102: How Yoga Can Show You Who You Really Are with Tara Stiles

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Welcome to the earn your happy podcast.

I'm Lori Harder, founder of The Bliss.

Project, 3 Time Fitness World champion, fitness expert and cover model, turned self love junkie, lifestyle entrepreneur and author.

Each week I'll bring you a guest.

Or a thought that will help you bust through your fears, connect to your soul and get focused and calm clear so you can elevate your life, business and relationships. We don't wait until we're ready for someone to tell us we're good enough. We take what we want and we anoint ourselves. Get ready to earn, own and unapologetically rock your happiness every single day. Are you with me? Here we go. Foreign welcome back to the earn your happy podcast and today I'm so excited for you to meet Tara Stiles. She is the founder of Strala Yoga. She has thousands of guides that lead her Strala classes around the world in studios, gyms, health clubs and she also has a huge online community that is in nearly 100 countries. And you may recognize her because she's also teamed up with w hotels and properties around the globe. And she's also collaborated with Reebok yoga lifestyle and she's also the author of several best selling books including yoga cures, make your own rules cookbook and Strala Yoga. You guys, this was such an amazing conversation because I have followed her for about four years now and she also agreed to do this podcast like two weeks before her due date for her first bambino. So I can't wait for you to hear about how this woman who travels, has this incredible lifestyle, is making it all work. So let's get started. Tara, thank you so much for coming on the show today. I'm so grateful to have you here.

Oh my gosh, of course. This is really fun.

You know, it's, it's funny how you came into my world because I first started following Gabby Bernstein I don't know, maybe four years ago or something. And I used to listen to her lectures and I think you were at a couple of them and she would call you out, she'd be like, you know, listen to yoga cures by Tara Styles. And I was like, who's this girl that she's always calling out? So I started, you know, I'm was like that creeper because I was like, okay, who, who is this person? And then you came into my world and it's kind of like I can't unsee you. And I love that because you are doing just amazing things in the world and I just, I would love for you to share your story with everyone who may not know who you are and just how you kind of started doing what you do now.

Sure. Yeah, Gabby's awesome. She has loads of energy and we've been friends for a bunch of years. And yeah, it's just really cool to have a nice, I guess, support group of women that are out in the world trying to help each other and help ourselves and help people feel better. So, yeah, Gabby's awesome. First of all. Yes.

Amen.

Yeah, yeah. But yeah, I mean, my story is pretty simple. We started strala yoga about 10 years ago and that was sort of in response to my personal background is I'm from a tiny little town in Illinois in the woods, and I grew up doing meditation and dance and living a pretty simple life. And my parents, I call them straight edge hippies, they were building this passive solar home and doing all of these kind of nice lifestyle things that are really popular and cool right now.

Yes.

But I thought were totally embarrassing then and we would recycle and pick up cash in the, you know, in the, in the ditches and, you know, kind of get involved in the environment and stuff like that. And, you know, so I kind of took it took for granted all of these things that I had just given to me in my life and these. This sort of way of being. And I never thought I would do something like this for a job. I thought I would, you know, you know, study and be in business or science or something like that. But I did classical dance as a child and my ballet teacher again was like ahead of the curve and brought yoga and meditation into our program. So I was hooked right off the bat and just felt really great and connected when I practiced. And then kind of looked around and wondered why my friends in high school and the people in my town didn't practice and just started to really want to spread these easygoing ways to feel better in your life and to feel more connected and less stressed and just help people because it's such a simple thing that we all can do every day. And if you're not doing these things, you can and you can get help. So that's kind of the backstory of that. But yeah, so we've been doing that for a long time now.

So when did you really connect those dots, though? Because that's kind of, you know, when we're young or teenagers, it's like we don't really get what's going on. Kind of like what you said, like you didn't realize how fortunate you were. To be raised in this family, what were some of the main things that you were seeing outside of your world? And how, you know, were you seeing that you were able to kind of have ease and flow, for lack of a better word, compared to other people?

