From Chaos to Clarity

A 💩🪞Moment That Changed Everything

Okay, so no, not a literal 💩🪞, but it was one of those moments where I was forced to really self-reflect—like looking into a proverbial mirror at my own *proverbial* sh*t.

After posting something on Instagram that was misunderstood (and taken personally), I was suspended. I was told to take a month to think about what kind of teacher I wanted to be. That was a real “mirror moment,” forcing me to pause and reflect on A LOT—like where I had been holding back, what I had been projecting onto others, and the ways I had been abandoning parts of myself to fit an idea of what I thought I “should” be. But most importantly, and what we are discussing here, is what distinguishes a yoga instructor, teacher, and mentor?

…Too many are just creatures of habit, trying to embody archetypes way beyond our comprehension, all while being pedestaled for our saviour complex—keeping us stuck in codependent relationships and patterns of self-erasure, cleverly disguised as “doing good.” 👀🫶🏼. Yes. I said what I said.

No, but seriously, I have thought about A LOT of things…and as asked— who was I as a teacher, and what was I really in it for? 

The truth of that moment in hindsight? I was turned off by the industry and burnt out. That was the truth. That was what came through in my post—there was a trace of resentment in my heart, and I won’t ever deny that.

I have a knack for calling the shadow up and out of people. I don’t have a problem being transparent with my feelings and what I see. I can take big, complex issues, and boil them into digestable parts for all. I have a lot of energy and I know people take it as arrogance sometimes—especially other women.

There are SO MANY places I could take this piece after all this reflecting I’ve done, like the good girl I am—

BUT today, I’m starting the story right at the beginning…and we’re gunna get real clear in all this chaos of who’s who and what’s what in the Yoga world… ✨

I remember the first time I stepped onto a yoga mat. Well, actually, I was 11…you can ask me about that later. This “first time”, I was as an adult at 22. I’d only taken two or three classes at the local studio when it hit me: yoga wasn’t just about poses and breathing—it was something deeper, something I needed to explore further. At the time, I was grappling with big feelings, existential questions, traumatic family dynamics, and physical pain from an injury. I thought yoga might help me manage the emotional overwhelm and provide relief for my body.

And it did. I quickly realized the power of the mind-body connection: my physical pain was my emotional pain and vice versa. But as I kept practicing, I noticed that most “teachers” were really just “instructors,” guiding us through the surface of the practice, never really touching the deeper layers of what I was experiencing. The classes were helpful, sure, but I knew there had to be more. I didn’t want to just follow along—I wanted to understand how to use yoga to heal. And more than that, I wanted to teach people how to teach themselves.

That’s when I knew I needed to dive into teacher trainings head-on, not just to learn about the body, but to truly understand how to integrate yoga into my life. I needed to understand the real science of yoga. Surface-level relief wasn’t enough anymore—I wanted to go deep, to unravel the emotions and trauma my body had been carrying for years.

Fast forward five years of seriously exploring this question—that moment in time, my karma, my dharma.

So as I launch my mentorship program into the world, here’s my distinction between an instructor, a teacher, and a mentor—grab a cuppa and let’s get right into it.

🧠 So first…an instructor guides you through the physical practice of asana, focusing on alignment, safety, and flow. You move through poses in a linear fashion—one pose after another. Instructors provide clear, straightforward instructions: “Place your foot here, lift your arm there,” ensuring your body is safe. Their role, while essential, remains focused on the physical. They help you feel more flexible and build strength. You walk out of class feeling lighter and more relaxed, but the experience often remains on the surface, leaving deeper transformation for another stage.

🫁 A teacher takes you beyond the physical realm. You’re not just moving through poses—they help you understand why the poses matter and how they impact your energy, emotions, and subconscious. A teacher taps into subtle energies, engaging with the breath (pranayama), the body’s energy channels, and the hidden layers of your mind and spirit. They weave in palatable philosophy, opening your awareness and growing your proprioception—a crucial step in deepening self-understanding.

With a teacher, yoga becomes a tool for self-discovery. It’s no longer just about strength or flexibility—it becomes a journey into the self, a way to unearth old patterns, traumas, and emotions stored in your body. Through their guidance, you begin to understand what’s been held within you for years—whether it’s guilt, shame, or deeply rooted fears. The transformation that occurs in a teacher’s class transcends the mat, touching every part of your life as your inner and outer worlds start to harmonize. Yoga becomes a means of alchemy, turning old pain into newfound feelings of freedom.

🫀 And then, there is mentorship—a space where you’re not just guided through the practice, but through your life. With a mentor, the work goes far beyond poses and energy channels; it’s about integration. It’s about helping you take the insights from your practice and applying them to your daily life. It’s making the practice into practical magic.

A mentor doesn’t just explain why—you are held accountable to the why. They help you uncover what holds you back, walk through your shadows, and take the small yet significant steps toward embodying your deepest truth. With a mentor, you’re not just learning yoga—you’re learning to integrate its teachings into how you show up every day, whether it’s navigating relationships, balancing compassion fatigue, or healing family stress. They keep you on the path to peace, even when you want to stray. The transformation you seek begins to permeate every layer of your existence. This kind of work is personal, expansive, and ever-evolving. 

Mentorship isn’t about someone telling you what to do; it’s about someone walking with you, holding space for your growth, and guiding you toward living fully aligned with your soul’s truth. It’s for someone who wants help but also wants to be responsible for themselves. It’s for someone ready to play their part collectively; to learn the dance of interdependence and unconditional love; that want a mirror of autonomy and authority. You move from simply “practicing yoga” to embodying it as a way of being, using it to navigate both your inner and outer worlds with grace and authenticity. It becomes everything but a postural flow.

🧘🏻‍♀️ Yoga is more than what we do with our bodies—it’s about how we live, breathe, and engage with ourselves and the world around us. My journey has shown me the power of mentorship—how it can guide you beyond the physical and into the profound, holistic transformation that touches every part of your life.

But this work isn’t just for someone curious about yoga as self-improvement like I was. It’s for those ready to face themselves fully and a higher level of responsibility for their life. Creatures of Habit isn’t for someone who wants to be saved or who’s satisfied with temporary fixes. It’s for the person who’s done with the surface-level fluff and is ready to do the real work. The kind of work that’s hard and messy but leads to lasting, embodied change.

This mentorship is for you if you’re tired of repeating the same patterns and are ready to take radical ownership of your growth. The you who knows there’s more but feels stuck in the habits, relationships, and stories you’ve outgrown. You don’t have to have it all figured out; you just need the willingness to show up, trust the process, and let go of the need for perfection.

If you’re ready to dive deeper—whether you’re a yogi or not—and explore the full expression of who you are, let’s connect. Creatures of Habit 1:1 Mentorship is designed to help you uncover the layers, stories, and habits holding you back and step into the version of yourself ready to emerge.

Send me a LOVE LETTER 💌 and I’ll share the next steps to get started. You decide from there.

I look forward to walking this journey with you. ✌🏼

xx

Kaylen