Today we’d like to introduce you to Tara Reyna.
Hi Tara, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a Sober Curious Coach and Yoga Instructor. I completed my Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) in 2019 and my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a Specialization in Substance Use a year later. Rather than going through the process of counseling licensure (for several reasons), I decided to still work in mental health, but on the “macro” side of things. So, I work full-time in suicide prevention and do “sober-ish” coaching part-time. My personal history with yoga and implementing a sober-ish lifestyle has to do with mental health. In 2016, I was trying different medications to try and help with my generalized anxiety. After several medications seemed to make my mental health worse, I decided to forego them in place of yoga. It was a game changer, and I have not been on anxiety medicine since.
Additionally, in 2021, I began my own sober, curious journey after realizing that my body truly did not like the after-effects. I wasn’t getting up early like I wanted on weekends to do things like hiking; I was tired all the time, and I later found out that alcohol was contributing to my anxiety. I started to dip my toes into “dry” months, reading a lot of books about sober and sober-ish lifestyles, and I found nothing but benefits to reducing my drinking. Because alcohol is so heavily ingrained in our society, this was not a super easy process, but the tools I learned through yoga helped me with this. Things like knowing how to breathe through an anxious moment and training my nervous system to tolerate “stress,” knowing that it will be short-lived, helped me get through many awkward situations when I would have otherwise drunk. Knowing how many people live with anxiety and depression, I wanted to help others realize the massive benefits of reducing or quitting their alcohol consumption and implementing yoga and meditation practices. I have hosted events such as sober pool parties and an 8-week group coaching program for women. I also have a 30-day workbook for those looking to partake in a “dry” month.
Let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
It’s not smooth. The biggest struggles have been 1) finding time to work on my business since I work full-time and 2) getting over any limiting beliefs I had (and still have). Even though I have a master’s in counseling, there is still a lot of stigma around “coaches,” and with substance use, a lot of people expect these services to be free. I have had to learn not to take things personally (yoga teachings also help with this, ironically!), but that is an ongoing struggle, and 3) learning all the components of the business (creating a website, legal considerations, social media marketing, etc.). You must wear all the hats when you’re starting, and honestly, some of it is just boring AF. lol
I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I help people improve their mental health by learning how to reduce their drinking and implement mindfulness in a practical way that isn’t too “woo-woo.” There is a phrase, “I’m mostly peace, love, and light, and a little go f**k yourself,” and I have had several people tell me this makes them think of me. Lol, I take it as a compliment. I keep things lighthearted around what can often be a heavy topic(s) (mental health in general). And I understand that mindfulness can be awkward for some people when they’re not used to it. I have nothing I’m most proud of yet since I’m still getting started.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Relatability and authenticity. I am not your average “mindful” person (at least, I don’t think). I’m loud, talk fast, swear a lot, etc. And people appreciate that.
Pricing:
- $15- Workbook
- $300-$500 Group Coaching (8 weeks)
- 1:1 Coaching Session: $60/session; package discounts
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tarakreyna.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/soberish_yogi
Image Credits
Studio images are by Sierra Nichols of Sierra-Marie Photography
