Meet Stephanie Woods | Embodiment Coach & Yoga Teacher

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

Hi Stephanie, other than deciding to work for yourself, what was the single most important decision you made that contributed to your success?
Defining success for myself. It’s easy to get caught up striving for success, only to realize you’ve been working towards something you don’t even want. This is the perfect way to end up in a mid-life/anytime-of-life crisis. If you want true success, you have to first define what that means for you.

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?
For a long time, coaching has been mindset-based. While mindset is important, we are more than our minds. As an embodiment coach, I take a more holistic approach. With almost a decade of teaching yoga, and more as a movement artist, it’s hard for me *not* to look at coaching from a holistic lens. Instead of mindset work only, my work with clients also involves the body, emotions, energy, and spirit. We don’t just talk – my coaching clients receive guidance through practices like breathwork, tapping, intuitive movement, somatic work, and more. My clients don’t learn how to think differently, they step into BEING different.

With so much of my background being based in movement, there is a lot of body-based work in my coaching sessions. Embodied work is powerful because the body is the bridge between all the other layers of self – the mind, energy, emotions, and spirit all show up in very physical ways within our bodies. I believe coaching is most effective when it involves the body.

I get so excited when I see how this approach transforms my clients. Usually when you do something like breathwork or a yoga asana class, it feels amazing in the moment…but it’s a short or medium-lived experience. When it’s paired with coaching, there is follow up, accountability, and a complete process. That’s what allows my clients to step into their fullest potential, and make lasting, meaningful changes in their lives.

Starting and running a coaching business has been one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life. There is a lot of judgement from others when you tell them you’re going to be a life coach. Hell, I used to judge life coaches! I thought they were know-it-all’s who told you how to live your life. (Spoiler: that’s not what we do). There is a lot of skepticism when you tell people all the (seemingly) woo-woo stuff (though actually largely backed by science) you do with clients. But all of this has been an opportunity for me to devote myself, over and over again, to what I truly believe in.

I believe embodied people are empowered people, and empowered people help heal the world. I believe trusting your intuition is the best guide into your purpose and gifts. I believe how your life feels is more important than how it looks. It’s through the commitment to these beliefs that I have found truly amazing clients, and been able to walk them into the life they true desire.

So, how exactly do I devote to my beliefs? How exactly do I facilitate client growth? Embodiment. It’s not about affirmations or writing it down. It’s about FEELING it in the body. When the body feels it – when the nervous systems begins to feel safe with the vision – then things like affirmations can actually start working. Every bit of work I do with myself, with my business, with my clients – it all goes through the body.

I started this business because connecting to my body and intuition led me to the most empowered, free, and joyful version of myself. Of course it wasn’t an easy journey. Listening to my intuition was really, really scary at first. It led me to get a divorce, move cities, invest a bunch of money, and a make a big career change. But in the end, intuition always leads us to a more expansive version of ourselves. My life right now is more aligned with the life I dream of than it ever has been. There is more ease, flow, joy, and fun. There is more adventure, nourishment, connection, and love.

I coach because I want to see more people freeing themselves. I want you to live a life in line with your values – a life that feels amazing to you.

We’ve been told we are too much or not enough. We’ve given our power away in small and big ways. We’ve doubted ourselves over & over. But it can shift at any point – you just have to choose. Start trusting that quiet voice within and love yourself so hard that nothing can shake the ground below, or the core within you.

If there is one thing I could tell anyone reading this, it’s to trust yourself. Stop questioning your inner voice. Stop doubting yourself and your dreams. Get grounded, remember who the f*** you are, and trust your inner guidance. It’s the only way to serving your ultimate purpose on this planet. It’s the only way to living in alignment with who you truly are.

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.
I live in OC so I will give my answer for that area:

My #1 happy place in the area is Laguna Beach. To me, it’s one of the prettiest places in all of California. The cliffs, the view, the color of the water, the shape of the coastline – it’s all magical. I would specifically go to Treasure Island and Goff Island. For food, South of Nick’s is the absolute best. There is nothing like bougie, Southern California-style Mexican food, IMO. The most expensive margarita on the menu is made with Casa Azul tequila and trust me, it’s worth it. For a more wallet-friendly option, Slapfish has the best fish tacos ever…literally.

You can’t miss Maggie Gelineau’s classes at iHeartYoga. Also check out Soul Movement Yoga for the most inclusive, welcoming studio in OC.

For smoothies, Thrive Juice Lab is the best. For acai bowls, you’ve gotta become my friend and come over because I make them better than you’ll find anywhere else 🙂

For quality craft cocktails: Blind Rabbit in Anaheim.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Oh man, there are SO many people and groups I want to give shoutouts to. I wouldn’t be here without the many people who’ve been woven into my past and present. Contrary to the modern, western perspective of independence, my successes and joys are the result of tons of interdependence.

I’d love to give a shout out to every single teacher, coach, mentor, student, and colleague I’ve had in both the yoga world and the coaching world. I also want to give a shout out to my family, especially my mom and sisters, who have always supported me – even when my ideas seem a bit wild. Jen and Meesh – my sisters – show up to as much of my offerings as possible, it’s such a gift to be so supported! I’d like to shout out all my past and current romantic partners, because you helped shape me in to who I am today – and some of you were so, so supportive of my dreams. A shoutout to the deep friends, who let me be free in my fullest expression of self.

Many thanks to some particular yoga instructors who have shaped me as a coach, teacher, and human: Maggie Gelineau, Kaleen Lugo, Tiffany Russo, Annie Carpenter.

And I want to give a big shoutout to my coach, Nina Petruzzo. I get tears in my eyes just thinking about all the ways you’ve changed my life. Thank you.

Website: www.stephcwoods.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephcwoods/