Today we’d like to introduce you to Kamilah McShine-Gregory.
Kamilah, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I used to believe that my passion for wellness came only from my love and passion for Track and Field. I later realized the seed for health and wellness was planted at an early age as I can remember the experiences of Uncles and Aunts with Heart Disease and Diabetes. Throughout my life, I saw the difference intentional lifestyle actions made as I observed my Uncle managing his heart disease through lifestyle practices such as exercise, healthy eating, and engaging in activities that spark joy and ignite passion and purpose.
Despite these seeds, I started my career journey studying to be a therapist. Approaching my senior year of college I experienced the loss of two family members and this experience brought my attention back to the realm of health and wellness. As I reflected on the causes of these diseases, I noticed a variety of influences on our health and lifestyle: our beliefs, family, society, culture, community, access, and more. I was then inspired to revamp my career path. I completed my Bachelors in Psychology and Sociology and then went on to a Masters in Exercise Science & Wellness because I genuinely believed that getting to the root of our behaviors and having a better understanding of the body helps us all to make the healthy adjustment we need throughout our daily lives.
I became a Personal Trainer in graduate school where I intentionally addressed emotional and psychological aspects as well as the physical movements. In graduate school, I was first drawn to yoga, and the powerful feeling of the poses, not the other seven limbs that I learned later on. After graduation, I moved to Houston, TX and began working full-time in Corporate Wellness.
I earned my Health and Wellness Coach certification while in my current role working at one of the leading Hospitals in Houston where I provide health and wellness coaching and facilitate health and wellness screenings and education classes for the employee population. When I graduated from my Yoga Teacher Training in 2017 I made up my mind that my community had to have these tools, and I could no longer let fear, doubt, and/or the comfort of a full-time job hinder me from helping people who NEED and WANT someone to help them find their path to well-being. Most importantly, I had my ideas for how I wanted to facilitate spaces of learning, healing, growth, and peace of the mind, body, and spirit. I moved into action and co-founded Peace and Project: a community wellness movement. I also created Felicitea Shop: an organic lifestyle tea company. This year I also had the honor of being chosen as one of the ambassadors for The Woman’s Earth Studio in Third Ward, Houston.
My story continues as I work towards my Doctorate in Public Health. I’ve come to realize that my growth, healing, and self-realization are a constant process that has no final destination. Our process is as endless as the flow of energy, and your best life lies in the balance of doing the work, enjoying the ride and manifesting all that you wish to express without losing ourselves in limits we often transfer from other people.
Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way? Any advice for other women, particularly young women who are just starting their journey?
Even though I consider my full time job my dream job, it was not the fullest expression of how I wanted to serve. I missed working in my community even though I love helping the Hospital employees. This uncertainty led me through a roller coaster of emotions in which I often doubted my purpose and myself. On top of being in a new city and feeling disconnected from my community and myself, I got injured! I got hurt in college as an athlete, and I made it through with what I thought was a positive attitude. So what happened this time? I made the choice to find out no matter many deep wounds I uncover. I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. Whether positive or negative, we have lessons and triumphs. This mindset helped me to dig deep and honestly explore my actions, my thoughts, and what else I believed to be real. During this time of realizations and injury, I became disconnected from my internal light. This disconnection impacted both my career and my personal life. I needed to find my balance. I searched for ways to take care of my mental and emotional health along with the physical. I came to see I was living in fear and doubt that I had something to share, of reaching out and starting over. Wondering if I had enough knowledge hindered me from taking action and connecting with people in the ways I really wanted to. I decided in 2015 that I would commit to restarting my journey and birthing a new direction and a new space. I explored [and continue to study today] different wellness practices to build my own personal Wellness Toolbox. I connected with people, places, and activities that brought me joy and feelings of fullness. In 2017, I took my 200hr Yoga Teacher Certification to deepen my personal yoga practice, and when I graduated from my Yoga Teacher Training, I knew nothing mattered more than my community having access to tools that can improve their quality of life. My advice is to move with your fears and doubt, and break out of the comforts that are hindering you from living your fullest life.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Peace and Project story. Tell us more about the business.
Pulling from my coaching experiences, personal experiences, and education background I take each client on a personal quest to find power in the present. I combine coaching, fitness, yoga and mindfulness to serve my community and there is no cookie cutter experience. No matter what stage of readiness you are in, you will leave feeling empowered to walk in YOUR OWN steps and move confidently towards your well-being goals.
I currently serve by creating and curating spaces for self-exploration, self-awareness, and self-growth with the mission to decrease the impacts of chronic disease on individuals, families, and businesses.
I host weekly yoga classes, Wellness workshops, and private individual and group coaching, fitness and yoga sessions.
I specialize in:
-Unlocking your personal Wellness vision
-Healthy Behavior and Lifestyle Transformation.
-Creating Work/Life balance.
-Increasing self- awareness and self-exploration
-Increasing mental, physical, and emotional awareness, flexibility, resilience, and strength.
-Developing personalized health and lifestyle management programs for heart disease, diabetes, overweight/obesity, and inflammatory conditions.
-Stress management
As a Wellness movement, Peace and Project’s mission is to creating spaces to CONNECT, TEACH, & INSPIRE our community towards mental, physical, and emotional Peace rooted in connection to self, family, community, and personal purpose. We want to see all humans project towards a healthy, positive, balanced and purpose-driven state of well-being and take the information back to their communities to share in generational growth and healing. I love that my brands are an example of expressive freedom. How we can maximize our growth by tapping into the things that ignite us personally and avoid letting our direction be determined by external influences. Do what makes you happy and sparks a light inside of you!
I look forward to the continued growth of my services as I continue to learn, grow, and share in my health and healing practices. Check out my platform PEACEKAM.COM for up to date services, classes, and workshops.
It would be great to hear about any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve used and would recommend to others.
Books:
Year of the Yes – Shonda Rhimes
The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho
The Four Agreements – Don Miguel Ruiz
The Untethered Soul – Michael Singer
Light on Yoga – B.K Iyengar
Podcasts:
The Love Right Now Show- Jai Pierre Raven
Black Girls in Om
Apps:
MapMyFitness
Pricing:
- Reign & Shine Yoga $ 15
Contact Info:
- Address: 2814 Isabella St.
- Phone: 832-356-8512
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ireign_kam/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KamilahMcShineGregory/
Image Credit:
Blue Treasure Photography, Kamilah McShine-Gregory, Urban Love Tree Photography, Crystal Eyed Photography, Tiffany Malone
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