Sure. Well, I think, you know, moving. I moved to New York quite young, like pretty much right out of high school, a little bit after, and I was dancing and doing, you know, a bunch of different crazy things and just having a good time. And, you know, I looked around and, you know, I was. I was doing these things that I learned my whole life. You know, kind of on and off, not super structured. And then, you know, anybody that I would meet that had anxiety or problem, I would just start to show them some things like easygoing meditation or simple yoga moves that could help them feel better. And then they would start to feel better and I would just think, okay, this is amazing, and why weren't these people already doing this? And it started just to feel really good for me, to help people feel better in this way. And back then, this was kind of the late 90s, early 2000s. There wasn't a lot of, you know, these kinds of practices in the mainstream culture. And they were still seen as, you know, quite dogmatic and guru driven. And, you know, it's great if you belong to a certain tradition of yoga or meditation, but if you weren't really connecting to, you know, an ashram or a place or way of life, then, you know, you're either in or you're out kind of a thing. So I was really noticing a lot of people that I was meeting either felt connected, they were already involved, or, you know, they just felt disconnected from the actual, you know, way these practices were being presented in the world in that way, they didn't feel like it was for them.

Girl, I am from the Midwest. So I. So I'm like, I lived in Upper Michigan and then I lived in Wisconsin and then Minnesota. And I remember being younger and thinking yoga was like, for people in other countries, like, probably related.

Seriously.

Seriously. And it was just. It wasn't normal. It wasn't something that seemed easy, you know, even just moving your body. Coming from the Midwest, it was like, it seemed like an ordeal because when you're not raised with it, it seemed like this idea that was for other people, maybe not for you. So you were able to kind of come from that world and be able to see that and like you said with your friends, implement it and make it easy. What were some of the things that you would tell Them, you know, just maybe some of the beginning steps to start feeling better.

Yeah, I think. I think sort of the main. The main thing that kept coming up was this is about you feeling better and not you being good at yoga or you being good at meditation. And I think a lot of people that I was meeting and still meet, I think this is still some sort of stigma in some way, but people would see something or have an idea, like you said, in your mind, about just being from the Midwest. This is something for other people. And maybe that's scary to me or I find that funny or weird or whatever it is. So I would always try to take the simple practices. And everything I learned about yoga meditation growing up was so normal that I wanted to really bring this back to helping people feel like it's something that actually is inside of them and not something that is completely external from them as well.

So do you think yoga is for everyone?

Yeah. I mean, if you can breathe, you can do yoga. I think it's really cool. Like, a lot of people say at some point or another that I've just met over the years that their first experiences of doing yoga in a way that it really clicks for them. They always kind of. People always have this sense that they're remembering it from somewhere. They're remembering it's something really coming from the inside, having this feeling of calm and peace and space and just inner stuff. Much more than, oh, I'm learning this new thing, or I'm learning this task or how to operate something that has nothing to do or isn't connected to me at all. So I think that's. That's kind of the, for me at least, the great reason to help people get back to that place, to actually remember how good it can actually feel to feel connected.

I love that. So you have been in rooms with so many people. You've been all over the world. You've had massive success in what you do. And is there certain fundamental truths that you find with people the more that you are with them when they come into a room? And to do yoga?

Oh, gosh. I think that, you know, everybody wants to feel better. I think that's, you know, that's the main, I guess, common through line that I've really discovered and uncovered. I think when I first started traveling a lot, you know, friends and, you know, family and, you know, people I would meet would always say, oh, it must be so different. You know, yoga in Malaysia or Japan or the people in Ohio or LA or Europe and, you know, sure. Like, there are some differences, but people are so similar. I find everybody just, everybody wants to feel good and do good in their lives and you know, for the most part. And if they're not on that path, it's because, you know, they're not feeling good, they're not connected. And there's, you know, some stuff in the way to kind of get through and work on and clear out that can be absolutely, you know, getting to, through an easygoing practice of, of some sort. And you know, easygoing yoga meditation is a great way. So. So yeah, it's just I think that that common through line is really, really pretty beautiful.

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You're kind of bringing me back. You know, I moved from the Midwest to la. I've been out here for like four years. And in the. The first year was super tough for me. I was like, who are these people? They're like aliens. Like, they're speaking a different language. They all drink juice. Like, what is this? And the place that I could kind of find where humans could be humans were in different fitness classes or yoga classes or things like that. So I was like, everyone here is like the same. It was like this great equalizer. So, yeah, I love that. I love hearing that. So cool. So what do people's. Is when you look at someone's body, are there certain things that people's bodies can tell you?

