Today we’d like to introduce you to Alaina Horbas.
Alaina, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
For as long as I can remember, I struggled with body image issues. This dates all the way back to elementary school, when I was super tall, skinny and awkward. Kids teased me a lot saying things like, “you’ll fall through a crack” or even calling me “Annie” a nickname that was short for anorexic. In middle school, the teasing continued and there was even a cartoon drawing of me circulating school. This drawing pointed out everything that was wrong with me from my gap teeth, to my chicken legs and pigeon toes, to my collar bones jutting out. I still vividly see that image to this day. Needless to say, all of this stuck with me and really effected the way I looked at my body and my self worth. I began to associate the two together.
Once high school hit, I began to fill out a bit more and joined cheerleading. Now, since I wasn’t the flier, my mind went to the opposite extreme: “I must be fat”. I started obsessing over food, drinking slim fast for breakfast, spending hours in the gym on the elliptical and even taking diet pills at one point.
In college, I was on two dance teams so workouts were regular and they were vigorous during rehearsals. We were also on a mandatory diet and needed to rehearse in booty shorts and a sports spa so the choreographer could see our bodies. Since this was semi professional and our costumes were tiny, if we didn’t look good, we weren’t going on the field for the game that week.
So, you can easily see how from the time I was 10 years old, all the way through college, there was an extreme amount of attention and focus on the way I looked.
When I graduated college and lost the structure of rehearsals and mandatory meal plans, I realized very quickly that I was lost. Over the following 7 years, I struggled with yo-yo dieting and sticking to a workout plan that I wouldn’t quit. I put on more weight than I cared to admit and I began to spiral out of control. I was stuck in the diet cycle. On a diet and working out, would lose a few pounds, then stop and put it back on. This wreaked havoc on my mindset and my confidence. I was constantly uncomfortable in my own skin, constantly comparing myself to others and always putting myself down. I was the girl at the beach who refused to take her cover up off because I was too self conscious.
Then one day, in a time when I was facing multiple huge personal decisions, I found yoga. I started a practice at home to help with my analysis paralysis and then eventually, moved to a studio. This is where my transformation truly began. I started to pay attention to the teachings of the classes, always focused on inner strength, beauty and self love. I ate it all up. I started going back more frequently and really starting to see a change from within.
Two years later, I decided to make yoga a bigger part of my life and enroll in Yoga Teacher Training. The immersion into this yogic way of thinking helped me grow into the person I am today. It helped me to forgive myself for mistakes, accept my flaws and learn to focus on the amazing things my body could do, instead of only focusing on what it looked like.
Having finished my training, I was hungry for more. I found an online fitness community where I continued my journey. Here is where I really expanded my knowledge from yoga to nutrition and general fitness. Working out and eating well because a lifestyle, not a diet. I lost weight without even really trying, never feeling deprived and finally found my voice. I felt as if the chains had be cut and I was finally free.
On this high of achievement and self confidence, I knew very clearly what my mission in life was: To empower and educate women in fitness and life. To teach them the true beauty of their bodies and show them how to love themselves. To transform not only bodies, but minds and spirits.
I struggled for years with this stuff. So now, I want to help every other woman so they never have to feel the way I felt for so long.
Has it been a smooth road?
Absolutely NOT! There have been struggles at every turn and there will continue to be more. I believe that they ultimately help us grow. In the beginning, and even sometimes now, I was my own worst enemy. For so long I was a habitual quitter. I never stuck to anything. So having to overcome that was really difficult. I turned to personal development books when I felt myself starting with the negative self talk. I always remind my clients that everything is a habit, even the way we think. And habits are hard to break. It doesn’t happen overnight, but the more awareness you bring to it, the easier it will become.
Having a community to support you is SO important as well! If I didn’t have my Namaslay Fit Tribe cheering me on, it would be so much harder to persevere through the tough days!
And finally, remember that everything we do is a choice. And if you have big goals, keep those goals in mind as you make your choices. Instead of making a choice based on how you feel, make the choice based on what will get you closer to your goal. There are so many days where I want to just curl up on the couch with Netflix and a bottle of wine but I have to ask myself “What is my goal? Will watching TV and drinking wine all day get me closer to this goal?” If the answer is NO, then I know what I need to do.
Consistency over time is where the real magic starts to happen!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Alaina Michelle Yoga & Fitness – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I help women lose 5-15 lbs. in 3 weeks WITHOUT ditching the wine! 😉
I run virtual bootcamps for women all around the US, Canada and the UK. I provide full fitness solutions including workouts and nutrition planning with a focus on transformation of the whole person. Self-love and empowerment is really what I focus on most and a lot on mindset as well. You could be the most prepared person in the world for something but if your mind isn’t in the right place, it doesn’t matter. I believe that real lifetime transformation starts within. This is what really allows me to be more than just a 6 week program and then your gone and off. It’s lifestyle coaching: Fitness, mindset, nutrition and beyond!
As a brand, I am especially proud of the authentic voice I share. You won’t find a highlight reel on my social media. You’re going to get a real look at my journey. The good, the bad, the ugly, I share it all. I think it’s really important to be transparent and share everything. I’ve been through so many struggles alone and it gets really lonely. I don’t ever want anyone to think they are alone in this. Life is hard enough as it is!
There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
I really believe that the best way to find a good mentor is to really know who YOU are first. I actually did a little activity where I wrote down everything I like, don’t like, pet peeves, favorite brands, etc. I listed out everything that makes me, me. Once you do that, it becomes so clear who can help you because you’ll be incredibly aware of your strengths and weaknesses and will know exactly what your need or are looking for. When you’re that in tune with yourself, it’s amazing how clear everything else starts to be.
Networking works the same way. I always think of that saying, “if you try to please everyone, you’ll please no one” and it’s so true. People, now more than ever, are craving authenticity in people. So, don’t be afraid to be unapologetically YOU. People will be drawn to that and will be more open to networking with you.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.teamnamaslay.com
- Email: alainamichelleyogafit@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/alainamichelleh
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/alainamichelleyoga&fitness
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
