Today we’d like to introduce you to Alee Link.
Alee, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
It all started in ATL, actually. My aunt, who lives (and thrives) in Buckhead took me to my first yoga class when I was 12 years old. Having grown up in my mother’s dance studio in Columbus, GA, I’ve danced my whole life. When I was moving, something came over me. When I was younger, it just felt RIGHT… now, looking back, I realized the spirituality alive in my life when I was flowing, moving, shifting, and dancing.
Yoga did this for me, even at a young age. It instantly brought me into this divine state of wild awareness and connectivity. But, to be honest, I didn’t understand it all- I just knew it felt good. After high school, I moved straight to NYC and thought I would never look back. I started practicing more yoga and taking more dance classes, certain I would continue on to be a performer…
But the Universe had other plans. Because there wasn’t enough nature filling my life in NYC, I moved back home to Columbus, GA right after college to teach dance for my mom. It was during that time that my then boyfriend (now husband) and I decided to move away yet again- this time it was to the Virgin Islands, then Atlanta, and eventually to a backpacking adventure through SE Asia. As you may have gathered by now- I constantly needed to MOVE. While in ATL, I was teaching loads of yoga- mostly at Exhale and Active Sol and it was there that I knew I had found my calling. I had to not only practice the sacred art of movement and connectivity, but I had to share it!
While in Thailand, I had one of the more profound practices of my life and when I stepped off my mat, I quickly told my husband: We need to move back home and open a yoga studio and it should be called River Flow Yoga because of the powerful connection of the River that flows through the veins of our city.
And so we did… and when we arrived back home in Columbus, we instantly discovered we were pregnant with our first child… this was my sign that we were exactly where we were meant to be.
Great, 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?
The past decade, since earning my first Yoga Teacher Certification, I have learned that I am a connector and here to teach the value of connectivity. Therefore, I have always been a writer, a teacher, a performer, and a speaker. That comes naturally to me and it puts me in an instant state of alignment. Nothing gives more delight and pleasure than holding space for others to deeply connect to themselves and their unique truth.
BUT, opening, owning, and running a business is not natural for me in any way… my husband started River Flow Yoga with me, running the backend of things. As a result, our marriage started to suffer. All we were talking about or connecting with was the business. He wasn’t living his fullest potential, nor was I.
So, the hugest bump in our road was the balance of home life (we now have two beautiful children) and running a successful, mindful, authentic, and inspiring business. He eventually resigned and I hired a team to help me with the backend work that was nearly impossible for my mind to grasp.
River Flow Yoga & Wellness – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We are a Yoga Studio in Columbus, GA, which is just a short drive from ATL. Truly, perfect to come to visit us for the weekend, enjoy a yoga class or take a workshop and then enjoy the unbelievable magic of our riverfront.
We are so proud to be a part of this growing community and honestly had no idea if a studio like ours would survive in a place where the yoga culture was/in its infancy and wellness is a fairly new concept. Specializing in the tradition of the practice and ancient wisdom, we meditate, chant, hold moon ceremonies, and highlight the energy of the practice over the physicality.
Don’t get me wrong, we have amazing classes that will make you sweat and leave you shaking… but we want our students to understand the value of the energetic shifts, the healing, the expansion happening when we flow, breathe, sweat, and grow together.
The hugest surprise for our sacred space was/is the community that has formed. We even have clients from ATL who come into town to breathe with THIS unique community. The feeling here is tribal because we’ve (TOGETHER) created a space where people feel courageous in their truth and hold the confidence to fully express that and share that in a safe and inspired space.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Teaching Yoga Teacher Training. Last Summer, I held our first 200hrYTT in the North Georgia Mountains at Elohee Retreat Center (also not far from ATL and a true gem!). I knew setting forth in the world of training teachers would be a big pill to swallow and I questioned myself a thousand times, but eventually, thanks to my tribe at RFY, I mustered up the courage to go for it.
Together, at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, my students and I gathered in sacred connectivity every day for two weeks. With zero distractions from the outside world- just pure connection with ourselves, each other, this planet, and all that is.
I taught them the power of teaching with intention, of using the mighty world around us for intelligent sequencing, and the value of looking up, down, and all around to constantly be inspired by the meaning of yoga: to connect, to the yolk, to come together.
There were times I didn’t think I could do it, I doubted myself, and worried I wasn’t enough- but in the long run, we all came out stronger, wiser, expanded, and courageous. And I must say, the teachers trained are some of the most thoughtful, well-rounded, intentional teachers I’ve ever had the privilege of taking from. Why? Because they learned nothing in this life is random, especially yoga classes. Everything we do should be with mindful intention and they truly understand that on a profound level.
Contact Info:
- Address: 6801 River RD #403 Columbus, GA 31904
- Website: www.riverflowyogacolumbus.com
- Email: alee@riverflowyogacolumbus.com
- Instagram: @riverflowyoga @aleelinkyoga
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riverflowyogacolumbus
Image Credit:
Gina Spinelli Photography, Kim Branagan Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