Oh, yeah. I mean, I love leading yoga for this reason. I used to say this to a group of people sometimes, but I stopped because it kind of comes across kind of weird. But I think that you can tell so much about a person not by what they can do or what they can't do physically able to do, but how they are in their bodies and how they practice. So yoga is such a, I think, a wonderful opportunity to simply practice how we want to be. So I just identify so much with your coming to LA and the green juice drinkers and the outfits and all this stuff, how you are in that space. In New York, we have kind of the same version of that, but it's a bit more intense and type A focused and people are competing on how little sleep they're getting here and how productive they are. All of these things, kinds of things. So, you know, this sort of, you know, if we have the strength to actually look at how we are in our lives, we can actually make this change. So it's just really beautiful to see, you know, somebody in a class and, you know, everybody has the best intentions for themselves. People are showing up to feel better, but, you know, if somebody's really working in a way where they're. They're exerting too much effort and too much tension and, you know, rigidity into their practice, you know, that's how they go about doing everything in their lives. So for me, as a teacher of that class, my job isn't to necessarily push them harder. It's to more help them back off a bit and find a way where they can achieve more with efficient energy instead of achieve more with this break on through to the other side. Energy that's going to eventually not work in their lives. It's really cool to see how people are in their bodies and how that translates into their lives.

Mm. I love that you're just bringing me back to. I just recently went to Costa Rica and I was in a. A yoga class where it was just super playful. And I was like, you know those moments when you're on your mat and you're just observing, like, wow, I'm really proud of myself right now for, like, falling and being so good with it and having fun and playing, and that's really been a theme for my life. And it's so true. So, speaking of themes, have you found that you have kind of like a theme for your life every year that you just notice, like, this year I'm feeling more playful, or this year I'm really connecting in, or this year I'm forgiving myself more. So what was 2016 for you and what does 2017 look like so far?

Oh, gosh, yeah. I mean, I think it. I think for me, it's. It's nothing that I kind of plan out in advance, but I'm more, you know, I'm going through and probably have a little bit of time to see and, oh, my gosh, I was. That's kind of what was happening last year. This is what's happening the following year. So I kind of more think about it as a review session in a way, but last year was really intense. Lots of as every year, but lots of travel, lots of building with the community, and there's so many people we work with, with Strahlo, that are leading classes around the world, and it's really kind of taken on its own. Own wind in a way, and the guides are doing so well. But I think one thing I really learned last year, as opposed to all the years kind of leading up and building, that was that I can get more done without running around like a chicken with my head cut off, you know, in a way. And, you know, it's funny. Cause that's one of the big lessons that I love to share with everybody is do more with less energy and, you know, find the ease and all of these sort of nice things that we practice. But, you know, I was still doing that myself as well. I would go to Europe and then bounce back to New York and then go back to Europe. But this trip, I stayed in Europe for, you know, the 10 days that I had of a break. And, you know, Mike and I had a little bit of a mini vacation. And then, you know, we arrived in the next city, you know, five days before the event started to settle in, and actually felt better in the events that I was doing, you know, And I was like, okay, this is an amazing lesson that I actually needed to learn, to slow down in that way to achieve more. So I think that was definitely last year's, and this year, I mean, gosh, I think this little nugget that's coming out soon will just show me so many things. So we'll see.

And for those of you who don't know, when are you due? Did you say it was a couple weeks from today?

So February 6th is the date. But, you know, kids show up when they show up, I guess.

I'm so excited for you. That's so huge. So this is your first?

Yeah. Yep.

Yeah. So how are you feeling right now?

I feel good. I mean, I'm, you know, I'm really lucky. I had. Didn't have any problems or aches or pains or, you know, I think, you know, an easygoing practice had a lot to do with that. And, you know, I had typical, you know, three months morning sickness in the beginning, but I was also bouncing around Asia and had a crazy schedule. So, you know, it probably had something to do with that. But, yeah, I feel good just. Just kind of waiting for her to show up now.

So what have been some of the biggest lessons from pregnancy so far for you?

I think just more slowing down, in a way, and more, you know, I think with how we practice and what we share. You know, I love this concept of doing more with less energy. And, you know, everybody wants to achieve more in their lives, whether it's in their, you know, families or their physical practice or their health or business, whatever it is. So that's always a common theme. And then I think, really, this pregnancy has taught Me that I can simply do less with less as well. And that's completely fine. So to not have to fill all of the spaces with something productive. And it is quite productive to simply be sometimes. So that's really been helpful.

