Meet Jamie Skye | Yoga Instructor | Dancer | Entrepreneur

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

Hi Jamie, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?

Yes! I have a (new) favorite quote. I actually have tons of favorite quotes and affirmations (how can you only have one?!) but this one I discovered recently. I was reading Buzzfeed and came across an article titled “People are sharing the quotes that permanently changed the way they look at things, and OMG.” I was obviously intrigued because I was like what quote haven’t I heard or read somewhere on the internet by now? This one actually made me think:… “That mountain you’ve been carrying, you were only supposed to climb.” Written by Lebanese-Canadian poet, Najwa Zebian.

Woah, it may seem obvious, like “get over it already, move on.” The thing is, we may not be aware of what’s holding us back. We may not even realize we’re still carrying the mountain because we’re too busy trying to climb more wondering why we’re unsuccessful. Maybe we’re still carrying around trauma we thought we got over or carrying around unwanted emotions, habits and fears. In life we’re going to encounter a lot of obstacles and it’s important to gain the ability to self-soothe. There is no going over it, around it or under it – you’ve heard it many times, but the only way is through.

I also think this quote is about letting go. Letting go of habits, ideals and ways of living that no longer serve you or the real world you’re living in. Lean into the unknown and try new things. Practice new perspectives. Why keep living the same way, doing the same things and repeating habits? You’re going to feel stuck under that mountain. The spiritual practice of yoga has helped me overcome trauma on my own and built up my overall confidence. This form of practice may not be for everyone but we’re all after the same thing, inner peace and alignment within ourselves.

I like this quote because it reminds me that the mountains I once thought were so heavy and unbearable were actually the small ones. To stop carrying the mountain doesn’t happen magically one day. It’s a constant practice to let go. Climb and let go so you can make space for bigger and better things in your life. Your Comfort Zone is Killing You by Billy Anderson is a great read if you’re wondering how to take the next step.

Lean in and accept what’s uncomfortable. Learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. It’s the only way for healthy growth, go through the motions.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m going to be transparent, since the pandemic started in March 2020 I have been on unemployment. Since the age of 15, more than a decade, I’ve worked 2+ jobs at any given time. So honestly this has been a nice break for reflection and exactly what I needed after years of inner turbulence. This year has forced me to slow down and think about my life, as I’m sure it has for most of us. Since then I’ve become a yoga instructor and have been planning my next steps. I think it’s important to remember and remind myself that I’m still in my 20’s, I’m still trying new things and figuring things out especially since I took this creative, work-for-myself route. I’m building my business as a Yoga Therapist, taking it one step at a time. I feel there’s no need to rush something I’m truly passionate about. I know that as I grow as human being, so will my business.

I’ve accomplished a lot of my goals and I’m very happy and proud of myself. My friend once told me it’s like trying to catch a butterfly, the more you try to grab it, it will fly away. But if you hold your hand out and wait patiently the butterfly will land in your hand. It’s easy to get caught up in LA because everything moves so fast. I’m open to trying other things career wise and I know that my dance journey isn’t over, I just want to work in other fields. I recently worked as a production assistant on a short film and another main interest and passion of mine is psychology.

It hasn’t been easy but it has been a lot of fun discovering and trying so many new things. Yoga practice has really led to me to get out of my shell more and not be afraid of failing. How can you be good at something you’ve never even tried? I move a lot more intuitively as well. If something doesn’t feel right or doesn’t align within me, I recognize that, I accept it and I move on. So in this case it’s getting easier as I listen to my intuition and always do what’s right for me. My patience and discipline has also grown tremendously which has helped bring my stress and anxiety levels way down.

It’s okay to try something once and never do it again. Don’t let people (or especially your inner critic) make you feel like a failure. If it doesn’t align with you, move on. It’s nobody else’s business. But when you do find something you’re interested in, don’t give up. Consistency is key. 1% a day is what I tell myself everyday. Your life and career become a collection of your daily habits, so be aware and make sure they’re serving your higher self.

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.
Ooo! Well, let’s see… if it’s up to me I would take them to my favorite beaches, Manhattan Beach and El Matador Beach in Malibu. I’d take them for a hike to see the Hollywood sign because that’s classic and everyone wants to see it once. I can’t remember the name of the hike but there are a couple. Depending on the Sunday I’d take them to either the Rose Bowl Flea Market or the Melrose Trading Post for an afternoon thrift spree. I’d take them up Mulholland drive somewhere in the hills (there’s plenty of lookout points) to watch the California sunset. Some fun places I’ve enjoyed eating and drinking are Yamashiro in Hollywood, Boba Bear in Korea Town, Lady Byrd Cafe in Echo Park, Pura Vita Italian Vegan Food in West Hollywood and Mama Shelter in Hollywood. I’d also take them to areas such as Silverlake, Beverly Hills and the Venice Canals to look at houses/the neighbourhood. My two best friends and I actually did this when they first moved me here in 2017, we love looking at cute houses.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Absolutely! This shoutout is dedicated to my three siblings. Our dynamic is complex and filled with a lot of love, support and encouragement. They have all supported me in ways I could never repay them and I love them so much.

My youngest brother Logan is talented, raw, expressive, honest, funny and extremely loving and kind. He works professionally as a tattoo artist in Toronto and is an advocate for epilepsy awareness. In addition to tattooing, he specializes in blackwork, black and grey, cross hatching, pen art, digital art and more. You can find him on Instagram and TikTok @logans.ink.

My younger sister Jordan, other than being outrageously, super-model stunning with the longest legs, is a serious fashionista, chef, fitness enthusiast and marketing guru. As another artist in the family Jordan works on crafting and sewing her own outfits, jewelry, shoes and home decor. She recently took the leap of moving from Toronto during this pandemic to live in the United Kingdom. You can find her on Instagram @jordingaround for fashion and @jordanjadefit for fitness and health content.

My oldest brother Tom works as a healthcare professional in Canada and has been working to save lives throughout the pandemic. Tom is fun and smart, he loves his fur babies and loves to travel with his wife! Additional shoutout to my sister-in-law Blair who is also a healthcare professional turned health coach and fitness instructor for a passion in disease prevention. You can find her on Instagram @herhabits.

Website: https://jamieskye.org/

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

Other: https://www.instagram.com/jamieskyeyoga/

Image Credits
Elisa Pitella Ewelina Polnicka Ryan Parrilla