Welcome to yTeamer’s Supporting yTeamers !
The yTeam, as always, are doing some pretty AMAZING things within their lives which we can get around and support! It’s getting to the point now where we will have to hold the first annual YGT (yLead’s Got Talent). Either way, the 3 legends mentioned in this edition of yTeamer’s Supporting yTeamers would love our support in their fields, so… CHECK THEM OUT!
Madsyoges – Maddy Russell (VIC yTeamer)
Hi, my name is Maddie, I am 24 and I am from Brunswick in Victoria! I first met yLead at SLC 2015. Alongside my in-person yoga teaching, I run an online platform with live and recorded yoga classes – it’s mostly friends and family at the moment, but I love connecting with students and studios from all over the place, and helping people to add a little bit of mindful movement to their routines.
What do you love about the yLead community and why do you keep contributing and connecting?
I love that the ylead community is just always there! I haven’t been able to come to an in person event for ages, but love seeing what everyone’s up to – it’s so lovely to see so many people smashing it in so many areas, and always hyping each other up!
What is your ultimate goal? You know, the big one, if failure is no option? Dream big, we are here to support you!
Wherever I go with yoga teaching, my goal is to teach people that there is no such thing as good at yoga. It’s all about how it feels and has absolutely nothing to do with how we look, what where wearing or whether or not we can touch our toes. Realizing this transformed my relationship with my body and myself. I would love to teach outside of the traditional studio space, like in schools, to broaden the reach of these lessons
What is the biggest win that you have had?
Most of my students are beginners – I get such joy from helping them to find a new love in yoga! A recent win was seeing my friend, who’d always been afraid to try yoga until my online classes, master a half moon pose and feel so proud of himself.
Tell us what inspired you to start your project?
I started madsyoges after finishing my yoga teacher training in May last year. Melbourne was entering another winter of lockdowns, but I was full of energy and inspiration to teach right away! What started as a way to keep up my practice, ended up being a really lovely opportunity to stay connected with friends and families, and network with other teachers
What has been the biggest challenge (so far) that you have faced?
I have found it a little tricky to balance my time and energy teaching yoga while working full time as a nurse. But as I’ve slowly built confidence and routine in both areas, I find they really compliment each other. Teaching evening yoga is the loveliest way to wind down after a busy shift.
What is something that this whole process has taught you?
Running madsyoges, and all of the in-person teaching it has led to, has been really wonderful for my confidence. I’ve often been told I’m too quiet, and was nervous that I wouldn’t have a big enough personality to teach. But it turns out that I am so fine holding the room just as I am. It’s lovely to be in a space that fits my gentle nature, and incredible to learn how special it feels to share something I’m really passionate about.
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How can we support you?
Feel free to follow along on @madsyoges on instagram for updates and online classes and, if you’re in Melbourne – I’d love to see you in studio! At the moment I’m at Anytime Fitness Brunswick East on Wednesday nights, and Bodyfit Collingwood on Sundays 🙂
Balanced Health Model – Kirsti Jones (SEQ yTeamer)
Hi my name is Kirsti, I am 26 and I first experienced yLead when I was 16! yLead brings passion, purpose and opportunity to young individuals like no other. The spirit, the vision & the mission is one that truly has the best interests at heart for each individual helping them shine in their own unique ways. I love how diverse the community it is, how connected it feels & the safety aspect – where you can be who you wanna be and others will support you!
What do you love about the yLead community and why do you keep contributing and connecting?
I continue to contribute because for 1 – the positive impact it made on my life as teenager in high school and into the rest of my life; 2 because of the importance to create a safe & empowering community for the future leaders of this world is incredibly important and valuable. A place where they can thrive and explore the person they wish to be and learn valuable lessons. I love everything about yLead and their values, and I can speak whole heartedly the massive positive impact it can make on young people’s lives – to have the opportunity to give back I am very grateful for.
What is your ultimate goal? You know, the big one, if failure is no option? Dream big, we are here to support you!
My goal would be to truly help as many people as possible feel more balanced and healthy within themselves, to empower & help as many people across the world to take control of their health in a way that hasn’t been done before within a safe supportive community. I would love to be presenting my coaching methods all over the world to many people, through seminars and fitness expos with an epic team of people who are aligned with my vision to create the healthiest future for every body we encounter! (and travelling with some leisure time for adventures whilst doing it!)
What is the biggest win that you have had?
I have had many personal mini wins, but my favourite wins are when I receive feedback and can SEE the change within people I work with – watching them blossom into the healthiest, most confident energetic selves through the actions they take every single day. I’ve fortunately been able to help over 300 people with their health journey. Just knowing my methods have impacted even just one person’s life for the positive, makes me feel happy knowing they are happy & more balanced within themselves.