Can you give us examples of that? Just because I feel like in the beginning sometimes it can be like I am grasping this concept, but sometimes putting words around it can be challenging because in the beginning of launching something, sometimes you do have to go into like that launch mode. So how do we know the difference between launch mode and when we can kind of step back?

Well, I think just, just for me personally this, you know, I really felt this whole, you know, for years real, a real need and a desire to find ways to, in my own body and my own mind to drop the extra tension just so I could do more, you know. And I knew I was in my own way. And I kn. There was all these secrets to how we practice that I would see people sitting on a plane that were kind of doing the most that they could with more effort than they needed. And I would say, okay, I can do that same phone call, but I can be relaxed and I'll have enough energy to do three more phone calls. So things like that, that I was sort of playing with and really getting a lot done and by dropping the extra tension. And I think that that's something that I really felt needed to happen for a long time and it really did lead to a lot of great things. But I think the, you know, the sanity in that is, you know, working to drop the extra tension and also probably not be as insane as I was if I was to go back and do it again and say, you know, not, not as competitive with myself of okay, I don't need to do, you know, 10 extra things just because now I have more energy, you know. But I think on the other side of that, for me it's just an intuitive pull that sure, there's still always lots to do and lots of excitement happening, but I know myself better now of when I'm being productive and when I'm just being busy. So I think that's that switch from things that are actually useful and good and productive and, and moving somewhere and then things that are just sort of space fillers and time fillers.

So good. So you are a huge traveler and traveling for me is always tough. So how. What is your self care routine like when you are out on the road?

Oh gosh, I think, you know, honestly having fun is a big deal for me and I have A lot of friends that, that have so many lotions and potions and travel with their blenders and all these kinds of things. For me, all of that stuff is great, but it doesn't quite work. I think I need to be kind of minimalistic and travel light and just trust the universe that if I need a green juice, I may find a green juice place. I don't need to bring my powder and my stuff, but I know for other people they find a lot of comfort in that. So I think for me it comes down to just keeping it really light and easy and you know, I can pack for a month and a little suitcase and feel really good about that, but you know, also keeping keeping a self care routine in the process of that. So, you know, every day, whether it's, you know, five minutes, ten minutes or longer, just simply doing some easygoing yoga and meditation in the hotel or in the apartment, wherever I am and you know, again, not filling every single moment with busyness and filling the time with, you know, things that are fun and that I can enjoy, you know, the amazing place that I am and the amazing people and really have fun and, you know, be grateful that I get to do this and grateful for the experience instead of, you know, if I find myself complaining, I know I'm not in the right head space or in the right place. You know, it's really a wonderful thing to get to travel around the world and do what you love. And you know, if I start making a fuss about that, then I need to kind of smack myself over the head and see what's going on. You know.

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That's so good. It reminds me of what you said before about dropping the tension. Like, we spend so much time in the resistance that the actual act that we're resisting is like nothing compared to the time we spend in, you know, in the in between. Like, if you can just find that space.

Yeah, exactly. That's a good way to put it.

To rest and relax and. Yeah, you're just bringing me to, like, how I can go about it a little bit differently on the road. So what came first for you? Was it yoga or food? It's like, what came first, the chicken or the egg? So what was it for you that kind of, you know, really, because you have a lot of different cookbooks and stuff. So was it movement or food or was it both combined?

Well, I think for me, kind of without the growing up environment that I was getting all of that kind of handed to me. It was definitely the movement kind of anticipated and started all of that. And then I realized that, okay, I'm on my own, my mom's not here, I'm hungry and I need something to eat. Oh, crap. You know, and, you know, being young in New York, I was grabbing, you know, a bag of pretzels and, you know, a coffee and, you know, just. You can get away with that when you're, I think like 19, 20, 21. But, you know, after a while I didn't, I still didn't feel very good. I felt, you know, I'd have some food in my body or I'd grab a, you know, a falafel for a dollar or something like that, and that's, that's all fine, but I wasn't really taking an interest, I guess. So, you know, at a certain point I just said, you know, this is ridiculous. I'm doing all of this yoga and feeling good on one hand. But on the other hand, I knew that the nourishment was also really important. So I was really nerdy about it and started following people around in the grocery store that looked like they knew what they were doing. And my cart like, what are you doing?

