after what I wanted, or trying something new. However, when it comes to business I view risks as something different. On one hand you risk putting yourself out there, hoping that others will see your vision, and understand what you are trying to bring to the world. It is risky, because when you are starting a business, it is like an extension of yourself, so if people were to reject your idea, you may feel as they are rejecting you personally. On the other hand the risk is financial. Sometimes you may believe in a business idea, pour everything into getting it up and going, and it fail, and you lose everything. If you believe in yourself and your idea enough, you will risk it all with little hesitation.

Personally, my risk came a little differently when starting Yoga With Jamila. One day back in 2016, I was meditating before work, and I was “told” that yoga was going to be big for me in my future. I took that transmission with a grain of salt because I had only done yoga like two or three times in my life. However, I am really big on following my intuition and intuitive guidance, so as the path began to open, putting me in positions to immerse myself in yoga, I followed.

I ended up moving to a city I had never heard of, getting a job at one of the top yoga studios in the area, and connecting with people that ended up helping me blossom along my journey. The biggest risk here is following your intuition, because it’s like having “blind faith.” You may not be able to see how something is going to work out, but you have to trust that your higher self is guiding you in the right direction, even when it seems improbable. I always say, following your intuition wholeheartedly is not for the weak, because it is scary…but if you follow your intuition, it is a risk you’ll never regret taking.

I am glad I took that risk of following my intuition, because that risk led me to Rishikesh, India where I earned my 200hr certification, and Las Penitas, Nicaragua, where I earned my 300hr certification. Over the years, I have found my own lane in this business, and I have been expanding and growing in more ways that I could imagine, and I am TRULY grateful!

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
Yoga With Jamila started teaching group classes through ONAC Modesto before it closed down. I will forever be grateful for that experience, and the connections I made. I then ventured into private sessions which I LOVE, because I love seeing how a client progresses and grows with me during our time spent working together. However, I began to notice that in my private sessions, I would often go into a deeper discussion with my clients about whatever disease or ailment brought them to me. We would dig deeper into when they first started experiencing symptoms, to find the initial cause (trigger). I believe that everything first starts in the emotional body before it manifests into a physical symptom, ailment, or disease. With that realization, I began to evolve my offerings.

I offered a Chakra series where I taught people all about the chakras, and helping them dig deeper into their own blocks and childhood experiences that may have created some of the blockages they have experienced in life. I really enjoyed that, and received great feedback, which let me know I was on the right path.

I have since entered into the Mental Health space by partnering with businesses and organizations such as Insight Treatment Programs (Modesto), and the Stanislaus Youth Empowerment Program to bring the healing aspect of yoga to the youth and the underserved community. This has been rewarding, and what has pushed me along my path of becoming a certified Yoga Therapist.

In addition to those offerings, I began offering healing circles for women, and private groups. I am most proud about holding my 1st Annual Women’s Healing Experience. The event was a tremendous success, and I have received many collaboration offers, and business offers as a result. I couldn’t have envisioned a better event.

When I look back, nothing was “easy,” it was more about alignment, and learning to get out of my own way. So the biggest lesson I learned is to just go for it, the right people will show up! I may not be for everyone. However I have a purpose to help people evolve along their individual healing journey, and reconnect with themselves; sitting backoverthinking, serves no one. Having courage to put myself out there creates the vibration that I am here for this, that I AM ready, and that allows me to attract my perfect client.

Yoga With Jamila is all about creating a safe space for distracted people to tune into their bodies, their breath, and quiet their minds, so they can reconnect with the essence of who they are. Next year (2022) is going to be a BIG year for the brand, with new offerings, and more 1-on-1 programs designed to help people evolve into a better version of themselves. I am excited!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
That’s a hard one because I am not a Modesto native, and when I’m out the house, I’m OUT THE HOUSE! I travel big time, so anything local for me is usually business related, but there are a few spots I definitely love to frequent. The Farmacy in downtown Modesto is a vegan café with delicious food! Most of the food is also gluten free, it was beautiful to see a place like this come up here.

If you like pizza, I definitely recommend Nizario’s on Staniford, iPho (also on Staniford) that is my favorite pho spot out this way, Skewers is delicious, Raw if you like sushi, and Thai House. There are some gems out here that you may come across like, “I didn’t know they had this in Modesto.”

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost, I would love to dedicate this shoutout to my mother, because without her support I wouldn’t have been able to follow my guidance, and go to India, or Nicaragua for a month (each time), because at the time I was a single mother who had a child in school. She picked up that slack, and took care of EVERYTHING in my absence, because she believed in me, and respected my passion.

I would also love to shout out my son, who continues to encourage me every step of the way. He is the one always telling me how proud of me he is, and was very easy going through the transitional stages when my intuition was guiding me go to other parts of the world.

I would love to shout out my fiancé, he pushed me to move past my comfort zone, where I was afraid to put myself out there. He kept that pressure on me (in a healthy way) when I was doubting myself. He helped me see the greatness inside of me without the filter of fear.

Website: yogawithjamila.com

Instagram: yogawithjamila

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jamila-smith-ywj

Twitter: yogawithjamila

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YogaWithJamila

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/yoga-with-jamila-salida

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuoBJNnAWpupeBPi-iCD9MA

Image Credits
MHG Media Group