What has been the biggest challenge (so far) that you have faced?
The biggest challenge I have faced when it comes to the above project – is taking myself to the next level. To lead others as my community grows & to ensure I always provide a high standard of service – requires tremendous courage, curiosity, application and effort.
I’ve had to grow into a higher version of myself a few times and I definitely had growing pains everytime lol! But worth it when you are passionate about making a brighter future for yourself and others.
Tell us what inspired you to start your project?
My project is Balanced Health Method – my health & wellness business where I help people build healthy sustainable habits + a balanced lifestyle they love to live through the fundamentals: strategic movement, nutritional quality + awareness, mindfulness (applied neuroscience), education, sleep + recovery, stress management & safe social connection.
I truly believe in a holistic approach to a person’s wellbeing, slowly integrating methods from the above.
My project was born through my love of helping people, and to educate and empower others to lead a healthy lifestyle. Healthy to me not only means physically, but mentally & emotionally too. When we look after ourselves, not only do we thrive in life – everything else around us does too.
Health is so simple yet multiplex in the sense that everything we do can have an impact on our overall health, and most don’t even realise it.
In this present day, commonly alot of people lead highly stressful lifestyles trying to balance all of the things, eventually leading to burnout – and usually their healthy behaviours are the first to go.
This is due to previous learned behaviours or lack of knowledge/application, and the right environment to learn within (in my opinion) The healthy habits that they have learned are usually quite advanced and are unsustainable when life gets hectic so it’s hard to stay consistent, or sometimes people just don’t know where to start without going with the all or nothing mentality.
I’m making it my mission to educate each and every person I help that even the smallest actions can pave the way for the healthiest future and help them develop the tools to adapt to different seasons of life.
What is something that this whole process has taught you?
I feel like I have just touched the tip of the iceberg, but I would say that it has taught me what I am truly capable of. It has taught me to have a go and not to give up, even when times are tough – as when you really want something there will definitely be resistance in the path you are taking – no matter how passionate you are. It has also taught me what we do in low stakes, will show up in high stakes – so it’s important to stay true to your values and practice them often. Plus – self care is super important.
How can we support you?
You can support me by supporting my pages on instagram which I hope you experience high value, authenticity, love, compassion and positivity when you see what I put out into the world.
I also hope you can learn something from me too.
If you have friends, family or even yourself who is on the quest to creating a more balanced lifestyle – don’t be afraid to ask questions either! I’m always happy to help 🙂
https://www.instagram.com/kirsti.jones/ + https://www.instagram.com/balancedhealthmethod/
Music Artist – Alayna Caruso (VIC yTeamer)
Hi my name is Alayna, I am 23 from Melbourne. My first yLead experience was attending ASLC back in 2016. Recently I released my first ever piece of music! It is called ‘someone for you, like me’ and is available on all streaming services!
What do you love about the yLead community and why do you keep contributing and connecting?
The yLead community is unlike anything else I have ever experienced, the best way I can think to define yLead is by the words “safe space”. It brings people together from all walks of life and creates friendships that last way beyond schooling years and become your support system!
What is your ultimate goal? You know, the big one, if failure is no option? Dream big, we are here to support you!
With music, my ultimate goal is to simply never give it up. I want to continue playing and creating music forever on whatever scale that may be, it is my outlet when life gets a little bit stressful and overwhelming.
Outside of my musical undertakings, I am a researcher looking into new technology for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. My ultimate goal would be to contribute to a treatment that could improve the lives of those afflicted with such horrible conditions, or perhaps that would prevent those diseases all together!
What is the biggest win that you have had?
There have been so many things to be grateful for! Maybe, recording and actually releasing my first ever song ‘someone like you, for me’. It was very scary putting my music out into the public, but it made me feel very proud of myself!
Tell us what inspired you to start your project?
I have always loved music and have always been involved with it. After sitting on a huge pile of songs I had written and always saying I wanted to do something with them, my partner along with some of my closest friends, funded a day in a recording studio for me! It was the push I needed, and it was such a great experience!
What has been the biggest challenge (so far) that you have faced?
Moving interstate. This was a big challenge for me as I didn’t know many people over here and Melbourne is much bigger and scarier than Adelaide! But after settling in and meeting some really great people, I am loving it! Actually, I met one of my closest friends in Melbourne through yLead – we travelled to Cambodia on the yLead trip together in 2016, and now we have reunited!
What is something that this whole process has taught you?
Don’t put too much pressure on making things perfect! Just do your best, no one will ever even notice the little slip ups you make along the way. Just go for it!
How can we support you?
I guess have a listen to my song ‘someone like you, for me’ on Spotify or Apple Music (or wherever else you get your music from)! Thanks!