Just keep shopping.

I was like, goodbye. Don't worry about it. So that's. You know, I kind of got broke the. Broke the seal a little bit with that and, you know, got home and realized, what the heck am I supposed to do with all this stuff? And then kind of kept going back and finding the things that I liked more and the veggies I liked more and, you know, just started, you know, realizing that if so many people cook, I should be able to do this too. And, you know, I just kind of figured it out in a way.

Okay, so what I think people look at you and probably think, that girl must be so connected. She spends all of her time on her yoga mat and drinking juice and, you know, she's just, like, got it locked in. But what does it feel like for you when you are out or disconnected? And how do you, you know, connect back in?

Oh, gosh. I mean, yeah, it's. You know, if I don't feel good, I know it. I know it right away. And I think we all know it right away. You know, it's. You know, I feel a little. Maybe extra tired or cranky or, you know, I find myself slipping into, you know, this idea of filling time instead of being productive or, you know, kind of, you know, grabbing something unhealthy or not really wanting to practice and sort of, you know, just not feeling that great, you know. And then I think there's this moment where you want to feel better, but you don't quite want to start the things yet to feel better because it just. It doesn't feel good to make that leap, I guess.

Yes.

So, yeah, I mean, that definitely happens quite a bit. I don't think that anybody is sort of living in this space of bliss all of the time. I think this is why we practice. But, yeah, I mean, it's sort of. I just. I think I'm like you. I'm from the Midwest. And I think that upbringing in us is so solid of if you know better, you gotta do it. And I sort of think of, you know, relatives and, you know, you just kind of. You just get up and you do it, and then, you know, you're gonna feel a little bit better. And you can sulk a little bit and kind of wallow a little bit. But, you know, after a certain point, you know, we're. We're privileged enough to know and have access to, you know, these practices that really Work for us. So it's just a matter of time of, you know, feeling bad and feeling sorry and indulgent and then kind of getting over it and doing it, you know?

Yes, because that only goes so far. Dang it.

Yeah, I know. And it's fun, too. You know, you can rally around all your friends to get on your side about it.

Totally. All right, so what is making you the most excited right now?

Oh, gosh. Well, I think excitement is definitely for the little munchkin to show up in any day, so that'll be really fun. But I just kind of want her here at this point so we can hang out and I can ask her where she comes from and all these weird questions. But then I'm excited to, you know, to show her to everybody and to hang out. I mean, she already has so many friends from all around the world, and we'll get back into the swing of things with the Strela trainings and programs this spring. And, you know, I'm excited to take her to Europe in the fall and kind of, you know, show her to everybody there and do the programs and stuff. So, yeah, I think I'm really kind of looking forward to her being here and then, you know, seeing how that progresses and then. And then having her really integrate with everything that we do. Hopefully she likes to travel.

Yes, I have a feeling she will. She's already been a traveler, right?

Yeah, yeah, she's been to about 40 countries or so already.

That is insane. That's insane. It took me till I was 18 to, like, really leave my state. Okay, we'll talk about that later. But anyway, so being pregnant and you were so active and so into fitness, was there anything that slowed you down a bit? And were there massive adjustments that you had to make? And what were they?

Oh, gosh, yeah, completely. I mean, the first, we had been trying for a while, but, you know, we found out literally a couple days before I was headed to this asia, crazy Australia, 20 flight trip kind of a situation. And, you know, I felt fine. I just felt a little sleepy at that point. But as soon as I kind of started on the travel, the sickness kicked in. And, you know, it still felt good to move, but I didn't feel the sort of excitement to move my body every day. So, you know, I knew it was good for me, but at the same time, I wasn't jumping out of bed and wanting to, you know, drink a green juice and get into a downward dog and, you know, film it for Instagram right away.

You know, what I Mean, like, let's film a nap.

Yeah, exactly.

It sounds amazing.

And it's kind of progressed like that the whole time. I've had most of the rest of the pregnancy. After the first three months, I felt pretty good and good energy and all of that. But as I've expanded kind of everywhere in my body, there's more of me everywhere, and so I feel heavier. And things are definitely different as far as movement goes. And. And it's interesting that I feel like it's just a cool opportunity to get to know my body in this way and to really slow down in this way of being. Not just doing the routines that I did a year ago or a few months ago and really coming up with movements that feel good in the moment and are also beneficial. So it's definitely changed quite a bit and continues to change sort of month by month.

