Today we’d like to introduce you to Tie Simpson.
Tie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Assuming you’re asking how I got started on the current trajectory of my life…
I had been laid off from working in Accounting at a bank. I’d worked a few accounting temp jobs here and there but focused mainly on staying at home with my then five and seven-year-old.
I very distinctly remember telling my friends that I felt like I was having a midlife crisis… at 28. I was in what I would characterize as the deepest depression of my life. I was questioning everything from my religion, sexuality, and parenting, to my purpose, and the purpose of life in general. I was almost 30, with two young children, a degree in a field I had grown to despise, and examining every fiber of my existence. Despite being surrounded by people who I knew loved me, I still felt misunderstood, lonely, and lost.
One day (July 2012), I came across this online challenge of shapes while strolling Instagram, and decided to challenge myself to give them a try. These shapes turned out to be yoga, and I quickly fell madly in love with the practice. I joined monthly challenges, and taught myself at home for almost two years, practicing every day, sometimes 5 hours a day. Yes, I was obsessed! Very soon, I started catching the eyes of others who became inspired by the transparency of my practice, as I shared how yoga was shifting my life on, and off the mat. Around that same time, I came across an article in the guardian.com titled: Top 5 Regrets of the Dying. I remember reading it over a few times as tears ran down my face. “This could’ve been me.” I thought. I cried because of how close to home it hit. I cried because I thought about how incredibly sad it was that SOO many of us died with these very same regrets. And why? Because we go through life aimless, clouded with superficial happiness, and completely unaware of self.
The practice of yoga and mindfulness shifted the entire trajectory of my life, and I knew it was something I would devote the rest of my life to. I had found my passion.
I went on to get certified as a yoga teacher, even though the thought of teaching scared me senseless. I really just wanted to learn more about the practice since I had only been learning at home. I also started to connect with other black yogis through Instagram who are now some of my closest friends.
Fast forward to about a year ago, after building an Instagram following of over 80K followers who are inspired by me sharing my journey and the lessons I had learned along the way. I decided to stop being paralyzed by fear and to own the gift given to me. I answered the call, and I found my purpose which inspired the natural shift of my brand into a business.
Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way? Any advice for other women, particularly young women who are just starting their journey?
First off, I would tell them that if anyone says that the journey to ANYWHERE worth going is smooth, they, haven’t pushed themselves past their comfort zone… so they don’t count. Lol!
Depending on the destination of the journey, my advice differs, but at every turn of my many journeys, whether it’s my journey to healthy eating, yoga, and mindful living, entrepreneurship, parenthood, or to self, challenges will show up.
On my yoga and mindfulness journeys, I literally pulled myself apart and took a look around inside to see where I needed healing. I had to choose to acknowledge the not so beautiful parts myself, and love myself the whole way through the HARD WORK. It required me to gain a new perspective and level of awareness of myself and the world around me. I had to come to terms with who I was behind all the masks and learn to love what I saw.
On my journey to entrepreneurship, I learned very quickly that overcoming obstacles and finding solutions was what it was all about. I’m a one-woman show, and I have to teach myself everything I know, from photography, video editing, storytelling, promoting and marketing, how to build a brand, how to network, and most importantly how to get out of my own way!
Whether it’s being an entrepreneur, raising conscious children, changing your diet and lifestyle, or simply finding your way on this life journey, I think the biggest challenge of all is self-mastery.
But if I had to sum up my universal advice about how to get the most out of any journey, I would say:
1- DEVELOP AWARENESS:
Develop not only self but also a universal awareness. Strip yourself of who you think you are or should be, and dig deeper. More than developing awareness, determine what that means for you and how it impacts your journey. Know your core values, strengths, and weaknesses, and move with awareness from that space.
2- BLOCK OUT THE NOISE + TRUST YOURSELF
Define your why. Have tunnel vision but leave room for alternate perspectives and routes on the journey. Learn the difference between your intuition and your ego. Take lots of breaths, move with intention, trust your intuition and check your ego when you need to.
3- BEGINNER’S MIND:
No matter how far up the ladder you go, always have the mindset of a student. I’m always learning something new. It keeps my brain sharp, keeps me engaged, and helps me grow personally and professionally. It is 100% true that you never want to be the smartest person in the room. It has served me well.
4- FIND YOUR TRIBE:
It wasn’t until I began to surround myself with a different caliber of people, that I began to see the shift in my life. Surround yourself with people who get it; who will root for you. Surround yourself with people whose energy feels good, who are positive and genuine because the people you surround yourself with not only impact your thoughts and actions but they will affirm those thoughts and actions.
5- GRACE, GRIT, AND GRATITUDE
I think my biggest superpower has been finding a beautiful balance of grace, grit, and gratitude. I don’t get to control all things that happen to me, but I can control my attitude towards them. Showing gratitude is high up on my list because I think it keeps things in perspective.
Understand that you will have to work really really hard. There are no shortcuts, so make sure you’re doing something you actually like (even love); it will help when things get tough.
“Be like water”, a phase I try to live by because water, is soft, yet resilient, and powerful. It flows, adapts, and thrives in any form or environment its placed in.
Wearing many hats, I’m most known for my Hippie Heathen wellness and lifestyle brand, which has amassed an incredibly loyal following that continues to grow every day. I’m a positivity and mindfulness junkie, who’s devoted a lot of myself and energy to showing up not only for myself but also my community. I’d say I’m most proud of the impact I’ve had in affecting a positive and empowering change in so many lives. That’s an incredible feeling! Through embodying, sharing and living this practice ‘out loud’, I’m a testament to the healing that is possible when you step into your own power and peace. We CAN heal, be healthy, happy, and whole, we just have to CHOOSE to be, and then one foot in front of the other, start the journey.
I’m also an international yoga and mindfulness instructor who hosts world-wide yoga tours, workshops, retreats, and other events. I’m currently creating an online yoga and wellness coaching program that will specialize in helping women integrate yoga and mindfulness into their lives, on and off the mat. I co-founded Sisters of Yoga; a non-profit organization and a global collective that promotes representation and community in marginalized groups through yoga, wellness, and mindful living. I also Co-host a podcast called As Above So Below Podcast, that focuses on all of the above…told ya, mindfulness junkie!
Although I have very strong core values, my experiences and ever-evolving connection to the universe is constantly evolving my perception, perspectives, and beliefs. I often think way outside of societal boxes, and as such, it inspires how I move both personally, and professionally. This, combined with the natural creative in me who loves to combine artistic constructs to the social wellness space, has allowed me to stand out from many in my industry.
It also helps that a lot of my inspiration comes from outside of my industry, so I’m always coming up with fresh, original content.
What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
I think my industry is a little different from typical industries. I’m in the “industry” of healing and empowering women, and most men don’t want that job, lol.
Besides the fact that we live in a physical reality rooted in patriarchy, I think the first barrier in female leadership is in our inability to see the true power we possess and secondly, our unwillingness to make the decision to step into that power even when we become aware of it. We have to shake off this perception that we can’t be both or all of those things, you know? Societal and structural systems created a perception of women long ago, and I think some women are still asking for permission to step outside the status quo.
I also think another huge barrier to female leadership, is the lack of sisterhood that exists among us. We have forgotten that we are stronger and more powerful together. That thought process was the basis for founding Sisters of Yoga. We hope to create a community filled with empowered, mindful, conscious-living women, who choose to heal themselves first and spread that healing to their families and communities.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hippieheathen.com / http://sistersofyoga.org/
- Email: contact@hippieheathen.com
- Instagram: @hippie_heathen / @sistersofyoga
- Other: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/as-above-so-below-podcast/id1203491504?mt=2
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.
