Meet Mackenzie Palmer: Yoga and Pole Dance instructor

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

Hi Mackenzie, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
During the pandemic, I thought that it was a great opportunity to take my life and career back into my own hands. I lost my 9 to 5 corporate style job, a job I already did not like, a job I had been gearing up to leave. This just kind of pushed me towards that direction even quicker. It showed me how valuable time is and what I really wanted to be spending my time on. Quarantine made life and its normal routines stop, and for me that gave me a greater opportunity to grow into areas I have been wanting to but never felt like I had enough time. I have always loved movement, and my movement practice has been a large and stable practice in my life. During quarantine, I was so happy to have yoga and dance that I could do at my leisure and keep me high-spirited and energized. I wanted to share what I knew and what made me happy. I started my business called Concise Yoga. It is an online community geared towards helping all womxn growth in their strength, flexibility, and connection to self. I teach group yoga and host a guided meditations every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, as well as upload pole dance tutorials all at conciseyoga.com. I wanted a space where one could not only move the body, but grow in love with the body. Yoga and pole dance has done just that for me, and I truly wanted to share the peace they both bring me. So often we hide our bodies instead of celebrate them, but diving deeper into these moment practices taught me how to tap into my sensuality, my divine feminine energy, and confidence. Something I want every womxn to tap into because it is in this space that magic happens.

What should our readers know about your business?
I run conciseyoga.com an all encompassing digital movement space. I teach group yoga and host guided meditations every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, as well as teach pole privates and upload pole dance tutorials. I like to think what sets me apart from others, is that I truly believe in the intertwining of movement practices. I love how yoga and pole go so well together, and I believe each practice is so beautiful. I’m proud that I have created a space where they can live together, and be presented for people that may have never seen themselves doing either. I feel like both practices have so much history. Pole dance obviously stems from the sex work and club industry here in the States, and I think it is so important to understand that and pay respects to that, but I also love all the different ways the art form can be transformed into. Yoga as well has such a specific and deeply rooted cultural history, and I try to recognize that and pay respects to its roots in my teachings and practices. Getting to where I am today hasn’t necessarily been easy, but I am a true believer of let go and let flow. Creating this community has been a gift, and I try to remember that when I feel like the business aspect gets a little tough. I’ve learned to ask for help, especially when the task is outside of your experience. I have a big tendency to try and do everything on my own, which I think some things definitely can be, but others things sometimes need the help of someone who knows how to execute it better.
I want the story of CONCISE to be an ever growing brand. I have the movement aspect established now, but soon their will be organic products and life-style clothing. I want to show that all of your goals, visions, and dreams can come true, it just takes hard work and a dedicated heart. The story of CONCISE is ever growing, just as we are ever growing.

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.
We would most likely spend the whole weekend at the beach. My favorite place, so beautiful and peaceful. Sprinkle in a mix of some museum trips, and a vegan burger or two at Montys, and that’s the perfect weekend in my book.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
This is a shoutout for every womxn who lived in their truth. My mother, my friends, my sisters, my family. I have been so inspired by so many over time, those that I have met and know deeply and others that I’ve only seen in a digital realm. They have all given me the encouragement to be exactly who I am now, and who I continue to want to be. We are all connected by a beautiful divine energy, a God filled spirit, a cosmic love, and with this connection I am lifted.

Website: Concicseyoga.com

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj-YTixn7RVT7KMjQqy8QOw/featured

Image Credits
first photo: Kristina Subsara @ksubsara headshot of just me: @visionsofkodachrome two yoga poses: @ksubsara last pole photo: Monique G. @weirdandskinny