Is there something that you would say to women maybe, who are thinking about getting pregnant or having their second pregnancy? Just about? Because I'm thinking about getting pregnant the next year. Not for a while, like two years. Like two years. But I'm already. I'm literally already setting, like, intentions around it because I just. I want to kind of break the ideas that I grew up hearing that it's hard, it's. It's tough. You, you know, you deal with these struggles with your body, and I don't want to think those things. I want to be excited. I want to really look at it as miraculous. I want to, you know, just allow whatever is happening to happen, even though I'm sure I'm human, obviously. But what are some things, maybe. Because I feel as though maybe you were quite intentional about it, maybe that you would say or that you're saying in your mind right now to kind of make it a good experience.

Yeah, I mean, for me, honestly, it's been a good experience. It's not. It changes all the time. So I think it's part of it is just allowing yourself to accept that change and to feel excited about it. And, you know, I mean, we're different every day in our regular life, you know, pregnant or not pregnant. So it's sort of. It's just waking up every day and noticing, oh, wow, you know, my body feels, you know, a little bit. Balance is trickier. And, you know, oh, it feels really good to do this today, or not so great to do this today. And this feels empowering. And so, you know, I think keeping a regular. A regular internal practice is completely crucial to feeling good. You know, whether it's, you know, meditation or yoga, something where you're focusing on the inside and really coming back to how you feel, because that's a huge compass. And I think so many people have a huge knowledge already of their fitness routine and their vocabulary of movement. With yoga, we just need that time and space to slow down. I think, for me, it's about slowing down, softening, creating enough space so I can actually listen to myself. And then from there, it's go time. If I take that, you know, five, ten minutes every morning to listen to how I feel, I know exactly what I need to do. I know exactly who I want to hang around that day. I know exactly what I want to be reading. I know exactly what I don't want to be doing. But if I try to control that too much, or I guess maybe not that I had this experience, but if I tried to keep my fitness routine the same as it was before, I can see how that would be completely miserable and just no fun, you know, it can be fun, you know, and exciting. And I think I'm friends with Deepak Chopra, and I told him a while ago, and I saw him, and I was kind of newly pregnant, and I said, well, she's doing the work. You know, I'm just kind of hanging around. And he said, no, actually, the universe is. The universe is doing the work. So I think, you know, thinking about these things as, you know, it is magical and amazing and exciting, and, you know, we get to be a part of it, I think, instead of having to, you know, control our bodies or something like that, you know.

Oh, I love that. That's such a great way to look at it. Like, if you can take yourself out of it, you can take a whole lot of pressure off.

Yeah. Yeah.

So what are you reading right now?

Oh, gosh, you know, I come back to kind of these few same books a lot. The Dalai Lama has this, a neat book called Beyond Religion, which I just think is cool coming from a religious person like himself. But it's kind of a call to be ethical and moral in our lives. And it's really. It's just a nice reminder to do all of the things that we all talk about all the time, and we all sort of remind ourselves all the time of cultivating internal peace and internal awareness and respect for ourselves if we want to see that in the world. So things like that. There's this book I came across called the Mindful Parent. And the author goes and visits, I think, five or six of the happiest cultures in the world for families. So things Like Bali and Southeast Asia and I think some parts of Japan and things like this and really just observe their cultures of how they raise babies together and they don't have stigmas around things that we have in the west, like the baby has their own room here all the time and the mother goes back to work right away and all of these things. So it kind of was a neat reminder to show that we have more freedoms than we like and it's okay to kind of hold your kid all the time and doesn't need to be Ferberized and things like that. So, you know, all these things that we're sort of grown up with here of, you know, sort of hands off parenting and hands off, you know, even with the pregnancy and the experience and things that I've just felt so strongly intuitively that you know how I want the experience to go and the kind of relationship I want to have with her and, you know, in my relationship with Mike and things like this. So it's, you know, these kind of books are interesting because I feel like we don't get a lot of that and New York and LA and, you know, we have the, a different kind of culture here of, you know, bounce back with the body and, you know, jump back into work and, you know, all these things. So it's, it's been, it's been a neat kind of reminder.

