Highlight of the Week: Conversations with Angelica @curvychickyoga
For the month of March we had the pleasure of collaborating with Angelica, Chicago based Yoga Instructor and social influencer, check out her Instagram @curvychickyoga.
Angelica owns Curvy Chick Yoga, a space for curvy yogis to find encouragement, community, wellness, and balance. Visit her site at:
I love Angelicas Instagram feed and her body positive story. Seeing her videos and pictures motivates me to stretch further and reach higher in my own yoga journey. Read more below to get to know Angelica and her story:
Hi my name is Angelica and I’m the proud owner of Curvy Chick Yoga a private yoga experience for all yogis. Curvy Chick Yoga creates space for curvy yogis to find encouragement, community, wellness, and balance. Currently, I’m a Librarian in Chicago with a love for yoga, red wine, and traveling. Over the next year I aspire to expand Curvy Chick Yoga to other cities, continue building collaboration partnerships with amazing companies like YogaTech and start a weekend wellness retreat in Chicago and other states. Personally, I want to meditate more and I spend more quality time with my husband and two dogs, Lily and Niyola.
Curvy Chick Yoga creates space for curvy yogis to find encouragement, community, wellness, and balance.
Tell us about your journey in health and fitness, and how you found a career path in that industry?
Well, a short midday walk in 2013 would change my life and set me on a new path to inner peace, balance, and physical strength. Although, yoga was a part of my life I never considered having a career in this industry until one day my then boyfriend, but now husband asked me “if I couldn’t be Librarian,” then what? I said I would teach yoga and in that moment I then knew yoga was embedded in who I am and I want to share my practice, growth, and passion with other students.
What fitness routine is your #1 favorite as a stress reducer?
Yoga of course....Yoga teaches me how to breathe through the difficult times, reminds me to surrender, forgive, and encourages me to accept change. Yoga has helped me develop my breath and has opened my mind to another understanding of life. Practicing breath and intentional movement has helped me relax and destress.
The active wear craze started few years ago and continues to be strong. With so many brands out there now, what is important for you in choosing brands or styles?
When considering buying active wear I usually review companies ethics and the roles they play in society. Also, cost is always important so I like quality fabrics that are washable and wearable without breaking the bank. I enjoy styles which are flexible and can be mixed with other items I already have in my closet and the styles I buy must have a little color, but not so much that I feel washed out by the brightness. Lastly, a thick waist band with some tummy control is a BIG MUST.
We know you as @curvychickyoga on Instagram, that name is very positive. From personal experiences, I feel that the fitness culture on social media only depicts slim,athletic bodies who are working out and doing yoga but there are girls out there (including myself) who have a curvier build that can feel insecure when joining this world of fitness because the standard appearance that we get bombarded with is skinny girls. What message would you give to the girls out there who want to get into yoga or fitness but insecure about their bodies and how they may look when joining a class or gym?
I would say find a fitness activity that you love. For me it was yoga and that’s where I found my peaceful place. Now, I wouldn’t say yoga studios where exactly welcoming at first, but overtime I found a studio which I felt at home in and I was able to simply be myself. I was just telling my sister this the other day that once you find a fitness activity that you love then some of that fear and insecurity will start to fall away. I would also urge curvy women to not limit what fitness is...a good workout can come from dancing, swimming, or a long walk with friends. Simply, find the area in fitness which works for you and dive deep because at the core of it all your health, wellness, and happiness is most important.
Last question: What Yogatech item would you highly recommend from our collection?
I love the Harmony Criss Cross Cardigan because I can throw it on with my yoga pants or a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. I love yoga pieces which can be worn in a yoga class or out for errands.
I love the Harmony Criss Cross Cardigan because I can throw it on with my yoga pants or a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.
