Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabrielle Byndloss.
Hi Gabrielle, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I began my journey as an Actress back in 2012. Now, 11 years later, I empower women of color in the film/tv industry. When I started, there wasn’t anyone in the area that looked like me and also successful. I felt very alone and spent a lot of time looking for a community of women who were also struggling with the same things in the industry like lack of representation or equality on set.
As a side hustle, I was teaching yoga at studios around Atlanta and when 2020 happened, my studio shut down with 24hrs notice. I was without a paycheck like many other people and the film industry completely shut down. This sparked my idea for YoGabrielle.
YoGabrielle is all about inspiring women of color in the film/tv world, creating community and bringing a mindful approach to this career. I mentor other actors on how the business works, how to navigate tricky convos, and how to create your own flow using yoga and mediation to help handle the rejection that we face as actors.
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?
OH, THE STRUGGLES. There are a lot of people teaching acting classes in Atlanta. Most of the time, actors are used to seeing classes like “Acting for Film” or “Script Analysis”. When they see a class like “Women Empowerment” or “Breathing for Callbacks” they aren’t sure what they really gain from a class like that. It’s easier to invest the money you have into something that feels familiar.
As my career began to take off, that’s when I started to gain more followers and other actors interested in my day-to-day process. That grew a community of women looking to take a deeper dive into their career past just a class and more into mindset. The rise in my career helped other women feel safe to trust what I was offering.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My background in yoga sets me apart from traditional Acting Coaches. I have my 200hr certification in Yoga and I’ve been teaching for 11 years now. I bring a holistic approach to this career. I don’t sugarcoat the industry. Instead, I talk about the hard conversations that other studios might not. For example, as a women of color, what do I need to know before being on set with my hair.
I’m all about demystifying the industry and bringing our power to set. I show up completely who I am and ask the people I work with to do the same. Hollywood does a real good job of keeping people small because they want success. I’m not about that. We need to show up and show out.
What were you like growing up?
I was a very direct kid. I knew what I wanted, had a plan for when it was supposed to happen and would fight anyone who told me otherwise. I grew up with a mother who could do everything and a father who told me I didn’t need a man to be successful. Confidence and power were common things in my household growing up. Little Gabrielle would be so proud of me today!
Pricing:
- YoGabby VIP $35 a month (Cancel anytime) – On Demand Yoga with over 100+ classes to practice virtually anytime
- Women’s Empowerment Workshop $40 for a ticket, quarterly event – A candlelit evening with other women to create community and stand in our power. Gabrielle guides everyone through breath work, stretching and guided meditations to work through any unwanted energy. We journal, we connect with each other and we let the expectations that others have put on us go!
- Empowering Actor Mentorship $1k – An 8-week course with Gabrielle. We meet virtually 1x a week to create a strategy for your success in acting, teach you the ins and outs of the biz, and create a lifestyle that supports your mental health with the rejection of this career
- 1:1 $55-$110 – Gabrielle offers 30-minute and 1-hour sessions to “rack her brain” about the industry. These are great if you are an actor and a go-getter. You might not need the full 8 weeks but still have a bunch of questions that you want answered.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.yogabrielle.com
- Instagram: GabrielleByndloss
- Other: YoGabbyYoga – Instagram, GabrielleByndloss – TikTok
Image Credits
Photos by Tara Gulledge and Colleen Walter