Oh, I love that. And there's just. There's so many different ideas, you know, especially being out in LA and I think just really tapping into a beautiful community of just, just women soul sisters that I have right now. I. I literally just traveled to Costa Rica with a bunch of women who had just had babies and brought them with and all stayed in a house. Basically. They were all in a house, called it the goddess house. And it was like just this beautiful idea of what could be. For me, it was the most cool glimpse into, like, these kids were running around, these moms, we were having these beautiful discussions while these babies were nursing. And I was like, this is like the coolest experience that I could possibly have before I get pregnant because it just broke my entire. It shattered my idea of what I thought, you know, motherhood was supposed to look like. And here's these women in Costa Rica, like surfing and, you know, other people are watching their babies. I'm like, yes, this is. This is it. So talking about that, what has been some of your favorite moments or observations from some of your travels?

Oh, gosh, man.

Well, I know that sounds like such a huge question.

Huge. You know, I used to, I think I love everywhere and I love everybody. And it's just funny, the first few times I'd go to these places, you know, I'd meet people and then now we're all friends and you know, it's just been, it's been so many years. So that's really great. But you know, I just love this idea that we're all kind of connected to feel good and, and I'm lucky when I get to see my friends. We all do yoga and eat well and catch up and it's really around a context of feeling better. And I remember the first time I went to Malaysia, it was kind of mind blowing for me. I did this event on some rooftop somewhere and it was probably 98% Muslim women came to it and I just thought this was the coolest thing ever. And they said, you know, we, we love practicing yoga because it helps us feel better and you know, just to see somebody who looks completely different than, you know, half of, you know, most of the women that we see in New York and LA and the perfect outfits and all these things and these women really just coming for themselves as well. And you know, a lot of them, I made really good friends with them and we're still in touch and it's incredible, incredible to me how similar I am to these women. We have one thing that's not the same and it's what we wear on our head, you know, that's kind of it, you know, so, you know, we giggle and we text and you know, I think for me those, those kind of cultural, you know, again, being from the Midwest, you know, we're probably, we're probably, you know, from a very similar town where everybody looks the same, everybody acts the same and, and it's just sort of, that's just a product of where we are demographically and it is the same for them too. Most of the people there are. This is the same experience, just a different culture. So I think I've been so lucky to get to kind of connect with people in this way where it's really about something personal and bigger than ourselves and fun and exciting and. Yeah. So I think, you know, Southeast Asia has been really special for that reason.

Beautiful. So I, that brings us into talking about just women friends and tribe. And I'm actually writing a book right now just about tribes and, and making sure that you nurture, you know, your women relationships and building them and how to connect deeper. So what role has that played?

I can't wait to read that.

So excited. It's like a mastermind book, so you can all mastermind with it. But. But it just. I'm so curious because I'm finding the most just really beautiful, connected, happy women in the world have a tribe of women that they connect into. So what do you do to. What role has it played for you and how do you nurture those relationships?

Oh, gosh, yeah. For me, it's huge, for sure. And I think it's, you know, it's been kind of a surprise. And also, you know, you never know where these people are going to come from in your lives and. And how long they're gonna be in your lives and all these things. But I have a few people in my life right now that I've known for probably 20 years that also live in New York. And I've reconnected with them because my one girlfriend, I knew her when she was a model in New York acting crazy in the late 90s, and now she has seven kids and she has this amazing birthing class business and it's going global. And she actually did one of our first Strala trainings a few years ago just to kind of reconnect a bit. But now we have the baby thing in common, and she's been a huge supporter and resource, and we've just grown closer in this way. And she's just really reminded me that I have so many freedoms going into the experience. And we've really just. We've always been friends, but we've really connected on a much more profound level. I think now that we have more. More in common to experience. And, you know, I really noticed that with a lot of, I guess, you know, tribe and girlfriends and things like that that, you know, different stages in my life, I've always maybe really been drawn to that person. But, you know, whether whatever's happening at a certain point in either of our lives may bring us closer together in that way. So, you know, another girlfriend coming to mind is Malika Chopra. And, you know, I get to see her kind of periodically, but we got to go to Amsterdam at the same time for a book event. And, you know, we hung out and went to all the museums and just kind of goofed off and had a really good time and supported each other and, you know, that. That really brought us a lot closer. So I think, you know, these people are kind of always around, and then something kind of magical happens when they zap really close to you. And I think that's. That's always like this fun sort of magical. I think, point for me to know that your tribe is, you know, not necessarily people you have to hang out with every day and have over and watch movies, but, you know, they're there for you and you're there for them, and that's really important.

