MASSAGE + WELLNESS WITH MANDY MILLER
To fall in line with the theme of our previous post on holistic maternal wellness, today we are featuring the amazing and multi-talented, Mandy Miller of Mandy Miller Massage. Mandy is hands-down one of the most passionate women we have had the honor of meeting and whether during a massage session or while listening to her coach a client through some pre-birth questions, her love for her work shines through.
Tell us your name: Mandy Miller
Hometown + Current City: Valdosta, GA and Macon, GA
What roles do you take on in your business? Licensed Massage Therapist / Labor Doula / Childbirth Educator / Yoga Instructor
Inspiration for running your own business? I grew up in a family business where my parents showed me the ins and outs of what it took. I knew I wanted to be my own boss and after 9 years I decided it was time.
What is the goal of your company? My goal for my business is simple: I want to bring comfort and support to my mamas and my daddys, making their birth experience a wonderful one and taking all the stress out of the process of birth for them. As far as massage goes, I want to bring peace and pain relief to my clients, giving them a place where they can rest both their minds and their souls.
Describe yourself in one word: BUBBLY (kinda like champagne)
Personal mantra or quote: "Life is not about finding yourself its about creating yourself."
Favorite indulgence: A wonderful mimosa.
Favorite exercise and how long you have been doing it: YOGA! I've been practicing for a few years.
Go-to pose: Currently, I am loving either dancer or tree pose. I love balance poses since I am always looking for balance in my crazy life!
FINDING BALANCE WITH FRIENDS
From our latest post, you'll know that at IFF, we have amped up our yoga and meditation methods. For inspiration, we called upon our fine feathered friend, Lisa, and fellow friend and instructor, Kayley, to talk through the (literal) ups and downs of at-home yoga and how pushing personal limits through pose and breath helps us find our balance on the mat and in life. We love these two beautiful, intelligent women for sharing their honesty about the not-so-glamorous in-between moments of filming their personal practice (but of course we only showcased their best sides below.) Be sure to follow them on instagram at @murphy_lisa_a and @kayqui. PS thank you Macon for the gorgeous lighting and backdrop!
Tell us your name: Lisa Murphy, soon-to-be Lisa White (Shout out to my love, Ryan!), proud mom of Tacocat.
Hometown + current city: I’m a Military brat but most of my growing up years were spent in Warner Robins and I currently live in downtown Macon.
Inspo for healthy choices? I’ve always been very active but consciously making healthy food choices has become a focus for me in the last couple of years. I’m inspired by the desire to feel good, to be strong and to fuel my body wisely so I can live this life to the fullest. I want to stay as active as possible for as long as possible and somewhere along the way I’d feel honored to be an encouragement to others as well.
Personal Mantra: "Life is all about balance."
Preferred pose: Without a doubt, handstands! If I’m upside down I’m happy.
Favorite forms of exercise: I run, I bike, I lift weights, I do yoga and I’ll try anything if you show me how. I became serious about yoga last summer when I met my instructor Kayley Squire from PureBalance Yoga in Macon. She is inspiring and absolutely the reason why I decided to really focus on my practice. I love running for the mental challenge and feeling of accomplishment it brings. Weights have been incredible for developing my body and taking me from weak to strong. Yoga combines the mental and strength aspects of those two activities and adds balance and flexibility. It’s also incredibly freeing. There’s no finish line, no stopwatch urging you to go faster, no numbers or any other form of measurement. That allows me to enjoy it for the journey that it is and not some end result.
JUST HERE FOR THE SAVASANA
Recently at IFF we have been taking our yoga practice more serious by joining a studio in the city along with an at-home guide via the YogaStudio app. I've been at it for a few years and Haley is a bit of a neophyte so we are learning the ins and outs of meditation and strength training together.
It is impossible not to immediately become aware of the benefits of yoga once you begin so we wanted to share a few of our favorite yogi tools to help inspire your personal practice! And let's be honest, there's no greater incentive that those last few minutes of Savasana heaven. #Namaste.
FINE FEATHERED FRIEND: SUSANNAH
At IFF, our mission is to showcase the movers, shakers and makers in health throughout Georgia. Our friend Susannah Maddux, founder of Goods Public Relations and an instructor at Hometown Yoga, is one of those said shakers. The thing we love most about Susannah is her authenticity -- from her work as Macon's biggest cheerleader to her passion for public health -- she is truly a bright light to everyone she encounters! Read below about her love for yoga, Macon (did we mention it's Cherry Blossom season) and soon-to-be motherhood.
