Chick Chat: Trappin' With An Awkward Yoga Girl
Images: Awkward Yoga Girl
MEET THIS FORMER SNEAKER ADDICT. DOPE FITNESS INSTRUCTOR. TRAP YOGA GODDESS.
You may know Alicia Tillman as "Awkward Yoga Girl" on social media, but this Yoga instructor from Cypress, Tx makes a bold statement when it comes to relaxation of the body and mind.
Yoga is defined as a "a Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline, a part of which, including breath control, simple meditation, and the adoption of specific bodily postures, is widely practiced for health and relaxation."
Following a knee injury, Alicia was first introduced to yoga and she hated it. That's right. She couldn't comprehend how the instructor's conversations about the moon at 3pm in the afternoon meant anything to her health and well-being. A Power Vinyasa class changed her mind as she saw how the art of yoga had a more athletic flow, which she completely related to. Alicia has created her own movement with the Trap Yoga and Tacos experience. By adding her own twist of trap music and R&B to yoga power moves, she enhances a new way to find your zen. Hear what she has to say about yoga, sneakers, and being authentic in her own words.
GIRLS LOVE TRAP MUSIC...
I try and match the BPM to the movement I teach, for the beginning it may be silent or a super slow song from Frank Ocean or H.E.R. When we get movin,g I build the flow in the music like a bell curve. The highest point could be a faster BPM like "Panda".
VIBIN' VINYASA.
When I practice at home I practice to whatever music I want. Since I would hear it all the time, it became my background noise. For me the "traditional yoga music" is like whale music, and makes me think "What is that..? Is it a deer dying....omg is it bambi... ohh noo not BAMBI"! While trap music is what I listen to in the car, while im working, or doing whatever. I love old school hip hop and R&B personally... Give me some Fugees, some Toni Braxton, or Total and I'm grooving.
A GIRL CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MANY SNEAKERS, DUH.
I collected sneakers seriously from high school to about 26 years old, and had about 574 pairs of sneakers [WHOA]. I worked for Footlocker for 6 years during school and summers. I had kicks ranging from deadstock Nike SBs, retro Jordans (no team shit lol), Dunks & Blazers (LOVE), Air Maxs (1s, 90s, 95s, 97s, 180s), and any old school hoop shoes. My favorites were Pennys and Barkleys, even though they were both too heavy to hoop in.
After some real life stuff happened, I worked for REEBOK Corporate for a bit, and hated it. I went on a soap box about how the sneaker game is over saturated, and I sold and gave away over 400 pairs of my shoes.
CURRENT SNEAKER ROTATION IN 3..2..1
Currently I have a small collection of sneakers I cant let go. I'm usually in some kind of Adidas UltraBoost, Green Blazers, Jordan "Cement" 3s, and my yellow & black Jordan 1s from the One Love Pack.
SHOP ALICIA'S TOP SNEAKER STYLES
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR SNEAKER PET PEEVES?
Chill on the releases... more exclusivity! And SUPREME stop putting red boxes on stupid shit and selling it for a million dollars.
CREATING A COMMUNITY THROUGH AUTHENTICITY. HOW CAN WE ELEVATE EACH OTHER?
Allowing each other to just be, accepting and understand each other. The most consistent feedback I get is that I am authentic. People respond to it! ME JUST BEING ME! Inside or outside of class I sound the same. Students come to my class and feel that they can let down that guard and just be a person on a mat. That's where the growth begins. From the soil!
3 TIPS WHEN PURSUING YOUR PASSIONS...
Be authentic in what you do, you can't create a true calling off of something that isn't real. If you are truly passionate about something 1) set goals, 2) level up in the people you put in your circle, and 3) stay focused. You are going to fail!!! The only difference in a beginner and a veteran within a specific trade is that the vet has failed and learned from them more than the beginner has even tried!
ALICIA'S DEFINITION OF #CHICKSPIRATION.
Put in the work and take no shit. We as women know how to run pretty much everything alone, but when we come together - anything is truly possible.
To see more of Alicia, check out her INSTAGRAM HERE and keep updated on upcoming classes via her WEBSITE HERE. Join the next Trap Yoga and Tacos experience HERE.
