Q&A with Goldie Graham

Goldie Graham is a much-loved yoga teacher who’s earned a huge following both on the mat and online.

The woman who brought black-light yoga to Boston leads sold-out workshops, international retreats and teacher trainings, and she’s been covered in places like Yoga Journal, Runner’s World, and Shape Magazine.

Goldie’s classes are known for three things: exceptional flows, incredible playlists, and coziness - as in, they’re packed. 

Read on for how Goldie found her calling, how she balances the demands and rewards of Instagram, and her advice for entrepreneurs or new yoga teachers looking for authentic ways to establish their brands.

If you want to spend more time with Goldie you can follow her on insta @goldieyoga or check out her website.

Thank you Goldie!!

Could you tell me a little bit about your career journey thus far? What were the milestones for you between high school graduation and today?

After high school, I attended The University of Florida. I graduated with a BS in psychology and spent my time there working in a psychiatric unit as a mental health counselor. When I moved to Boston after graduation I worked at Newton Wellesley Hospital as an MHC, with a plan to further my education in the healthcare field. I forced this over and over and over, even when the signs were all there. Healthcare wasn't my destiny. Long story short, the owner of Back Bay Yoga saw me folding yoga pants one day and asked me to come teach at her studio. The rest is history, as they say.

What does the average day or week look like for you right now?

I teach two classes a week, while also traveling once a month to teach workshops/retreats etc, all while taking care of my 2-year-old full time. Oh, and did I mention I make dinner most nights? I’m not bored that’s for sure!

When you meet new people and they ask a “what do you do” style question, how do you describe your work? (I ask because I think that a lot of successful women struggle with this one.)

Yeah, this is a tough one for me because I tend to downplay what I do so I don’t sound like an asshole. I usually say “I’m a yoga teacher whose work takes place primarily when I’m on the road teaching.” I may go one step further when they want more info and say I teach workshops, trainings, and big events that have been upwards of 10k people in one class. 

How did you first find yoga?

I ran the Boston Marathon in 2008 and my sister took me to Back Bay Yoga studio, the first iteration of it when it used to be above the pizza shop on Boylston. I fell in love with it immediately and have never looked back. 

Has your approach as an instructor been consistent, or has it shifted and evolved over the years?

Oh, most definitely it has evolved. I don’t think I was a very thought-out, prepared teacher in the beginning. My motivation was all about making people sweat and making it hard, after all that’s what college students preferred. However, once I started taking classes at Kula in NYC I realized there’s a method, a reason for why you do one posture before another, and things started to make more sense to me. This in turn allowed me to plan classes differently and ultimately become the teacher I am today. 

I think a lot of people still think of yoga teachers as kind of … I don’t know. I want to say “hippy-dippy.” Something like that. In your workshops, you are such a focused and straight-forward presence, and your framework for creating a flow is as methodical as it is creative. Do you think that old expectations for what a great yoga teacher is like are shifting?

I think there’s a student for every kind of yoga teacher. It’s hard to please everyone, sometimes impossible, but if you can over time find your authentic voice and style of teaching, then you’ll be a more confident and efficient teacher. People can sniff out a script or that “singing like yoga teacher voice” every time. So, just be yourself and hone your craft as a teacher. 

Do you always feel as confident as you come across?

In short, yes. This wasn’t an overnight feeling. Teaching yoga used to make me SO nervous. I would lose sleep over it and wonder who would be in my class. If other teachers showed up I would get extra nervous and forget my entire plan. Like any profession, the longer you’re in it, the better you become at it. I think it took me a solid 5 years to really feel as confident as I do. I over-prepare. I spend time every single week planning new classes and playlists. The more prepared I am, the less worried I am. Never do I walk into a class with no plan. 

Imposter syndrome comes up in a lot of conversations I have with women about work. It seems like it can strike no matter one’s industry or position. Do you ever struggle with it?

In the beginning, yes. Anytime you're new at something this feeling of being an imposter is more relevant, I think. I do not struggle with this now, no. 

I think it’s an interesting tension that yoga is, in so many ways, an inward, quiet and highly personal journey. But, those who have careers in the industry benefit so much from an online presence and a personal brand. How do you feel about the relationship between social media and yoga generally?

I think social media is a wonderful platform for building a brand/business/or just letting people know when and where you teach. I think like anything, there are pros and cons to all tech. 

How do you balance sharing with your followers in a meaningful way vs honoring the personal and private?

I don’t post things on social media just to post. I’m never looking for something to say. If it’s not there, I don’t post. I share just enough to give my audience a real understanding of what my life looks like, while also honoring my son and husband by not oversharing. That said, I’m a pretty open book. 

Do you ever feel conflicted about sharing and engaging?

My only conflict comes when I feel like I want to get off all social media and take a respite, but I need to stay on it because I need it for work. I truly need it in order to promote my events that take place on the road. 

How interconnected do your brand and your business feel to you - are they one in the same or separate?

They feel very much the same. I am my brand and my brand is me. 

You are a fashion plate! When checking out your posts on insta I always admire your outfits. Do you feel pressure to always rep your brand and be polished no matter the circumstances, or is it something that just comes naturally to you? Is your approach to style as methodical and considered as your class planning? (I want to know what your closet looks like!!)

I like to say I get my style from my mama, because she’s the first “cool girl” I ever met. She’s always taking fashion risks and pairing things together to make her love of feminine but also tomboy come together. My style could be categorized as tomboy chic. I LOVE shopping, but I’m also fiscally responsible so I don’t go overboard. I like to mix expensive things with finds from TJ Maxx and Marshalls. I’ve been shopping at those stores with my mom since I can remember. It’s all about mixing. 

What advice might you have for other yoga teachers - or female entrepreneurs generally - who want to build an authentic brand and create more opportunities for themselves? What has worked for you?

I never set out to be GoldieYoga. I worked hard and said yes to every opportunity I could. Over time, my brand building became more of a focus but not in a forced or trying way. My advice is to find something you love to do and keep your headspace on the micro. Sometimes looking too far into the future prevents the present growth of what you’re doing. 

What does 2020 hold for you? Anything you’d like readers to click on or check out?

2020 is FULL! I have workshops, teacher trainings, continuing ed courses, and even a retreat to Italy this summer! I just launched my latest bundle of online yoga videos and now have 10 unique classes you can take from anywhere. For details on all the goods, check out my website goldieyoga.com.

Thank you so much, Goldie!