Today we’d like to introduce you to Eleana Cabrera-Sims
Hi Eleana, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
In 2008, I attended a yoga class at the gym near my house. At the time, I was going through a difficult period in my life. I began experiencing panic attack’s and anxiety without understanding what they were. I was in very familiar with mental health at that time. I started attending several times a week and began noticing a positive change in my daily life for a while. I was taking three classes a week. I looked for more information about yoga practices and classes, and found a group called Yoga Out Loud which offered classes on Saturdays and Sundays by the bay. I started going, not caring that I was going alone, or that I didn’t know anyone. Out of nowhere, I came across yoga with Shawna on Facebook, where she would post about her upcoming locations and classes. It caught my attention, and I began attending her sessions. During the summer, I discovered various places in different Studios. Several years passed, and I developed my own rhythm realizing that yoga wasn’t just about exercise or something that required a lot of money. Simply by attending consistently, I discovered the magic of yoga. I began using it as a form of medicine and noticed that it made me feel better. The way Shawna inspired me and how motivated I felt during her classes help me reconnect with myself, and I began to feel better about who I was. I became so fascinated with the practice, having already been practicing for many years that I started, wondering about the history behind yoga and what it would be like to evolve from a student to a teacher. By that time, I was attending Shawna’s Studio. I was very happy because I no longer had to follow her all over San Diego. It was a safe space, and I felt secure there. I asked Shawna about Yin yoga training, and she encouraged me to give it a try, so I did in 2019. Threw her, I had the opportunity through the studio and I began teaching Yin Yoga. I think it has been the most challenging experience, mainly because of the language barrier has my first language is Spanish. It’s been the biggest challenge of my life. With a lot of effort, hard work, and the support of my family, I wanted to learn more. So I went and completed the 200 hour training. To challenge myself even more, I enrolled at Southwestern College and also completed another 200 hour training, doing both simultaneously. From there, I was so inspired and discovered so much that I continue with the 300 hour training, Sound Healing, Reiki levels 1-3, meditation+ mudras, and the last one I’ve taken is Plant medicine level one. I don’t have words to describe the immense gratitude and support I’ve received from my family, Shawna, and her wonderful Studio. The effort is personal, and I’ve worked so hard at this because I’ve seen incredible results and changes in my life. I feel fulfilled, happy, grateful to have found this path, and I continue learning-this is not the end, it’s on going. Now I am a teacher, and my students are happy in my classes. I am still a student because I learned from them and continue discovering new things. I am fortunate to work at Shawna yoga studio and I also work at LA Fitness for about 3 years now. I hope to soon open my own space to continue helping people who need support, just as I found it. Many people have inspired me along this journey, but my daughter, who is my heart that beats.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like every challenge or new things along the way of course there are struggles because sometimes we think it’s all rainbows and flowers but it’s not. I came across with difficult humans in life. We think because it’s yoga everyone should be nice and kind but not all the time, some people are disrespectful and rude. At the end the they need yoga more than anything else. For me it’s the language, I was raised speaking Spanish and then I learned English and yoga is another language.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
This is my only job for now.
I was going to school to learn about culinary arts but I stopped because I really wanted to focus on yoga and I wasn’t able to do so while working on both careers, I’m going to continue soon with culinary because it’s something that I really enjoy it’s like my second passion.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
All the different requirements and trainings needed for everything that I teach and do.
Contact Info:
- Email: cabrerare78@gmail.com
