Today we’d like to introduce you to Claire Petretti Marti.
Claire, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I like to say I was a yoga teacher who loved to write and now I’m a writer who loves to teach yoga. I’ve been teaching yoga since 2006 and the experience changed my life. In 2010, I went through Stage 2 breast cancer and began teaching yoga for cancer survivors, created a DVD, Yoga for Cancer Recovery, and published a memoir documenting my journey called Come Ride with Me Along the Big C. Today, I work with private clients and also teach public classes in North County.
After navigating cancer and luckily beating it, I grew serious about pursuing my dreams to write fiction and create stories with happy endings. In 2017, the first two novels in my Finding Forever in Laguna series were published and the third book in the series will be released this summer. Romance is the genre of hope and to me, hope is vital in staying happy and healthy. Every relationship is a learning experience and we grow through the positive and negative journeys. love sharing stories of strong, smart, passionate people who need to overcome challenges and take risks to find their happily ever after. Currently, I’m finishing up the first book in a new series set in Rancho Santa Fe.
Writing and yoga are my two main passions and I am grateful to be living this life.
Has it been a smooth road?
Um, no. I’d say my life has been characterized by two words: bitter and sweet. I’m used to highs and lows and have learned to find more balance. My career began as a litigation attorney, but I ran away after three years because I wanted to use my skills to create and make the world a better place. After law, I worked in outside sales and business development, ran a non-profit animal rescue for a Hollywood actress, and eventually found yoga.
I quit corporate America in 2009 and was on my way building a yoga and Pilates business, writing wellness and yoga articles, was going to film online yoga classes for an international company, and I’d planned my first yoga and surf retreat to Nicaragua. Then I found a lump. 2010 was consumed with cancer treatment, but I came out on the other side with a shift in perspective. Working with other cancer survivors is incredibly rewarding.
I also helped found Yoga for Hope with the City of Hope, a huge yoga fundraiser to raise money and awareness for cancer, Aids/Hiv, and Diabetes. For 7 years we held the event downtown, the last 4 at Petco Park.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
In terms of my writing career, I’m proud I found a traditional publisher for my first romance novel series. I’m hoping to move to a larger publisher with my new Rancho Santa Fe series set on the fictional Pacific Vista Ranch. I’ve also got a mainstream novel planned that’s set in 1920s Paris.
In terms of yoga, many people in the community got to know me when I went through cancer and began Yoga for Cancer Recovery classes in North County at YogaSix. I primarily teach Vinyasa Flow now and work with cancer patients and survivors on a private client basis. I’ve taught all over town and am happy to be part of the vibrant yoga community in North County.
I’m one of several teachers on www.yogadownload.com, an international online yoga company. I have 50+ classes online ranging from Vinyasa flow, Pilates and Core, Yoga for Cancer Recovery, and several Yoga for Athletes classes. They fly me out to Denver a few times a year to film more classes. I’m thrilled to be able to reach people all over the world and have them practice with me in the comfort of their own home or when they travel.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
In terms of yoga, absolutely! San Diego and North County in particular (yes I am biased) have some of the most incredible, talented yoga teachers in the country.
In terms of writing, you just need a computer and/or a notebook! Why not do it with a view of the Pacific? We live in one of the most beautiful places in the world and writing here is a dream.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.clairemarti.com (author); www.oceansoulyoga.com (yoga)
- Email: claire@clairemarti.com
- Instagram: clairepmarti
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClaireMartiAuthor/
- Twitter: @clairepmarti
Image Credit:
Epic Photojournalism; Laura Bravo Mertz
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