A wee bit about you:
Actor, Speaker and Educator. As a World Champion Baton Twirler, turned professional stunt woman, martial artist and educator, I have seen the immense benefits that 30 years of training with various tools, weapons and movement has gifted me. I'm talking about NEXT LEVEL expanded awareness, coordination, ambidexterity, problem solving skills and so MUCH MORE! Let me tell you that because of these intricate and highly coordinated pathways I have created, I can pick up choreography, new skills, new sports or anything really, with confidence, speed and ease. Because of these intricate and highly specific skills, I CAN DO ANYTHING! I am so passionate about sharing these gifts with others. My goal is to help millions of people experience the confidence, knowing and awareness that I have discovered through Staff Spinning.
I want YOU to unleash YOUR INNER BAD ASS!
Please list some of the projects / jobs / achievements that you are most proud to have experienced or been a part of:
Growing a large mutli-platform following/student base that is full of love, inclusivity and support #BADASSFAMILY, my own growing and expanding online business while simultaneously working full time in film, playing the game of film by my own rules and carving out a unique place for myself as a valued film industry professional (ie: training actors, fight coordinating and choreographing.)
What does it mean to you to Live Your Fierce?
Showing up as my most present and most authentic self, to the best of my ability everyday. I create my own reality, I decide on what best suits me in whatever direction I choose to take my life. I can play by my own rules, be exactly who I am and THRIVE! I do not apologize for being a powerful, strong and confident woman.
What were some of the obstacles / barriers to reaching your goals and living your fierce?
Feeling overwhelmed, run down and burnt out, either from over working and/or not being organized. Telling myself that I can get everything done myself when it would be to my benefit to ask for help, hire help or reprioritize what needs to get done. Also, global pandemic lockdown = questionable mental health
Describe 1-3 things which were instrumental to your overcoming these obstacles / barriers:
Gratitude Journalling...every damn day! I committed to writing a gratitude journal every day 3 years ago. With in 3 days of starting my life changed. I've written everyday since then. There is power in taking note of all the good things happening in your life!
What are some of the attributes you look for when choosing your support system:
Authenticity, Honesty, Generosity As a lone wolf, I am very much still working on this. I often still feel like a burden asking my friends for help. I feel grateful for the generosity of my very small and exclusive friend group. My hope is that I am able to reciprocate their support as generously as I received it.
Your words of fierce...
Showing up as my most present and most authentic self, to the best of my ability everyday. I create my own reality, I decide on what best suits me in whatever direction I choose to take my life. I can play by my own rules, be exactly who I am and THRIVE! I do not apologize for being a powerful, strong and confident woman.
For about Michelle, or for lessons in badassery from the ladyboss herself, go to michellecsmith.com or checkout her YouTube page.
A wee bit about you:
Born and raised in the city of Toronto, I balance the yang to my life, producing lifestyle television, with my passion and yin of my life, teaching yoga. I've been teaching for about 6 years now and am proud to have created a community of students who meet to practice in rented spaces around the city, parks, travel to retreat in Costa Rica, and most recently, for virtual classes as we adapt to pandemic life. I'm incredibly proud to be growing my business and moving towards my dream of one day opening a retreat centre of my own and continuing to expand this community of outrageously incredible yogis.
Please list some of the projects / jobs / achievements that you are most proud to have experienced or been a part of:
TV: there are many, but most recently...
Food Network's Big Food Bucket List
HGTV's Island of Bryan
YOGA:
Leading a retreat in the jungles of Costa Rica (this time last year, sigh)
Leading weekly virtual classes and retreats/wellness workshops in the past year of the pandemic
Creating wellness yoga videos for NOSM (Northern Ontario School of Medicine)
Check out Madison's YouTube channel for some incredible yoga flows.
What does it mean to you to Live Your Fierce?
The definition I love most of Fierce is; 'showing a heartfelt and powerful intensity'. That is exactly what I try to bring to everything I do. Whether it's being a team player on a production, or running my own business, I truly immerse myself in whatever I'm doing, wholeheartedly, with as much heartfelt intensity as this little 5"2 lady has!
What were some of the obstacles / barriers to reaching your goals and living your fierce?
Life is a series of obstacles. In TV world, every day seems to be a problem solving puzzle, which I'm proud to say I've gotten quite good at. These skills have translated to my own yoga business, where I found it was less external factors holding me back and more internal voices trying to trick me into thinking I CAN'T or I WON'T succeed. The fear of failure is a big one to get over - and I think I continue to push past it but have definitely not quieted that voice altogether.
Describe 1-3 things which were instrumental to your overcoming these obstacles / barriers.
The community I've built contains amazing people giving constant positive reinforcement, so I've started believing what they say and believing I am worth of their love and time and that I've built something that is real - simply because people keep demanding more and showing up. It's pretty powerful.
Supportive friends and family that aren't students of course help remind you of your worth and act as sounding boards and guinea pigs as you navigate new territory. I am grateful for Noam (my partner) always letting me try new yoga sequences out on him. Like always.
What are some of the attributes you look for when choosing your support system?
Support systems for the most part were already in place for me, so I don't feel like I sought them out per say. But if I were to look for new ones, I would choose people or things that are better than I already am so I can learn and grow from their example as they support and nurture where I'm at.
Please share your words of fierce…
Just do it. Don't wait for the perfect situation, time, or circumstance. Dive in head first. Don't be afraid of failing because I really would rather fail 100 times than have never tried.
“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honours the servant and has forgotten the gift.”
– Albert Einstein
Find Your Fierce
Your heartbeat begins to race, palms begin to sweat and your body tells you to make a quick decision. There are so many different times my body kicks into fight or flight: when I would step onto the wrestling mat, when there's a deadline fast approaching, before signing a contract and sometimes when I'm walking to my car alone at night. There's always this unidentified feeling telling you to either stand your ground or high-tail it out of there.
There's a time and place for each. The main circumstance I want to focus on is around the times our bodies are telling us to fight and we lack the confidence to trust it... so we flight.
Know Your Fierce
Honing in on our intuition takes time (to save time), and building the confidence to stand up and fight for what we need may take longer. Below are a few resources to get the ball rolling.
The website pickthebrain.com suggests the top 5 podcasts related to trusting your gut. Another funny listen, for those who want a much deeper dive into the energy of intuition, from Om Times: Is it intuition or is it gas?
Live Your Fierce
I can personally vouch for the merits of fighting over flighting (when appropriate and actual survival is not on the line). You may be saying, "well that's an easy thing for an ex-wrestler, highly feisty ball of energy such as myself to do". I can humbly share that I wasted many years second guessing my own intuition, avoiding the fight required to stand up for myself and for what I needed. Happy to report that, while intuition is an innate ability, tapping into that intuition can be a learned skill. And learn-ed I did. And so can you.
Work on turning your fear to fierce. Badass survival 101.
Fiercely Yours,
Andrea, LYF
