Daily Inspiration: Meet Kristin Gibowicz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristin Gibowicz

Kristin, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I found myself on a yoga mat for the first time in early 2002 discouraged by a slow recovery from back surgery. In that first class, I remember the teacher reading from the Upanishads, a yogic text, “Lead us from the unreal to the real, from darkness to light, from death to immortality, Shanti, shanti (Sanskrit for peace).” This was new language to me as a follower of Christ, but the words resonated deeply in my spirit. I committed to practicing yoga regularly and quickly learned that my physical pain was just one part of the story. As I quieted my mind through meditation practice, I noticed my “unreal” perceptions about my brokenness that were causing me anxiety. Yoga became a spiritual discipline to seek truth and wholeness in the presence of God. Breath-by-breath, I moved my body and felt the benefits of nervous system regulation and a stronger core relieving pain in my lumbar spine. The darkness lifted and the light of hope was rekindled within me.. I found peace in surrendering to the Divine flow and learned that God never wastes pain. In fact, I believe that my healing journey taught me that God uses our pain to bring hope and healing to others.

I have taught thousands of yoga classes of all different styles in my 21 year teaching journey. I’ve served students at many Denver-based yoga studios, through online classes on Yogadownload.com, at safe-houses for battered women, in schools for both kids and teachers, Christ-centered yoga in churches, international retreat-settings, and more! But mostly, I’ve loved mentoring authentic leaders who create safe spaces for people to experience the power of breath, movement and meditation and live their yoga beyond the mat. Modern postural yoga as we know it in the west has only been around for about 100 years. There cross-cultural influences on yogic living from ancient texts like the Yoga Sutras AND movement techniques inspired by Swedish gymnastics and British calisthenics. I’ve found that yoga classes bring together people of all cultural backgrounds, ages, faiths, and belief systems. For me as a Christian, yoga helps me yoke to faith over fear, and embody God’s love – heart, soul, mind, and strength. In turn, I’m learning how to unravel from my ego or false self so that I can love others well too.

In 2019, I wrote these words down on a piece of paper, “multiply the light-workers.” Having been a trainer of yoga teachers since 2008, I felt called to create Living Soul Institute (www.livingsoulinstitute.com), a faith-based yoga teacher training and leadership development certification program. It turns out that the inspirational part of my story is less about my work training teachers, and more about the way our graduates are lighting up a distracted, divided, and hurting world with more faith, hope, and love. We launched our first training in early 2020 and because of the pandemic, I had to quickly learn how to lead teacher trainings online. Never did I ever imagine that this would open up the opportunity to reach people globally. We’ve trained teachers all over the US, Canada, Belgium, Germany, UK, Nigeria, and Costa Rica. I feel like I’m witnessing a movement of God because our graduates are reaching populations beyond fitness clubs and yoga studios. Our teachers teach chair yoga to cancer survivors, refugee populations in shelters, survivors of human trafficking, people living in poverty through international mission trips, special needs kids, recovery groups for eating disorders and addictions, and elderly populations in assisted living communities. We are partnering with counseling centers and schools to offer trauma sensitive yoga and creating sanctuaries for people to experience deeper healing. Our teachers are uniquely and wholeheartedly serving their communities throughout the world now and as a Living Soul community, we’ve supported artisans in Latin America through Soulgives.org, Cherut Belgium’s Freedom Farm for survivors of trafficking, Project Worthmore and refugee families in Denver, and more!
I believe God brought me to yoga to reframe my stress and pain by learning the unforced rhythms of grace. I hope that more people can look at the threads of their stories to bring hope and healing to others. It is an honor to get to be a part of the multiplication of light-workers.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No way, has it been a smoothe road! Entrepreneurship is hard and I’ve wanted to give up many days. I’ve learned a lot about aparigraha, a ethical principle in the eight limb path of yoga that translates to “non-coveting.” I’ve held on to life chapters and jobs too long, in fear of letting go of the familiar. I’ve learned that not yielding to the still, small voice leading you forward, can result in an abrupt ending which is even more painful and full of heartache. Nature teaches us about seasons and the importance of finding gratitude even in the deserts and valleys.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m the founder and lead trainer of Living Soul Institute, a yoga teacher training that emphasizes healthy and whole leadership development and Christian spiritual formation. I’m most proud of the graduates leading outside-of-the-box yoga classes beyond yoga studios and health clubs. What sets us apart is our desire to train up authentic leaders who are connected to their own stories and wanting to hold space for people to heal from trauma, learn to love and honor their bodies as temples, and to experience peace of mind.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I think we are all given gifts to enjoy life and use to the benefit of others. I often wonder what it would be like to be at the end of my life wishing I had taken more risks and loved bigger. It’s not easy for me, but I’m doing it. I’ve had to stand in my convictions, believe in justice and mercy, and remember that I am not what do, or what I have, or what others think of me. This helps me stay true!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.livingsoulinstitute.com
• Instagram: @livingsoulinstitute

Image Credits
@F4DStudio (headshot, standing pigeon, Kristin assisting yoga student and in squat)
@amyscottphotography (Kristin in red jacket teaching)