Today we’d like to introduce you to Madeline Fosmo
Hi Madeline , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Maddie – I am a recent entrepreneur in the yoga community. About 4 years ago I started my yoga teaching journey with yoga teacher training. I had always been an athlete growing up and practiced some yoga occasionally to compliment my sports.
I eventually got into the space of yoga teacher training, then after training immediately had the opportunity to teach yoga at Four Seasons WDW Orlando. I have been there for an upwards of 3 years now.
I started to think of some new fun ways to bring yoga out of a studio – searching for a ‘run club’ version of yoga. I then landed on the idea of doing pop up yoga events in places that may encourage new yogis!
The entire idea of MatChats Yoga is to create pop up yoga events that are enjoyable for the community. These events open up the conversation around the accessibility around yoga and putting a new fun spin on wellness.
YogaBeats – is Tyler’s company that he started that pairs yoga with live DJ music. I saw an opportunity with him and we agreed and created a collaboration that would ramp up the offerings with new music and a better outreach.
We put plan together and scouted new places, new ideas, and a more diverse music option. We found Chris (our DJ) and he was onboard to build and work with us. He is a very well known DJ and sound curator in the Sanford/Orlando/LA area.
These events are an hour long with drink and snack refreshments – emphasizing a social space after.
MatChats Yoga and YogaBeats have paired with The Veranda Thornton Park, Kaleidoscope Orlando, and Hourglass brewing – as of now and are always looking for new spaces to enjoy some chill EDM inspired yoga beats with our yogis.
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?
These events are newer to the community which always proves to be a challenge. What people see now via social media is a high light reel – an instant success idea that does not show the process and the struggle of owning and learning from a new business.
Some current struggles we face are getting the word out into the community and also convincing people that yoga can be fun and that no one in the space needs to be “flexible” to participate. That is the most common theme I hear as a yoga teacher over the years, “I am not flexible enough for yoga”. What new yogis don’t know is that we all struggle with uncomfortablility in yoga and the practice is really about the breath and observation of self. We are providing a fun way to get into that space with no judgement and a social support community.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My current profession is along the lines of a 9-5 in the software space. I do teach yoga at the Four Seasons WDW Orlando too, (as my fun job). I decided to try out this business of MatChats to maybe one day make Yoga my full time position, with a sense of purpose of helping others.
I previously did work at WDW as a performer, so having fun, leading, and teaching comes very naturally to me.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
My form of inspiration is the observation of real life scenarios that show human strength, resilience, and fragility rather than podcasts/blogs.
I do travel 1-2 times per year to Europe (thus far) to take yoga workshops/ retreats with world renown yoga instructors. This is another place I find inspiration. I learn a lot from putting myself in uncomfortable/new spaces with strangers, and I learn from the people that I meet along the way!
Pricing:
- 20 dollars per yoga event!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @itsdawaves @matchatsyoga @yogabeats_orlando @backbone_media_group
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/itsdawaves?ref=clipboard&p=a&c=1&si=02ac4f93a9224037850da3514f2897db&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
Image Credits
All images are from @backbone_media_group
