We recently had the chance to connect with Alicia Grieco and have shared our conversation below.
Alicia , a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
What makes me lose track of time and find myself again is reading. I’ve always been a fairly avid reader when it comes to subject matters I’m interested in. However, within the last year I’ve really delved into reading as more of a therapeutic tool for mentally resetting and re-grounding myself. It’s been a way for me to calm my nervous system down and hit the figurative “reset button”. Those closest to me often joke with me and call me the “oldest” thirty-seven year old they know”. I can curl up with a good book anywhere and get lost in it’s pages and story line and before I know it time has passed and I feel refreshed when I get back into the flow of the day.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Alicia Grieco, the founder of Reverence Yoga. Originally from Boston, I made San Diego my home 15 years ago. My journey with yoga has been a deeply personal one. I was first introduced to the practice in high school, where I quickly noticed how it supported my athleticism and overall wellbeing. In my senior year, yoga became even more vital to me as I leaned on it for physical recovery following a serious motorcycle accident.
Over time, yoga evolved into much more than just a physical practice. It became a cornerstone of my mental and emotional healing, especially during the challenging period of my divorce. That transformative power of yoga inspired me to create Reverence Yoga in 2018, a space born from love, resilience, and a deep belief in the accessibility of yoga for everyone.
What makes Reverence Yoga special is our unwavering commitment to inclusivity, community, and authenticity. Our classes are curated to meet individuals where they are, regardless of experience or background. We’ve cultivated an amazing and supportive community of instructors and students who bring warmth, presence, and heart into the studio every single day.
At Reverence, yoga isn’t just something we do, it’s something we live. We’re continually working on new ways to make the practice even more accessible and meaningful, and I’m so grateful to be part of a space that uplifts and empowers everyone who walks through our doors.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me that has served its purpose and is now ready to be released is my constant fight response to life. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been in survival mode. Ask anyone who knows me, and they’ll probably describe me as a workaholic. But the truth is, I wasn’t just hustling for success I was hustling for safety, for stability, for a sense of control.
As an elder millennial, I think many of us share this experience. We’ve lived through massive shifts, economic, social, and personal and it’s conditioned us to move through life with a fear of scarcity. We’ve learned to push, to hustle, to do whatever it takes just to stay afloat. And while that resilience served me for a long time, it’s no longer the energy I want to carry forward.
That version of me got me here, but it’s not the version of me that will carry me into the next chapter.
Now, it’s about quality over quantity. It’s about choosing presence over productivity, rest over burnout, and joy over just “getting through the day.” I’m learning to slow down, to savor the simple pleasures, and to actually feel the pride in what I’ve accomplished. Because if I don’t pause to appreciate what I’ve built what was the point of building it?
This season of life is about softness, intention, and honoring my worth without having to prove it. And that feels like true freedom.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
“Never doubt yourself, you are stronger than you could ever imagine.”
There have been countless moments where I questioned my path, my worth, or my ability to keep going. But time and time again, I’ve shown up, pushed through, and grown in ways I never thought possible. This reminder is a gentle truth I come back to when things feel heavy: I am resilient, capable, and more powerful than my fears would have me believe.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
I admire the late Anthony Bourdain.
What drew me to him wasn’t his fame or influence, it was his character. He was truly salt of the earth. Despite being a public figure, he never hid behind the gloss of celebrity. He was raw, real, and unfiltered. He spoke his truth, bent to no one’s rules, and didn’t water himself down to fit expectations. That kind of unapologetic authenticity is rare, especially in the spotlight.
What I admired most was his ability to be exactly who he was unvarnished, grounded, and deeply human. His values, his work ethic, and the way he connected with people across cultures spoke volumes. He reminded us that there’s power in being honest, vulnerable, and true to yourself and that’s the kind of character I deeply respect.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
Up until I was about 21, I was doing what I was told to do. I followed the script on what society, family, or tradition said was the “right” path. But everything changed when I woke up one morning and made the spontaneous decision to move to California. I had visited once and felt an undeniable pull, like I had to be here. So I packed a duffel bag and went.
Since then, my life has been shaped by intuition, courage, and following my inner compass. I’ve accomplished things I never imagined, like becoming the first 26 year old woman to win a $25.7 million IDIQ contract for the U.S. Coast Guard while working as a contract negotiator and operations manager of a small ship repair firm. That was a huge milestone, but even more meaningful has been the shift in how I define success.
Now, I live life on my own terms. I follow my passions. I listen to what lights me up. I was born to help others, and that’s the core of everything I do today. Working with the community, creating space through Reverence Yoga, and living a life that’s rewarding by my definition, that’s what I was born to do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.reverenceyogasd.com/
- Instagram: @reverenceyogastudio
Image Credits
Lauren Jean Photography
@_laurenjean.photography
