Meet Trailblazer Kristi Trujillo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristi Trujillo.

Kristi, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
The first time I realized that yoga was more than a physical practice was when I started to go consistently after my mom passed away when I was 25. It was 2005 and I started going to a hot yoga studio in Albuquerque. There was something about the heat, the sweat, and repetition of poses that gave me a sense of calm and release that I couldn’t find in my regular life. Yoga gave me space to have emotional releases, process my feelings, and deal with losing my mom. After a heavily dedicated practice, I started to slow down and move away from yoga. I couldn’t tell you why maybe it was getting caught up in life or not making the time. But I stopped practicing for a couple of years.

Fast forward to 2012. I was going through a divorce and threw myself back into yoga with the hopes that it could provide a sense of salvation and help me get through that difficult time. I was going twice a day to hot yoga classes and felt like the heat could absolve the pain, the discomfort and just give me a chance to be with myself as I processed a lot of change and heavy feelings. Coming to my mat was like coming home. I could forget about everything and all that existed was me.

That’s when I knew that I would love to share this practice with others but still didn’t feel like I had the confidence to teach. For whatever reason, I didn’t feel worthy. I practiced and wished I could be the one guiding others towards their own healing. During this time, I moved to Boulder and looked for a studio similar to my home studio in New Mexico. I didn’t really find one that fit so I stopped practicing. I wasn’t necessarily motivated to do my own practice at home so I looked to others and alcohol to make me feel better. I didn’t want to do any more work on myself. I wanted things to just magically change on their own and viola! I’d have the life I’ve always wanted to live. That was a big growth period for me but something I needed to go through to get to where I am now.

After moving several more times and finally settling in Denver in 2015, I was ready to start my practice again. That’s when I found The River. I started going consistently and on a whim on my 37th birthday, I decided to join their yoga teacher training program. It was always something I wanted to do but couldn’t commit to when I was going to do it. I was the last person to sign up for the fall session and have never looked back. I didn’t feel fully confident that I could teach yoga to others and in fact, that was when I probably doubted myself, my power and my worthiness the most. I cried a lot during teacher training since I did a lot of personal work to peel back layers of trauma, hurt, pain and patterns. It helped me realize that certain ways of thinking weren’t serving me anymore. As soon as I finished my 200-hour program, I jumped right into my 300-hour program. I wanted to continue my own personal development and growth. I was hungry to learn more and dedicated my time and energy to continue my education.

Yoga has gotten me through a lot in my life. It’s there when I’m going through a difficult time, when I’m stressed, when I was broken, angry, and hurt. It’s there for the good times too where I can celebrate my body and my strength. Looking back, yoga has always been there waiting for me to come back when I was ready.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My journey hasn’t been smooth but I think if it were, I would be in a completely different place. Some of my most recent struggles have been with releasing old patterns and past hurts. I think once you come to recognize that sometimes the same lesson keeps showing up, listen and see what you bring to those situations.

I’ve struggled with knowing my worth. For so long I was waiting for others to tell me I was important and I was waiting to be acknowledged. No more waiting. I learned that only I can define my self-worth and it really doesn’t matter what other people think. All that matters are the words you tell yourself. Be kind and nurture yourself.

I haven’t always advocated for myself to make my voice be heard. I think so many of us feel safe being small and aren’t willing or ready to step into our own power. Own that shit and take up all the space you need because you can. You are your own biggest fan AND your best friend. Know that light and dark exist inside you and they come together to make you whole.

What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I love teaching yoga and currently teach Vinyasa classes at The River and Endorphin. I also rotate teaching at Color Up Therapeutics for CBDeep Stretch. I bring my Native American heritage into my classes in a subtle way. I learned at a young age that all things in life and on this earth are connected. I teach a lot about the mind, body, and breath connection in my classes as we move through various poses. I create an experience where you can turn inward, breathe and move your body in a mindful way. If you can make the connection to yourself stronger, you can let that ripple out into the world and create deeper relationships with others and how you show up in the world.

I have an innate ability to create genuine connections with people from all walks of life. I’m curious about where you come from and enjoy listening to people’s stories and getting in touch with how they’re feeling and what they’re thinking. I ask questions (sometimes the hard ones that we avoid asking ourselves) during class and like to theme towards opening your heart and calling in what you need. I incorporate breath work along with encouraging a mindful awareness of where you place your body as you move through my class.

Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
Growing up in New Mexico gave me a different perspective on life from a young age. I am from Isleta Pueblo and I grew up on the reservation. My parents worked very hard to provide my brother and me with things and experiences they didn’t have. I feel coming from the humble beginning has made me appreciate what I have so much more.

Living with grandparents helped shape me into the person I am today. My grandfather taught me that the universe or Creator will provide for you, to have a reverence for Mother Earth and nature and that all living beings are connected to one another. I was also taught to be respectful of others (especially your elders), express gratitude for all that you have and that ritual/ceremonial events bring people together. My grandfather rarely spoke but he truly embodied the idea of contentment and gratitude. He said a prayer every morning for every living being and taught me to be grateful for every experience despite its outcome. He raised me to be thankful for waking up every morning to live another day.

I love the New Mexico sky. Looking up at its vastness made me think that there are endless opportunities out there in the world. This encouraged me to travel and be open to meeting new people since I always wondered what the sky looked like in other parts of the world and to other people.

My mom also told me from a young age that it didn’t matter where I came from but that I could do anything I wanted to as long as I was determined to do it. She instilled a strong work ethic and taught me to be self-reliant. I swear there are days where I can hear her telling me to keep going and that everything is ok. I remember how hard she worked to get to where she was in her career as a national director for a government health care program. I know I can make my life anything I want it to be. That keeps me going now in my adult life.

Pricing:

• Private Yoga Session $45 an hour

Contact Info:

• Email: kristi.drishti@gmail.com
• Instagram: kristi.drishti
• Facebook: Kristi Drishti Yoga

Image Credit:
Jes Kimak Photography

Suggest a story: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.