The Unlikely Class

The Unlikely Class

“There was a lot of pushback and still is. I lost a lot of people that I really respected when I first started teaching The Class—they would just shame me and be like, what the f*ck is she doing?”

That’s a reflection from this week’s podcast guest, Taryn Toomey, who started a wellness movement called The Class from her NYC apartment building back in 2011.

It has since grown into a worldwide movement, with a presence in over 70 countries. But as is the case most of the time, the early days were very humble.

Taryn—a new mother with a passion for yoga—had recently stepped away from a career in fashion. And her dear friend and mentor had unexpectedly passed away in Peru. 

To help raise money for her mentor’s newly-orphaned children, Taryn began organizing movement classes from her basement, and sending the proceeds to Peru.

Over time, she developed her signature teaching style in this basement class, which included a mixture of breath-synced movements and audible releases.

Taryn eventually outgrew her basement, celebrities started joining, organic press followed, and the word began spreading about this unique class.

Taryn was just grateful that her success meant that she was able to raise even more money for the children in Peru. 

But she eventually decided to make The Class into a thing—getting more teachers, streaming it to other cities and countries, and creating a proper brand around it. 

What I love about Taryn’s backstory is how everything she experienced in her life helped to inform her path:

- The drama she experienced as a kid helped her become a more independent thinker (and doer).

- Working with a farmer as a teenager taught her about patience when growing things.

- Her 10-plus-year career in fashion helped her develop an eye for branding.

There were no throwaway moments. And Taryn’s story is a reminder that the same is true for us all.

I’m excited to share Taryn’s story with you, especially if you’re feeling called to switch careers and leap into an opportunity that feels more aligned.

So definitely check out today’s episode, and share it on your socials.

I know it will instill more self-belief and trust in this next phase of your path and purpose.

Light
.

You can also watch this episode on Youtube.