Meet Emily Artalejo | Yoga Instructor & Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Emily Artalejo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emily, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
When I first founded Elevated Elements Yoga, I was compartmentalizing and playing small. I thought that if I severely restricted the amount of time, money, and emotional attachment invested into my business, then it wouldn’t hurt so much if it failed or inevitably faced a roadblock. I have let go of that mindset and embraced the idea of “failing fast.” I have learned that I can take risks and pivot as needed. I feel much more authentic and empowered now that I have accepted that risks are necessary and that making mistakes is a part of the learning and growing experience.

What should our readers know about your business?
After graduating with my Master’s in International Peace and Conflict Resolution, I felt unfulfilled by work that was based in theory instead of practice. I realized that I loved building community a lot more than writing analyses about it! That’s when Elevated Elements Yoga was born – I wanted to create a community in which people could release their self-doubt and elevate their yoga practice. I use a wide range of modalities including mat, stand-up paddleboard, aerial, and beach yoga.

Flying. Floating. Freedom. These are the feelings I strive to evoke in any client who works with me.

I am also a diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant and founder of Emily Artalejo Consulting. My work is rooted in racial justice and healing, and I support individuals and organizations to spark transformation within their spheres of influence.

Yoga and DEI consulting may seem like two very different practices, but to me, they are so intertwined. My calling is to empower people to connect with their most authentic selves, and I get to do that every single day!

I want to live as much of my life as possible in my flow state— that feeling of being “in the zone.” For me, that means choreographing an aerial dance sequence, teaching it to a student, and seeing the look on his face when he learns it and adds his own unique twist to it.

It means coaching an executive to support her in realizing her own unique strengths, developing her leadership stance, and exploring the ways she can advance racial equity in her place of work in a way that feels authentic to her.

I like to say that my clients have all they need within themselves— I’m just here to help bring out their brilliance.

To have the freedom to do something that has never been done before, even on the smallest scale, is the reason why I created Elevated Elements Yoga and Emily Artalejo Consulting.

A consistent theme in my career has been taking leaps of faith into new opportunities before I felt fully “ready” for them. However, I don’t resonate with the traditional career advice, “fake it ‘til you make it.” There is something about the “fake it” part that just isn’t accurate. Plus, as a multi-passionate business owner who holds myself to high standards, I’m not even sure what “making it” means— and I’m okay with that! I want to set aside my ego and stay a lifelong learner. We as business owners aren’t “faking it,” we are building trust with ourselves by trying new things.

The greatest lesson I have learned in my career is that “no” is the most powerful word in the English language. As a recovering people-pleaser now running my own businesses, I have learned the hard way that always saying “yes” to every request does not serve me, my clients, or my community. I have learned that clearly communicating my boundaries helps, not hinders, the longevity and efficacy of my businesses.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take them to my Booty Barre aerial yoga class at Pier to Point Wellness then head over to Don Tommy’s across the street for carnitas tacos, chicken tortilla soup, and horchata. The next day we would do a little paddleboard yoga at Mission Bay and then cross the street to Mission Beach to enjoy the waves and kolaches from Olive Bakery.
On Saturday I would take them to Walk the Block in Barrio Logan to check out the amazing shops and get a hotdog (El Pueblito) and michelada (La Fresca) from Barrio Dogg.
We’d take a lovely walk on Sunset Cliffs and then use my super secret path down to one of the secluded beaches (if you know, you know).
Then we’d check out Rady Shell at the waterfront to catch a morning yoga event or evening concert

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I wouldn’t be here without my family who encouraged my active imagination and always supported me in following my big dreams, especially during the moments when they didn’t necessarily understand my dreams but trusted my abilities and supported me anyway.

I want to give a shoutout to my fellow Latinas who are breaking generational patterns and living authentically. None of it is easy, but it’s so worthwhile! I’m proud of you and inspired by you!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevatedelementsyoga/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elevatedelementsyoga

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-a-653546141

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/elevatedelementsyoga

Email: emily@elevatedelementsyoga.com

Phone: 619-432-2347

Image Credits
The Soulshine Effect All Good Things Studios Mission Beach Yoga Dana Vattanavanitkul Tam Leeper Amy Thai Darcy Frailey