Meet Katie Nassiff | Trainer & Yoga Instructor

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

Hi Katie, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I don’t really approach business with a balance mindset – I don’t think that there’s really a way to balance work and life and feel satisfied. Instead, I approach work as seasonal: there are seasons of dialing it up and pushing, focusing on business; and then there are seasons of stepping back, letting business run as a minimal viable product, and focusing on my personal life and relationships. I think it’s important to have an understanding of dialing into different levels of work and personal life, otherwise, it’s so easy to feel overwhelmed or disappointed. It’s also helpful to know where to fill the gaps when you’re in a busy season – for example, outsourcing home projects or calling on friends and family for support.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I own a movement and wellness business, and it’s growing into a community of amazing humans who are curious about not just their bodies, but how to engage their bodies in a way that supports their lifestyles. I started off teaching yoga, and realized how much love and passion I have for teaching people to move their bodies – and move them well. Over the last several years, I’ve shifted my focus to teach people how to build strength, especially for their unique circumstances. Many of the folks I work with are recovering from injuries, have a history of chronic pain, or are simply terrified to learn how to strength train.

Recently, I developed and created a program just for women in Atlanta to introduce strength training in a small group, supportive setting with lots of hands-on support. It’s called the Women’s Strength Program, and it’s been so inspiring to help guide women into strength training and giving them tools to feel confident in the gym.

Over the last few years of doing this work, I’ve learned that while people often just want to be told what to do, it’s my job to facilitate movement and health as an experience. It’s not easy enough for me to say “just do your workouts and eat well and that’s it.” That’s not how humans work – there’s so much more complexity to what “health” means, and part of my work is getting into the root causes and helping clients establish new habits and movement patterns that really really serve them. It’s hard work, but it’s incredibly rewarding.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My favorite thing to do is a classic Atlanta staple – walking the belt line. I love getting outside, and it’s the best way to get to enjoy lots of lots of things. I’d start at Krog street for pastries and coffee at Little Tart, maybe pop into some shops, and then head down toward Ponce City Market for lunch (or more coffee), and people watching.

I also love hanging out in my own neighborhood at Red’s Beer Garden and Elsewhere Brewing – two great local spots with great drinks, food, and fun vibes (and women owned!)

For activities, I’m always excited to pop into a class at Highland Yoga, or go rock climbing at Stone Summit.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shout out to Highland Yoga, for inviting me into their community when I moved here in 2018, and creating such amazing opportunities to learn and grow. Elsie Brotherton – owner of Highland Yoga – has done such an amazing job of creating a community and network to help me develop myself personally and professionally, and I owe quite a lot to her and the HY team.

Website: www.katienassiff.com

Instagram: @katienassiff

Image Credits
Mary Claire Stewart, Thu Tran, Ira Jolley