We recently had the chance to connect with Anna Marie and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Anna , thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Anytime I can escape into nature and lose myself in dancing, singing, painting & being present with my body & the beauty around me, is what helps me come back to myself. This is my safe and happy place where I forget about time and I allow my imagination to expand. Being barefoot on the earth and embodying my indigenous self is how I come back to my true essence!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Anna Marie & I am an artist, wellness practitioner, and free spirit who is an Atlanta native. Most people in my ATL community know me from my brand & Instagram as Free To Be Anna Marie, which is all about embodying your most authentic self.
I am a trained actress, dancer, and singer. I teach yoga throughout the city. I share special sound baths with my unique vocals added in the mix. I am also a somatic healer who offers workshops & one-on-one sessions for those wanting to get more embodied & empowered. Finally, I design clothes & have everything hand made in Lawrenceville, GA. I am an entrepreneur with many passions and talents. My life is far from boring!
Currently, I am in a play with the Merely Players company in Doraville called Real Women Have Curves by Josefina Lopez. It’s very exciting to be apart of an all Latina production & I can’t wait to share this play come September with my Atlanta community!
To keep up to date with me and my offerings you can find me on IG: @freetobeannamarie or my website www.freetobeannamarie.com
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I was an innocent and present being in love with creating and simply being free. I feel that I have been on a continuous journey of reclaiming my truest self, despite what everyone else is doing or thinks I should be doing. Hence, where the phrase Free To Be Anna Marie comes from. I really wanted to be centered in myself & to know myself so deeply that I would not be influenced by the world. It’s a brave thing to walk your own path & stand in your own unique essence. I am here for the challenge because authenticity is the best dopamine hit around!
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
When I learned to channel my pain through art; that’s when my whole world changed. For years, I struggled with a binge eating disorder. I was suppressing some heavy emotions through stuffing my body with food. When I turned to my somatic dancing, to my singing, to using Social Media to share my life, that’s when I started to heal. Sharing via SM can be very vulnerable and hard at times, but as I would continue to share, I would continue to heal. Sharing my pain most definitely has become a superpower for me! Not only am I healing myself, I know I am helping others as well by simply being my most raw self. Being able to transmute pain into power, pleasure, peace is a HUGE passion of mine! I know I came here to alchemize and help others do the same.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I believe one day I will have a sanctuary for people to find healing, restoration, and freedom. This may, indeed, take some time to come into fruition, but I do believe I will have this beautiful community retreat space. I am definitely okay with this taking some time to come to life. I want to build a lasting foundation, a legacy. Also, personally I am committed to building my own family. To be a wife and a mother would be a great honor in this lifetime. Community and family are very sacred & special to me.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope that people speak of the joy and authenticity I shared. I hope that they would say I inspired them to be more free to be themselves! That I left a mark of pure heartedness with lots of fire and passion for living a fully expressed life. That my laughter and tendency towards Faith made people feel lighter & more connected to GOD. These are the impressions I pray to leave on this Earth & her people before I depart.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.freetobeannamarie.com
- Instagram: @freetobeannamarie