Tell us your name: Susannah Maddux, Founder of Goods Public Relations + yoga instructor at Hometown Yoga.
Hometown + Current city: Monroe, NC / Macon, GA
Inspiration for managing your own biz? For myself: My first boss Allison Beale, my sister, and all the women in the world who wake up every day and change the world. For others: Be flexible and eager to learn from others; ask for help; collaborate often; find a mentor; create and know your team of support; learn from failure; reinvent when necessary; laugh at yourself; show gratitude to others; make time to let go and nourish your creativity; try things.
What is the goal of your company? Short: To get in on and share a good thing when I spot it. Long: To promote and tell the story of small business, brand, or cause via thoughtful, detail-oriented efforts.
What makes you tick: Serving others, collaboration to create good, diversity and inclusiveness, brilliant design, grand vision with obvious fruits, faith, yoga, thoughtful PR, beautiful music, preserving history, storytellers and their stories, artists and their art, selfless people, passionate people, the pursuit of a perfect playlist, NYC, travel, good coffee, shiny things.
Mantra: No day but today.
Best indulgence: Dark chocolate, red wine, a book + a bath… and the occasional new handbag or Alexis Bittar earring.
Health trend you are loving: The local + real food movement.
Describe yourself in one word: Lively!
Preferred pose: Currently: all hip openers. For life: Backbends and Savasana.
How has practicing yoga influenced you? I've been practicing for ten years. Yoga gives me better breath, more space, and releases worry. It makes me shake it out and feel less crazy. It is an absolute must.
What is your go-to source for pregnancy info? What to Expect When You’re Expecting and my mom + sister guidebook.
What moment are you most looking forward to as a mother? Giving more love.
HOMETOWN YOGA
Macon's health and wellness scene has recently come alive with more farm-to-table restaurant options, a producers-only farmers' market, locally-owned health food stores and a handful of yoga studios to boot. The new kids on the block, Hometown Yoga, set themselves apart by offering unique sessions such as Shake Your Asana, Hot Method and even Toddler Yoga. Owners, Rachel Gerrity and Ashley Dunwody, are a true inspiration - on and off the mat. Their passion and talent make them a dynamic duo + the perfect #GirlsBoss team to take on an IFF Q&A!
QUICK ABOUT: Hometown Yoga’s mission is to foster a vibrant, lively and diverse yoga community in Macon. We strive to do so by bringing you the best teachers in the area who are committed to teaching classic yogic principles and alignment in a manner that is accessible and relevant to all people. We are named Hometown Yoga because we are committed to the value of community. We are a community that supports one another, strengthens one another and works to make one another shine.
Co-Owner, Ashley Dunwody, in Upward Facing Dog Pose.
Tell us your name:
Rachel Gerrity and Ashley Dunwody, Owners of Hometown Yoga. We were both born and raised in Macon, Georgia and after living in different parts of the country, we are excited to be back in our hometown!
Inspiration for starting your own biz?
We were teaching yoga at several different places in the area. We were inspired by the amazing teachers and yogis we were meeting, and we wanted to create a space where we could all come together to build one community.
What makes you tick?
Rachel: My passion is in creating, whether that’s making up a silly game to play with my 15 month old daughter or developing a workshop at the studio. I am excited by the ability to come up with an idea and then see it through to creation.
Ashley: I think my passion is creating more space and capacity for love, in all areas... establishing a soft heart with more compassion for ourselves and others.
Personal mantra:
Rachel: Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ashley: Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet. - Thích Nhất Hạnh
Pick a Superfood:
Rachel: It’s not a particularly exciting one, but I swear by the power of apples and eat at least one a day. Hopefully the fact that it is usually covered in peanut butter doesn’t negate its Superfood powers!
Ashley: Kale!
Ideal indulgence:
Rachel: Teen Mom, Miley Cyrus and frozen Girl Scout Samoas.
Ashley: Pumpkin beer and chocolate.
Co-Owner, Rachel Gerrity, in Bound Revolved Side Angle Pose.
Health trend you are loving:
Rachel: Juice cleanses – now I don’t love juice cleanses while on them, but I love the way they make my body feel. We recently did a 5 day juice cleanse at the studio in coordination with Fountain of Juice. It was a very tough five days but my body has never felt better.
Ashley: Recently, doterra essential oils have been an incredible addition to my family's health care.
Preferred yoga pose:
Rachel: Wheel - I always feel energized both physically and emotionally after a good long wheel!
Ashley: I gotta say wheel, too! Deeply invigorating.
