Today we’d like to introduce you to Lizzie Aguirre.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
At the young age of 17, I decided to live on my own and figure out what my “calling” was. Alongside three jobs, college, a Europe trip, and a yoga teacher training, I soon found that teaching and traveling lit up my soul. I knew that I wanted to begin manifesting the creation of the life I wanted to live.
I first started by committing all of my energy into teaching yoga and building community in Austin, TX. I taught up to 15 public classes in one week, created my own events like “SoulFull” to raise money for charity, and co-created a yoga and music festival, “Luna Nativa”, with two incredible partners. After two straight years of hardships, magic, failures and successes, I was chosen as Austin Woman Magazines’ cover woman for the January 2019 Wellness Issue titled, “Yoga with Soul”. I remember receiving the first digital copy of the magazine in my email the December prior to the release and reading the article out loud with my partner as we both cried tears of joy and happiness. There were months I couldn’t pay my rent, times when I felt like giving up and constant doubt due to the “why didn’t you just get a normal job” from my parents. What mattered was the impactful work I was doing. I felt excited to teach up to 90 strangers and friends a class about their bodies, minds and lifestyle. I felt honored to be the voice in the room encouraging everyone to search for the light in the darkness, to take a moment to see and honor the person next to them, and that wherever they were in life was exactly where they were supposed to be.
After the magazine launched, my teaching career saw new heights. My daily classes were capping at maximum 100 people a room, I was getting bookings from brands like Samsung, Snapchat, and more and was over the moon to be chosen as one out of the four 2019 Teen Vogue girls based in Austin, TX. My dad was telling grocery cashiers that I was on a magazine cover, my brother was inspired to chase his dreams, and I got the privilege of teaching MORE people about the benefits of meditation, self-love and movement. What a dream.
Soon after the hype started to settle, I knew it was time to create the life I wanted. I saw a gap in the yoga retreat market and wanted to offer my client base an experience they would never forget. Therefore, I started my first company, Soulstice Retreats, in April of 2019. Combining the power of yoga with the power of music and adventure, we set off to destinations like Bali, Oaxaca, Tulum and Costa Rica for 5-7 days of reflection, connection and growth. With intimate groups of around 10-18 students, I was able to take personal development and wellness to a whole different level. The trips had incredible yoga teachers and amazing musicians to provide live song or DJ’ed sets on our private yoga decks nestled within the trees in the heart of the jungle, with the sound of the roaring ocean in the wind. For every retreat, a percentage of profits is donated to a charity in the destination we explore. It truly is a feel-good do-good experience. Every retreat kept getting better and better, and the clients who have joined so far are now life long friends and returning adventurers.
I’m humbled and grateful to now be working for myself, yet still working for others all around the globe. After six years of dedication to my plan, hard work and resilience, I now own a business that I’m proud of and excited to grow even larger. If there was any advice I could give to young women and men, it would be to always listen to your heart, not other’s opinion about you, and to trust that you’re calling is meant for you and only you. In this day in age, creation, art, music, community and love are the most important things to be shared and indulged in. YOU deserve the life you want to live. We’re all in this together.
Has it been a smooth road?
I don’t believe roads are ever smooth if there are no challenges then there is no growth… it’s definitely been a rocky road but an overwhelming gift of growth.
Believe it or not, just like any other business, there are politics in the yoga and wellness realm. The more successful you become, the more people talk about you, the more people judge you and the more you start to learn, some may not genuinely have your best interest in mind. This was a hard lesson for me because I had always been the type of person to have a million friends. But it was important to find out soon that in order to succeed financially and emotionally, you need a strong, close-knit tribe of people who love you, stand by you and support you and whom are also willing to give you the hard, helpful advice when you need it. I learned that you can’t do it all on your own and that it’s more than OK to ask for help. : ) My biggest supporter, Noah Kessler, has believed and supported the mission and vision since day one. A big thank you to him and all of the staff who have been there for me since the beginning. 🙂
Struggles that I did not necessarily see coming where all of the background work needed to market my brand and the company. As a one-woman show, I have found myself more times than not on my computer working on marketing, graphic design, photo-editing, contracting, website developing, blogging, working on PR, creating events and the list goes on. It felt at times like I was running a whole dang company on my own. Since there were so many things to handle, information would often slip through the cracks and I would really beat myself up for it. I had to learn to be kinder to myself and remember that I was doing the best that I can.
The hardest moment I think that is not talked about often enough, are the LOWS. Life tends to throw things at you, sometimes, all at once, and these things can really take a toll on your mental health. It was extremely important for me to stay consistent in my yoga practice, talk to a therapist (love her), and to make sure I was also taking time to love and do nice things for myself. Giving up was not an option for me, but there were many times I felt like it. It’s important to know your “why” to keep you determined and focused to continue pushing forward.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Soulstice Retreats – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Soulstice Retreats is a travel company that specializes in providing luxurious retreats focused on health, wellness and personal development. We are known for our unique offerings such as live music sound healings, private intimate concerts, top of the line talent and our award-winning destinations.
I am most proud of our company’s desire to explore the world, understand other’s cultures, and do the work to understand ourselves better as well. We are proud to provide work to amazing and hard-working men and women at all of our destinations and to create family all over the globe.
What I believe sets my company apart from others is that it is not the ordinary yoga retreat. We don’t encourage our clients to pretend to be a certain way. We don’t label ourselves. We accept and encourage our clients to live and be exactly as they are in their day to day. What we do offer is top of the line yoga and meditation classes twice daily which is completely optional, personal development workshops, sound healings, massage, farm to table wholesome and delicious meals cooked by the best of the best local chefs, exclusive adventures like private boat tours, intimate concert sets, mezcal tastings and optional nights out on the town to dance and let loose. We believe in balance and in feeling good without boundaries. Live your life and be your damn self is our motto, and we just want to take all of the work off of our client’s hands so they can indulge in complete relaxation, reflection and connection, whatever that looks like for them.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Growing up in Houston taught me HUSTLE. Houston taught me that as a female Mexican-American woman, I can be my own boss and I can succeed on my own. Houston taught me to appreciate culture, diversity and oneness. Living in Houston developed my appetite for culinary arts, incredible music and equality.
I don’t really dislike anything about my hometown, but if there is one thing I would change about Houston, it would be the airport location! I wish it was closer to the city since our clients and team travel so much from the port. But it is an amazing airport…
Pricing:
- $500 deposit to save your spot for any retreat with a personalized payment plan. Totals below…
- $1800 for a private bed in a shared room and all-inclusive experience
- $2600 for a private room and all-inclusive experience
Contact Info:
- Website: www.soulsticeretreats.com
- Phone: 8322773825
- Email: experience@soulsticeretreats.com
- Instagram: @soulsticeretreats
- Facebook: @soulsticeretreatsglobal
Image Credit:
Keelyn Costello, and Alice Rabbit
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