I love that. It's just like you said, different phases of life. Like, sometimes we. One of my girlfriends says, collect people. She's like, you know, because what I used to do growing up was like, I needed my friends to be like, the everything friend. Like, if you didn't fall into this category of the perfect person, then we weren't best friends or. And it just wasn't useful. And that's kind of what I thought a best friend was. And now it's like, wow, there's. Everyone's put in your life for maybe one certain thing or one particular thing that they can offer you or help you expand or help you learn or help teach you. And it's just like, life gets really exciting when you start looking at people like that, that everyone that you encounter is there for something. So you're like, get really explorative and interested, which makes everything more fun. So I love that you shared that. Thanks for doing. Thank you for that. Okay, so if you. Let's see, if you were to put your message out to the world, let's say you had. You had to put just one sentence on a billboard, and it was the billboard that would be up for the rest of eternity, what would. What would that message. Message say?

Oh, my gosh. This is a good question. Do you ask everybody this question? No, No.

I literally was like, I want to ask her the billboard question.

That's really good. I think, gosh, something with ease. I would. I think this. There's something really profound that has really helped me with ease. And I think it's, you know, move with ease or live with ease or, you know, find the ease, whatever it is. There's something in there. You know, I think take it Easy is already taken by some singer. Take it Easy. But I think there's something more than, you know, just kind of kick back on the couch and relax, but, you know, go in ease. Maybe that's a good one. Go in ease, you know, but yeah, there's something that's, I think, really special about, you know, going about our day in a way that's easygoing and still doing all the things that we need.

To do that's so beautiful. And honestly, it's been your theme through this whole podcast. And just even when I was really looking at all of Your videos and looking at everything that you've done just in preparation for this podcast. It's so funny. A lot of your titles had like ease or flow or different. These beautiful words that I immediately was like, yeah, yeah, that's. I'm so drawn to this right now. Like, I am like getting sucked into this world of ease right now. So that's, that's so beautiful. So where can we find you? Where can we follow you? What are you up to right now besides about to have a baby? And thank you so much for being on here. Of course.

This is, this is great. Yeah, I mean, I'm pretty easy to find. I think we're all pretty easy to find now. Everybody's very transparent with all of our whereabouts. But, you know, on the web, you can find me@tarastyles.com or astralayoga.com, i think the, the sites are linked together. I'm on all the usual social places to connect as well. YouTube and Instagram and all that stuff. But yeah, we have some programs coming up in New York and the spring and then in Europe and things like that. So people can always come and join an in person program and really connect with the community, which is great to do with people together.

Amazing. And you guys, she has some incredible books that you must go and look up. And Tara, I just want to acknowledge you and say thank you for your massive work in the world and for how you show up. No matter how busy you are, whatever you're feeling, sometimes in the moment, it really is felt how much you just love people and this message that you're delivering. So thank you for. Thank you for that.

Oh, gosh, no, thank you. It's, you know, it's, it's a Midwest thing. You know, we think we just like to be around people. It feels good.

It does. And, and there is always one question that I ask before we wrap. So this one is universal for everyone who's on the podcast. So if you have just a quick 30 second elevator ride with somebody and they look over at you and they say, how can I make myself happy? What do you say?

Oh, my goodness. Well, I think I would probably take that 30 seconds to just guide them through some breathing and probably not say anything because I think if you take a big inhale, lift an easy exhale, soften, check to see if you're movable and can sway a little side to side, 30 seconds is a lot of time to do that. And I think that that person will have so many more answers than I could have, you know, talked their head off with, you know, sentences and words at that point. So I think I would just try to bring them back inside with that meditation.

Beautiful. Thank you so much. And you guys, if you loved this episode as much as I did, make sure you share it. And until next time, earn your happy. Bye everyone. Thank you guys so much for spending this time with me on the earn your happy podcast. I am so glad that you stopped by. If you could take one second to share this episode with someone you think would love it, that would be absolutely amazing and we would be forever grateful. Also, please leave us a review if you feel so moved by going to itunes and leaving us an honest thought, an honest comment. Tell us what you think, tell us what you want to hear more about up. It would really help us out on our journey to helping thousands and thousands of people. Until then, don't forget to earn your happy. Thanks again guys. Bye Bye.