Today we’d like to introduce you to Hilaire Lockwood.
Hilaire, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I found my yoga at 18, studied 13 years with Maty Ezraty and Chuck Milker at The original Yoga Works in Santa Monica. Training, 2 babies later a move home to Mi. Made sense. We were set to open my studio in August if 2004, and I was diagnosed with metastatic resistant thyroid cancer in June. I was given 6 mos. as I was in the 1% of survival. I asked my family, teachers to still open. We did. 5 radical neck dissections and lymphectomies, 2 trips to MD Anderson, 6 mos. a second time. Between my third and fourth surgeries my little brother was brutally murdered. I believe with everything I am that I would not be here without my practice. Meditation became key in my sanity, not just my healing, my sanity. This practice changes our ideas of hopelessness into hope, fear into survival, fight into acceptance. I love my yoga. It is literally my lifeline. There’s so much more to say for anyone who wants to hear it. Thank you for your interest.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The business of yoga is interesting. To still be the boss yet love and feel compassion for all my students and teachers. I believe we do this very well. I’ve been training teachers now for 14 years 4 trainings a year throughout the Midwest. Always a challenge when you saturate your own market. No one opens a studio to be rich, if they do, the integrity and quality is shot. It’s all about intention. Ours is to keep the student safe and cared for physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Hilltop Yoga story. Tell us more about the business.
Teacher training. My training is hard. It’s the real deal. Teachers learn all aspects of this practice philosophy, anatomy, alignment, adjustments, Sanskrit, sequencing. Sangha, which means community. After a decade and a half we have established that we love and take care of each other. New and old.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I’m not sure I believe in luck. I believe in faith and hope and a positive outlook. What you put into the world is what you get back. People are extraordinary. What we all go through in a lifetime is amazing and yet we still put one foot in front of the other. Helping each other is key. I believe when you are helpful, help comes.
Contact Info:
- Website: Hilltopyoga.com
- Phone: 517-230-7497 /773-857-0084
- Email: teachertraining@hilltopyoga.com
- Instagram: Hilltop yoga/Hilltop Yoga Chicago
- Facebook: Hilltop Yoga
- Twitter: Hilltop Yoga
- Yelp: Hilltop Yoga
- Other: YouTube Hilltop Yoga
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