Today we’d like to introduce you to Bronwyn Ison.
Bronwyn, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Coming from humble beginnings, growing up in a rolling log cabin in Lake Tahoe and being raised by parents who have a love for living a healthy lifestyle, it’s no wonder I gravitated to the wellness industry. While being healthy and integrating movement into my life, a career in health and wellness was not my initial endeavor.
In high school, I knew the career path I wanted to explore, Broadcast Journalism. I love to write, tell meaningful stories and share them with an audience. After attending two years at a Community College and simultaneously enjoying an incredible on-camera/on-air internship, I knew it was time to move forward. I transferred to Arizona State University and studied Broadcast Journalism at the prestigious Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. My journey at ASU was priceless and it afforded me incredible opportunities such as internships with the Arizona Diamondbacks, FOX Sports and a news internships with NBC (KPNX). Following graduation, I worked in radio advertising sales for the number one talk radio station, KTAR. While this was an invaluable experience, I knew my heart belonged back on-air. I returned to school and took a night course to further hone on my on-air skills and make a demo reel. Shortly thereafter, I submitted my demo and started working as a nightly evening News Anchor/Reporter. While working in radio and pursuing my endeavors to get back on-air, I had met my husband (now an ex). My News Anchor/Reporter work took me out the area and was lending to be challenging on my marriage. I decided to focus on my marriage and put forth my energies on starting a family.
In 2000, I had a really bad foot injury that resulted in surgery. Following my physical therapy, it was suggested I try yoga to regain strength, flexibility, and confidence. Yoga was offered at my gym and I thought I’d give it a try. From my very first class, I knew I was hooked. The practice was challenging, fresh and unique to any modality I had done before. It was a place I could find and catch my breath. When I decided to take a break from broadcasting and focus on my marriage, I also took to my yoga mat. My passion for the practice grew and I began teaching. Within the first year of teaching, I also was expecting my first baby girl. I taught and practiced yoga until my eighth month of pregnancy. In 2007, I delivered my second baby girl. While my life appeared to be perfect for everyone on the outside, it was everything but perfection. My marriage was suffering and we were on the heels of one of the biggest economic crisis our country had ever witnessed in 2007/2008.
The years 2007/2008 were life-altering. I was living the American Dream. We owned our own business, I lived in the million-dollar home, drove the big fancy cars and I was a stay-at-home mom and I didn’t have to worry about much… until the crash of the economy. My marriage was on thin ice in 2007 and I began to watch our life slowly crumble. I was partially in denial as well as not privy to the severity about what was on the horizon. In 2007, we lost our business, our homes, cars and I filed for divorce and a multi-million bankruptcy.
Upon losing our home in a foreclosure, I packed up our house, gathered my daughters and my family helped us move to California. To add further stress, my health was in jeopardy when I learned I had contracted Valley Fever in my third trimester of pregnancy, Coccidioidomycosis. VF is an upper respiratory disease that wreaks havoc on your immune system and compromises your lungs. I felt as though the world was crashing down on me.
Shortly after arriving in California, I applied for a position as a traveling Medical TV Host. Fortunately, I was hired on the spot to do freelance work around the United States. I also applied to be a yoga instructor at a prestigious club and was hired part-time. Both positions were not going to pay the bills. My world was rocked to the core when I had to apply for food stamps and state aid. My dad gave me a car to use until I could get my feet back on the ground. I was in incredible shame and despair. While I had lost all my tangible items, my greatest loss was a sense of myself. I had lost all hope. I felt alone, exhausted and embarrassed by my circumstance. Eventually, and after one year time, both my part-time positions became obsolete and I needed to start over again. This was heartbreaking and I felt as though I was going backward. However, I was given an opportunity to teach yoga at a local polo club. It was there I began to Evolve and the birth of Evolve Yoga came to fruition in 2012.
The hardships, trials, and tribulations – I’m so grateful for the challenges. There isn’t one thing that I would change. I learned what I am capable of doing and so much more. I’ve owned and operated my own yoga studio for more than seven years, launched two online programs, my yoga classes and created a 7-Principal in-home retreat, Better For It Now. BFIN was developed from my hardships and shares valuable principles to implement into one’s life to be successful professionally and personally.
My story is not over as I believe it’s just beginning. Now that I have packed tool belt I know what tools to apply when the going gets tough.
Great, 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?
This journey has not been smooth. The road from financial despair and the loss of self took more than four years to gain traction. Instead of looking at how much time it took to gather myself, I reflect on the journey. Some of my greatest struggles were when I was collecting water bottles from my friend’s fitness studios so I could recycle them to get money and use the funds for gas money.
Remember, there is a season for everything. No circumstance or situation lasts forever. It will pass and whatever you’re going through will get better. However, it will not result in positivity unless you pursue making healthy changes. You may need to remove yourself from toxic relationships, a job that doesn’t bring you satisfaction, or you need to add more physical and social activities to your life that encourage positive outcomes.
Pursue what you love and do so with passion and conviction. We each have paths to choose from and it’s about making the right choices that will lead you to your destiny. Get grounded in your faith. Whatever this looks like for you. It may be attending a new church, meditating, journaling or getting involved in an inspirational small group for women. Remain positive, eat healthy and get plenty of rest.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
My work is my passion and facilitating and inspiring others through health and wellness is my greatest goal. I’ve instructed and practiced yoga for 19+ years. My broadcasting career spans over 25 years. I also love hearing and sharing stories via my web series, Evolve with Bronwyn Ison, a new venture that shares Entrepreneurial Stories, Health and Wellness information.
I’m most proud when I receive the positive results from people who’ve experienced my classes in-studio or from my online courses. Knowing I’ve been able to positively impact another person brings me incredible joy and defines why I do what I do.
I believe I’m unique in how I deliver all my messages. Whether I’m teaching or inspiring others, my delivery is authentic and encourages people to believe and have hope in self. My students have shared that the space I’ve created in-studio and online is trustworthy, credible and welcoming. I’ve had many blessings along my journey. What I’ve been given as blessings – I want to give back. I believe selfishly holding information from others is a shame. I want to share with others what I’ve learned. I believe this makes me unique as well.
Which women have inspired you in your life?
Fortunately, I’ve had some incredible female mentors. Most of them have been in the field of broadcasting. They have been encouraging with respects to following my dreams and to never give up.
As cliche as it may sound, my mother has been an incredible inspiration. Growing up in a single-family home, you never quite understand the sacrifice of a single mom. Now, that I am that woman I’ve learned firsthand the diligence and sacrifices it requires to raise children. My mother has taught me to never give up. To continue to persevere even when the going gets tough. There is a lesson to learn in every situation and this creates character and greater knowledge for the next challenge. She encourages me to stay rooted in my faith and that there is a great plan for my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.e-volveyoga.com
- Email: bronwyn@e-volveyoga.com
- Instagram: Bronwyn_Ison
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bronwyn.ison
- Twitter: @IsonBronwyn
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/evolveyoga1/
Image Credit:
my headshot is by Mel Bell Photography
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