

Today we’d like to introduce you to Latrisha Allen
Hi LaTrisha, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey began while I was working through my Doctoral degree program almost 10yrs ago. Graduate school programs can generate a lot of stress as you try to manage taking classes, work on your research, work in general (if you are not on a fellowship or grant), and “maybe” have a life outside of academia. My stress outlets included Raqs Sharqi (commonly referred to as Bellydance) and MMA (mixed martial arts). While recovering from an injury I received while training I took up yoga as it was a gentler method that helped with my recovery and promoted mind/body wellness. After graduation I moved to Atlanta and began teaching yoga in various gyms and studios while also bellydancing in MENAT restaurants and hookah lounges. Everything was going well up until the great plague of 2020. Like many, I found myself with a lot of time on my hands so I went back to doing what I love: learning. I went deeper into learning ways to teach yoga, the difference between class types and how I can best help those coming to me who were either new to yoga or were looking for ways to help them manage their specific issues (back/shoulder pain, stress, flexibility, etc.). While doing this I learned how to better integrate meditation into a personal yoga practice, different meditation techniques, and sound healing meditation. I’ve currently integrated these practices into my business, Inside/Out Wellness & Movement, where I help people learn to destress and move their bodies in a way that works for them.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
-Misconceptions on how it is vs how we see it (example: we see yoga as an exercise or just stretching rather than a holistic mind/body/spirit system)
-Everyone believes wellness practices should be free or cheap
-It’s too “woo”, new-agey, “demonic”, or only for certain “types” of people
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Inside/Out Wellness & Movement?
My business is called Inside/Out Wellness and Movement. I specialize in movement (external) practices which include yoga, fitness, & dance and internal practices that include breathing, meditation, & sound healing. You can check out my website for my qualifications and certifications (www.insideoutwm.com/about). I work in-person and online in private and public settings. I think my students would say I’m caring and fun to learn from. I like to meet people where they are in their mind/body journey since everyone has different reasons for coming to me. Not everyone wants to transform their life or bust into a split and that’s okay. Not everyone wants to silence their mind or become attuned to the delta sound waves and that’s okay too. People come to me because they want to try to learn something different and may end up staying with me because they enjoy their time here, may enjoy the community of others, they love how they feel after a session with me, or they learn something they can use in their everyday life. Beginners are some of my favorite people to work with, but I also work with athletes (ameture-professional), the elderly, nurses, spas, and wellness groups.
How do you think about happiness?
Oooooo that’s a good question! Lots of things make me happy: driving around Atlanta with little to no traffic, pho, naps, having a good laugh in class with my students, seeing people effectively relax during meditation or a sound bath. It’s hard to pin down just one thing…
Contact Info:
- Website: https://insideoutwm.com/
- Instagram: @tt_stretch_the_things_
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@InsideOutWellnessandMoveme-h2b
Image Credits
credit for sound bowl pics goes to 88 Vintage Photography (Simone Kilgore)