Life & Work with Alison Miller

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alison Miller. 

Hi Alison, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
In 2019 I moved to San Diego from Richmond, Virginia where I own a small chain of adult boutiques. While I love my shops and remain very involved with my business, I sought space to focus on writing and deepen my yoga practice. Sunny San Diego suits my family perfectly! 

Immediately upon arriving, I began the poetry certification program at San Diego Writers Ink, which I completed shortly before the pandemic. I began submitting my work to publications and saw more than a dozen pieces published in 2020. I also planned and taught an online sex writing workshop and created the sex-positive literary magazine, Throats to the Sky Literary Magazine. I self-published a book that poetically compares people in my life to crystals which you can find at Verbatim Books. My first full book of poetry is being published by Red Ferret Press in 2021. 

An avid Ashtanga yoga practitioner, I began learning aerial and stand-up paddleboard yoga in San Diego, and earlier this year I earned both my aerial teacher certification and my math teacher certification. You can currently catch me teaching aerial from time to time at Pier to Point Wellness and an Intro to Ashtanga class at Kai Yoga every Friday at 9 am. I’m passionate about making the Ashtanga series accessible to everyone! Yoga is more than just its postures–it’s about overall physical and mental health. For this reason, I’ve created a Mediation Book Club that will meet for six weeks starting on November 7, also at Kai Yoga. 

I’m grateful for all of the opportunities that San Diego has offered me so far and I can’t wait to see what’s next! 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My biggest obstacle has always been myself. Dedicating myself fully to my endeavors has been a great contributor to my success but I’m also a victim of own effort. I believe that creativity is something that runs through you and not something you can force. Unfortunately, it’s in my nature to TRY. Finding balance between efforting and being more passive and letting things come has long been my greatest challenge. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I think what sets me apart from others and what I’m most proud of is how I’ve combined the things that I’m the most passionate about. Throats to the Sky Literary Magazine and most of my own writing focuses on sex positivity, including anti-slut shaming and LGBTQ+ pride. I’m so grateful to carry on this work on the other side of the country from my stores! There is a natural correlation between writing and meditation as well as between body positivity and yoga. I love the balance I have found and I’m excited to share it with others. 

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
The biggest contribution to my success is the fact that I truly love what I do. I don’t think anyone can be truly successful if their heart isn’t in their work. I would be a writer even if I was unable to write, a yogi even if I was unable to practice. It’s who I am. Of course, hard work and determination have also had a hand in getting me where I am. When you’re passionate about something it’s easy to throw yourself into it, and I have! 

Contact Info:

• Email: throats.to.the.sky@gmail.com
• Instagram: throats.to.the.sky
• Other: throatstothesky.com

Image Credits
Leliah Saadi