Kelly is an independent yoga teacher who specializes in the intersection of yoga, creative expression, and community. She considers it her work to ensure that everyone is welcomed with unconditional love in the community spaces she creates and believes that in that environment, we can all connect to ourselves and each other in more meaningful and authentic ways.
Tell us about who you are and what you do.
My name is Kelly Watt, I am in my mid-twenties, my pronouns are she/her/hers, and I am based out of New England. I teach yoga independently as I adventure down my path in the robust and inspiring yoga world! Through my practice, I discover with certainty that at the root of all that I love about life there is a common thread of creating and holding space for humans to get connected to their authentic selves and the (human, earthly, and spiritual) life around them. I treasure the opportunities to help create and facilitate these spaces through the avenues of yoga, expressive arts, travel/nature, and conversation.
I consider it my work to ensure that everyone is welcomed with unconditional love in the community spaces I create and to let my heart lead my practice (and life) always into a more progressive, ethical, sustainable, and accessible love for people and the planet. My educational and professional backgrounds are in expressive therapies, counseling, and community work so my practice focuses on the intersection of the magic of yoga, creativity through music and movement, and community building. Often in my classes (and always in my life) my dog, Ash, is by my side–our hearts and souls are truly cut from the same cloth, so we strive to live a life full of adventure in our time together. I always joke that Ash had a career change when he flunked his service dog test but, honestly, he low-key seems to be thriving in his new career as a yogi support dog & certified good boy (& bolster haha).
What brought you to start teaching yoga independently and what do you hope to offer?
In all corners of my life, I strive to create space for humans to connect with themselves and with others in a meaningful and authentic way- this is always at the heart of my practice. I consider it my work to set the stage for people to get there a little bit easier through offering them a loving space paired with the creative alignment of music, movement, and intention setting. In my own experience, when all of these ‘ingredients’ of yoga hit just right, the real magic of deep, meaningful, and authentic connection happens. For me, that’s the first goal- and then one step further, I explore how we can lean into that space a little more and tap into the amazing, authentic parts of ourselves that often lie dormant underneath heavy judgments or fears or other burdens that we carry daily which yoga has helped to peel off- even for a moment. It’s like if we have a great yoga class and feel great physically, spiritually, & emotionally afterward and then return to our lives off the mat and keep moving forward, that alone is amazing– it’s like catching a firefly in a jar and taking it around with us. However, I think it is a missed opportunity to let it end there- let’s say we capture that great feeling, that one firefly for ourselves, what would happen if we noticed all the other people around us in that class who also caught a firefly during class? What if we came together, even briefly, to lean in a little further and take advantage of that ‘best self’ space and let our fireflies free all at once. While awe-inspiring visual scene, I think the real beauty is in the authentic and connected community space that grows in this place- and I think that is a space we all need more of and the space I hope to elevate in our practice.
Can you tell us more about how this all works?
For right now, my classes are all held via zoom to ensure that amid this pandemic all yogis can protect their peace and their safety and connect to their practice in their own spaces—all are always welcomed (whether it’s your first or your millionth time on the mat!!).
Throughout the past few months, I have been collaborating with a variety of creative small businesses and artists in a Small Business Saturday Yoga Series where I spotlight a different business each class. For this series, yogis pay to sign up for each Saturday class and leave with a discount to the spotlighted small business, ideally sending them new orders and customers amid this particularly trying time for small business owners. For me, this series has been a really exciting new way to make my life and my practice more meaningful by elevating and spotlighting others who are out there making absolute magic, following their dreams & passions, and perpetuating goodness in this world.
As an intentional space maker, I consider it my responsibility to ensure that all people have access and feel welcomed and protected in this community space. I believe in the foundational aspect of yoga, which is to be non-harming– this means that not only am I committed to not put harm onto others or myself, but I am also committed to being a fierce advocate for others when harm is put upon them. All are always welcomed with love and all classes are suggested donation-based; I believe yoga, self-care, and connecting to the community should never be closed off to a person because they cannot prioritize it financially.
What is something you can offer readers of this interview?
In my small corner of the world, I hold collaboration and connection with so much love and care! I move forward in this passion project & business venture by letting each step forward be anchored to the words, “We are all just walking each other home.” And so when I have the opportunity to connect/collaborate with other people who are out there elevating goodness in the world- I consider it a huge honor to walk alongside them in this journey. I once had a professor who often said to grab ahold of the thoughts that we often let just float by…meaning, when a song pops into your head, if you are thinking of someone or get an urge to tell them something specific, or you think of something that feels random- it never is random. Everything has meaning and if it doesn’t make sense to you, it is great to get in the practice of saying those things out loud or acting on them because, most likely, it is something meaningful for that other person. I often let these kinds of signs or ‘pop up’ moments guide me to wherever it is that I may need to be– so if anything resonates with you while reading this interview or you feel like you/ someone you know may want to connect, I will always take that opportunity as an honor and never consider it to be weird or an inconvenience- so please reach out!!
What are some challenges you go through on an everyday basis in this work?
Something that I am still navigating is the complexity of monetizing something that holds your heart. In my perfect world, I would love to offer this space and this work for free because I think that everyone is deserving and it only will benefit us all. However, I am balancing knowing that to be able to expand my reach, serve more people, and continue down this path (and exist in this world) I do need to be paid and my time, service, and expertise is valuable. It is a tricky balance of knowing my worth and also ensuring that it never feels elite/exclusive and that money doesn’t taint the heart of my work. It is really important to me that this community is accessible to all people and that I never worry so much about the business/money end of this venture that I lose sight of why I want to share this work with the world in the first place. With every decision I make, I re-connect with the heart of my intentions so that I am always guided by my authentic internal compass.
Tell us your future visions- what is your dream about taking it to the next level?
I am extremely excited to move this practice towards being an in-person practice once we eventually move through this pandemic and it is safe again to do so! I envision a loving group of humans coming together, under the warm sun, with fresh air on their skin, practicing side by side, and getting connected to the seat of their self and then sticking around after the physical practice to connect while going deeper through the avenues of art & creative expression.
What message would you like to give to anybody who has a plan of creating something of their own and making a living through it?
Here is the same advice that I often have to remind myself; we are doing ourselves and the world around us a disservice by being small, hiding our gifts, and not going after our dreams. If something makes you radiate and feels like it truly gives you life because you love it so much, go after it and share it however you can. And why should that not be your work and your living? Life is way too fragile, and we spend way too much time working, to be unhappy at work or miserable over things that we can make choices about and control. Take hold of what lights you up and let it guide you to where you are supposed to be because you deserve to. <3
