Alexandria Crow: When Achievement Breaks You | Reinvention and Recovery

### About the Guest **Alexandria Crow** is a renowned yoga instructor and former collegiate gymnast from the University of Arizona. She gained visibility in the yoga world through teaching globally, appearing on magazine covers, and being known for her extraordinary physical ability. However, her career took a significant turn when injuries led her to question conventional yoga practices. Today, Alex is a thought leader in the yoga community, advocating for healthier, sustainable practices and teaching the philosophical underpinnings of yoga. She offers teacher training and guidance on professional and personal growth, helping others navigate the ever-evolving landscape of yoga instruction. ### Episode Summary In this compelling episode of "Becoming UnDone," host Dr. Toby Brooks talks to Alexandria Crow, a former collegiate gymnast turned yoga instructor, about her transformative journey through success, injury, and self-discovery. The episode delves into how Alex has shifted from experiencing profound physical achievements to embracing a deeper understanding and teaching of yoga, one that emphasizes sustainable practices and philosophical insights. Her story highlights the emotional and bodily toll of high achievement and the psychological pivot necessary for holistic health and fulfillment. Alexandria Crow touches on the theme of resilience as she shares personal anecdotes about overcoming serious physical injuries and a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Her journey underscores the value of re-evaluating success and perfectionism, both within herself and the yoga industry, emphasizing a shift toward functionality over performance. Dr. Toby Brooks explores how these life-altering experiences have redefined Alex's professional path, leading her to empower others with her wisdom and strategies for thriving health and mindful careers. This interview features powerful insights into personal growth through adversity, encouraging listeners to embrace their life experiences as integral pieces of a larger journey. ### Key Takeaways - **Rethinking Success in Yoga:** Alex challenges traditional yoga practices, emphasizing the importance of sustainable techniques that prioritize health over aesthetic achievement. - **Personal Growth from Adversity:** Her physical injuries and health scares catalyzed a significant transformation in her approach to life and profession, focusing on teaching and supporting others. - **Teaching Methodologies:** Her story underscores the significance of philosophy, adaptability, and meeting students' needs within yoga instruction to promote genuine inclusivity. - **Disassembling Perfectionism:** Alex shares insights about dismantling personal and societal expectations around perfection, drawing from her experiences in gymnastics and yoga. - **Empowering Others:** She is committed to helping yoga teachers achieve professional success without compromising their health, using her marketing and management experience to guide them. ### Notable Quotes - "Failing doesn't feel like a thing to me because it's just more data that I have to try again or to do something different." - "This isn't what I want to be doing. I want to be valued for my brain and my intellect and what I'm offering." - "Sometimes it's simply more information about whatever's coming next." - "Life is just data; you're never too old to start again, and you're never too good to take out the trash." - "It's not about how I can look. It's not about what I can do. Nobody's perceiving any of those as my worth." ### Resources - Alexandria Crow's Instagram - Yoga Physics Website - Mentioned music: "Holocene" by Bon Iver and "No Diggity" by Blackstreet. Discover how Alexandria Crow’s journey through hardships and triumphs reshaped her approach to yoga and life. Listen to the full episode for an inspiring conversation, and be sure to stay tuned for more illuminating content from the "Becoming UnDone" series. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.