Today we’d like to introduce you to Lily Shepard.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
When I moved to Austin in 2015, I started out teaching dance fitness classes both in the community and for corporations like Apple, Dell and Dropbox. Having studied dance since I was a child, it was natural to me to infuse elements of traditional dance classes particularly Afro- Caribbean movement, hip hop and jazz into my classes. There was always a sensual element to my classes and I enjoyed offering people a new awareness of how they felt in their bodies through movement. I started paying attention to the transformations that were happening for the women in my classes and noticing the conversations that were taking place after class. Women were starved for a container to express themselves without judgment, explore their sensuality and process emotions.
At that point, I realized that I wanted to go deeper than teaching dance steps as a way to train or burn calories. I wanted to explore the inner transformations that were taking place as a result of moving the body with feminine intention. It became very important to me to not just teach women how to look sexy and confident when performing a routine but how to actually embody sensuality and confidence in their everyday lives. I want women to feel joy and pleasure, not just when dancing but in every possible moment that they can. Many women who are succeeding in other parts of life are secretly suffering from a lack of pleasure. My work encourages women to put an end to a vision of womanhood that’s marked with exhaustion and service to the point of burnout and place no limit on the joy and pleasure they can experience in this life.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Is there such a thing as a smooth road for a solopreneur?
One of the toughest things for me has been the transition to online coaching. Prior to covid, my business model relied heavily on in person classes and workshops. I was very resistant to doing zoom classes of any kind and I was sad that one of the things I most love about what I do, connecting with people in real life, was taken away. I was worried that if people weren’t literally able to “feel my energy” that I would become just another one of a million other online coaches peddling online programs or courses. After holding a bunch of workshops online out of necessity, I found out that that just wasn’t true. On the contrary, because of the sensual nature of my work and the vulnerability that’s encouraged, many of my clients were happy for the opportunity to work with me privately and in the comfort of their own homes.
I will say that online it is very easy to lose your authenticity. There is a pressure to be trending, go viral, be larger than life or even deceptive to capture people’s attention quickly. On the flip side, there is also pressure to do what everyone else is doing, tailor yourself to your audience and be universally appealing. Staying true to yourself and trusting that the content you create from a heartfelt place will call the right people in is a daily exercise in self-trust.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am dedicated to helping driven women unlock their feminine power by moving with feminine intention. I use movement as a vehicle to affect inner transformation and invite women to travel the path of self-exploration, pleasure and sensual expression.
Introducing women to the healing power of movement and developing programs in which they can access this healing in a way that feels natural is what I’m most proud of. African dance, twerking, breath work, heels dance, meditation, improvisation… all of these things are incredibly empowering to women. Women that are ambitious and have a lot on their plates need more ways to nourish and care for themselves. So many women feel powerful in their roles outside the home yet lost and unfulfilled within. I believe that pleasure is the pathway to power and movement is what allows you to tap in.
There are a lot of coaches who approach making changes in your life simply from the perspective of mindset. While I agree that mental fortitude and improved patterns of thought are integral parts in making lasting change in your life, you cannot exclude the body from the conversation. You cannot exclude the nervous system from the conversation. To truly embody the person you want to become and feel powerful in your own life, you must take an integrative approach.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
You can book a free 20 minute consultation with Lily by clicking here.
https://calendly.com/lilyscalendar/15min
Contact Info:
- Email: lily@lilyshepardmoves.com
- Website: www.lilyshepardmoves.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilyshepardmoves/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lilyshepardmoves
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvwiK-KtfSc15zO7zzwDybA/featured
Image Credits:
Talisa Davis Kara Elyse Chelsa Carr
