FitGirlMagic: Libby Campo, Your Inner Yogi
Google “black women in yoga…”
…and there’s a mix of headlines, from why aren’t there more women of color who are instructors to how hot yoga is helping black women find community. What we do know is spaces for black women in yoga to feel seen and practice in a comfortable space is growing. We can thank studio owners and entrepreneurs like Libby Campo for that.
Libby owns Your Inner Yogi, a yoga studio in the heart of downtown Memphis. Her presence exudes confidence and calm, but your conversation with her displays that first hand. Check out her Fit Girl Magic interview and soak up the vibes.
When and how did you fall in love with the fitness industry?
I was a fearful child, I feared people seeing me and all my many flaws. I remember wanting to try track and tennis in high school, but I was shy and as silly as it sounds now, afraid of having to participate in pep rallies. I was scared of being booed or laughed at in the middle of the gymnasium floor. That thought prevented me from participating in anything until I met my husband, Hector. He supported and encouraged all the things that I wanted to do, but thought I couldn't. One of those things was running. Whenever I would try to run a decent distance, my legs would burn and itch, it would be so unbearable that I would quit. He encouraged me to look into why that was happening. I found out that I was out of shape, and my blood wasn't circulating properly. So, I adapted a few routines before I ran that eased the burning and itching until I was in better shape, and then it went away completely. I discovered a love for running before my love for yoga. It is all that we did, and we included our children. I felt alive, strong, and able to do anything. I wanted more and was motivated to challenge myself to a healthy competition of being better than I was the day before; to feel, connect, and grow a little deeper than before. I can't remember the last time I quit or didn't do something because I was afraid.
What motivates you most to live a healthy lifestyle?
My health journey is and has been a trail of discoveries and growth. The healthier I am, the smarter, stronger, and happier I am as well. What motivates me most is that as I grow, I am planting seeds of inspiration and encouragement that are impacting and serving others. My ultimate purpose and goal is to serve.
What mission do you promote for women in fitness?
Women carry an essence that promotes and encourages change in our homes, workplaces, and communities. Own your essence, be responsible, honest, vulnerable, and lead by example.
How are you defining if you're “fit” or not? Is your body on point, but your self-esteem is low? I don't believe it's in anybody's best interest to promote a false illusion of fitness. If you are promoting fitness, be honest about your journey and take the responsibility of healing yourself, then those following you.
What led you to open Your Inner Yogi?
Your Inner Yogi started as a blog of my yoga journey. Once I earned my yoga teacher certification and decided to teach, I chose not to teach in a yoga studio because I didn't want its owners judging or pushing their expectations onto me. I wanted to provide a space for students to feel just as free practicing as I wanted to feel teaching. I taught weekly classes in a downtown art gallery. I felt a void in the community and was led to expand my efforts and open a studio to better serve the community.
I opened Your Inner Yogi three years ago. The mission is to make yoga accessible to grow our community, promote inner healing, better health, and overall wellness. HOW? In the studio, we offer a variety of affordable, work exchange, and complimentary yoga groups and private services. Outside the studio, we host, organize, and collaborate with local organizations to fund raise, educate, support, and promote inclusiveness, accessibility, and sustainability.
What do you hope clients and visitors gain when they walk through the front door of Your Inner Yogi?
I hope students and visitors feel welcomed, seen and like they are enough.
What is one piece of business advice you would give to women of color?
I’ve had a couple of businesses before opening the studio and have had conversations with other business owners. We tend to believe we have or need to carry all the weight and responsibilities of our organization for things to get done or get accomplished correctly. I want my sisters to know we need to change that frame of thinking not only in business but in life.
Be vulnerable, ask for help, and establish a dependable and valuable team, do your part, know how everyone else does their part, and fairly delegate tasks and responsibilities as often as possible.Your Inner Yogi’s recognition and steady growth are not just due to my efforts, it’s all due to the efforts of the YIY family and team as a whole, every last one of us from the business team, teachers, students, and the community. And, most importantly nothing happens overnight.
Why did you feel it was important to open a yoga studio in Memphis?
Thinking back, I don't know how yoga would have found me or if I would have opened a yoga studio if I were in any other city. I love the fact you asked “Why did you FEEL…,” because analytics and logical thinking doesn't come naturally to me. I'm a 100% feeler first. I've traveled and practiced in a lot of studios around the country and I believe Memphis has an admirable yoga community but still, I felt a void.
We tend to want to compartmentalize things, place people and things in boxes. People are fluent, dynamic, and ever-changing. A line from my favorite movie Dirty Dancing, "Nobody puts Baby in a corner", yes I am baby and I don't want to be placed in a box. We tend to think in extremes in Memphis and probably everywhere else.
We tend to think if you're super earthy, you could go to this studio. If you're slim and wealthy, go here. If you practice this style, go there. Where is the place I could just be me, my whole self, and not questioned, pressured, or judged?
I wanted to challenge that frame of thinking and create a space in Memphis where students of any race, fitness level, body shape, age, gender identity, and socioeconomic status would be welcomed to freely discover themselves (their inner yogi) and a place on their mats.
Why is a focus on overall wellness, not just health and fitness, important for women of color?
We sometimes tend to or are forced to take on more than we should and neglect our care and needs. We also tend to define being healthy and fit by our external appearances and fail to include the need for emotional and mental stability. I believe we need to take more time to pause, breathe, unwind, and care for ourselves emotionally and mentally. It's too many women of color that's finding themselves on an unhealthy, roller coaster of inconsistency and undesirable habits and results. Overall wellness is attainable. It's the key and light at the end of the tunnel.
What is your definition of “fit?” We love that Libby touched on that in her article. Join the conversation on Instagram. Also, share with us who you would like to see featured next as #FitGirlMagic.