Meet Monique Beskin | Reiki Master Practitioner Teacher – Sound Healer – Yoga Teacher

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

Hi Monique, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Until recent years, risk was something we had always shied away from. Raising a young family we tried to keep risk to a minimum and focus more so on security and stability, even if that meant we were not happy with what we were doing. We’ve both been working a regular 9-5 in corporate America most of our adult lives and I tried a few different multi-level marketing gigs that interested me, but ultimately there was no passion behind those ventures and in time they fizzled, and we pushed on, playing it “safe”.

In 2018 I turned 40 and there was a lot that changed for me at that point. Realizing life has become monotonous and reflecting on how much time had been lost in playing things safe, I realized there is nothing stopping me from starting something new, that feeds my soul, but me. With this new fire lit under me and feeling like I arrived late to the show, suddenly, risk became more inviting. I wanted change and I wanted us, individually and as a couple, to be more fulfilled in life. In 2019 after lengthy conversations and contemplation, while working a full-time and demanding 9-5 job, I took a leap and began a Yoga Teacher Training program. I had been a yogi for about 7 years and was so intrigued by the yoga philosophy.

Yoga asana and breathwork were tools that already played a big part in my day to day. I relied on both to help manage severe anxiety and digestion troubles, and as my practice grew more regular, there were so many more benefits I got to enjoy and with that, I decided, I wanted to share these healing gifts with others. We were nervous about the financial and time investment and we were uncertain about what would come from the training. Would I become a yoga teacher? Could I really make a living as one? Well, we didn’t know the answers but we took this leap of faith with the intention that yes, in due time all of that would be so.

Since that decision in 2019, we have taken several more calculated risks and some not so calculated and just hoped for the best.
What we have found as we have both continued down our paths, is that the real risk is in not doing the things that bring growth and allow us to blossom into the version of ourselves that we were put here on Earth to be.

Instead of looking at risk as something we should avoid at all costs, we’ve now shifted our perspective. When presented with a choice to take a risk, rather than coming from fear, we check in with ourselves and each other. We ask ourselves, how does the idea of moving forward with this perceived risk feel in our bodies? How much is at risk? What is the probability of the intended outcome? How will it impact our future selves and our family either way? And if we decide to move forward, then we set our intentions, stick to those intentions and live life like we’re already living on the other side of that risk, basking in its fruit.

Many of our risks have panned out and paid off, but not all, and that is okay because there is always something to learn from a “failed” risk, and that is a gift on its own. Brene Brown’s book “Daring Greatly” was an inspiration for us, reading this book was one of the pivotal moments for us in beginning to embrace change and risk. One quote from this book that has been a reminder in my phone every morning at 7 AM for the last 4+ years, is “Today I choose courage over comfort”. Every time I read this quote, I am reminded that I am courageous and taking risks can pay off. Comfort feels great, but choosing courage and accomplishing something you didn’t think you could or were afraid to, is EVEN BETTER!! In that book, Brene quotes a speech by Teddy Roosevelt that inspired her, and she paid it forward because these words landed for us, exactly where they needed to and got us off the sidelines and into the arena.

“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”

Stepping out of our comfort zone can be hard and it is scary but it can also result in such beauty. If we can shift our perspective from fear-based risk mentality and see the opportunity that lies there and be clear and consistent about our intentions, risk can be less scary.

Going forward, risk will always play a crucial role in the growth and development of us as individuals as well as the growth and development of Kind People Wellness. Taking risks has gotten us where we are and allowed us to broaden our expertise and offerings for the community, which in turn provides the opportunity for broader reach and greater healing.

What should our readers know about your business?
Kind People Wellness is unique in that we are a company run by husband and wife and many of our services include the participation of both of us. Both of us being trained and able to provide different healing modalities enables us to layer different techniques over one another for added healing and release. During a sound bath, we are able to play continuously when we integrate different instruments over the crystal bowls, rather than guests experiencing a lull or pause in sound at any given point when an instrument transition is happening. This provides for a more seamless experience with additional opportunities for distraction.

Layering techniques or modalities of healing can provide for a more well-rounded experience and release and because we are trained in Energy healing, Sound healing, and Yoga we are able to offer Unique class experiences for our students. We just began offering a weekly class where we combine all three modalities, it’s called Kind Movement. We begin with restorative yoga and Reiki being administered to students while they hold each pose, supported by props, then we finish with a nice savasana accompanied by sound. It is the magic trifecta for deep relaxation!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We love the beach, Encinitas Moonlight beach is our favorite and we cant go there without visiting Moto Deli. They have the most delicious sandwiches and home made potato chips!

Old town San Diego is always a go to destination for out of town guests but also for native San Diegans… I love hitting all of the shops there and stopping in at Barra Barra for their delicious bean dip and chips and salsa.

If it’s baseball season, then Petco park is a must! It is such a beautiful park and outside of baseball, they host incredible events and concerts there as well!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
One of our greatest supporters, who has always encouraged us to continue growing and shooting for the stars is Cory Jennifer Bailey Fernandez, she is the owner of Sage Sanctuary in Wildomar, where much of our events are held. We are always in deep gratitude for the space she has created where we can flourish and share with the community and the love and respect with which she treats all of her instructors, healers, and guests.

The other great inspiration for us both is our children. We have both worked far harder than was absolutely necessary in our careers, and it’s usually been for other people’s benefit while depleting ourselves. I decided I did not want my children following the same path of this reactive life, just trying to keep up with others’ expectations of them, and I hope that by showing them by doing, that it is possible to break the mold and live your dreams that they will also follow their hearts in what they do in life, even if it’s a bit risky sometimes.

Website: www.kindpeoplewellness.com

Instagram: kindpeoplewellness

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

Image Credits
Monique Beskin Jason Beskin Monique Beskin Jason Beskin Cory Jennifer Bailey Fernandez