Editor’s note: Anessia Foley was originally featured in a February 2015 Success Story. Here’s a link to her story: https://www.ajc.com/lifestyles/anessia-foley-marietta-lost-pounds/T0YUXTUtniglVu8Rvc37tN/. Since then, she has made some additional changes to her health habits. Success Story recently followed up with her to see where she is now.
When she started: Foley originally started with a weight-loss goal in June 2013 and reached it in March 2014.
Age: 46 years
Personal life: She is a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher. “I am now working with a business coach to work on how to make yoga a more prominent part of my life,” Foley said. She lives in Marietta.
The lifestyle change: “I discovered yoga within the first few months of hitting my weight goal,” Foley said. “Jacynta Harb, my wellness coach with Sparkle Wellness (sparkleanewyou.com), had encouraged me to try every exercise under the sun until I found the one I loved. Yoga is it. But to me, it is so much more than exercise. It is mindfulness; it is the way I want to move in the world. It is a tool for living life at its best. I can only explain it as a calling. Jacynta had predicted it years before, but I thought she was crazy. But the pull was there, and there was no way I could not do it eventually. Plus, I wanted to do more in the world, contribute in a way I hadn’t before, and share something that might make someone else’s life more meaningful.”
How she maintains changes in her health habits: “When I reached my original goal in 2014, I was not exercising and had practically no muscle mass,” Foley said. “Since that time, I have added weight training, cardio and yoga to my normal wellness routine. I am still within a healthy weight and exponentially stronger.”
Anessia’s how-tos: Here are the steps of how Foley achieved her change:
1. “Commit wholeheartedly.”
2. “Get a coach.”
3. “Make your goal a priority in your life.”
Exercise routine: “I currently teach one to three classes a week,” Foley said. “Every week I teach at least one Sparkle Wellness fitness class over Zoom. I also teach private classes and occasionally teach the Monday afternoon free community class at Peach Out Power Yoga (peachoutpoweryoga.com), where I received my 200-hour yoga certification.”
Biggest challenge: “There were a lot of challenges,” Foley said. “Yoga training is expensive. It means 25-hour chunks of time over three days, which is eight times away from your family. And the training is not only physically, but mentally and emotionally exhausting. But I think the biggest challenge has been having faith in myself. It is a hard balance to put yourself in a position to guide other people and maintain your humility.”
Anessia’s three top tips:
1. “Embrace the idea that you can do what you dream of.”
2. “Get the tools you need to reach your goal.”
3. “Join a group or community with similar goals for support.”
How her life has changed: “I am launching an app, the My Yoga Toolkit app (myyogatoolkit.com) with the six-week Build Your Bliss Challenge, a 30 minutes-per-day yoga practice designed for all body types,” Foley said. Her tribe supported her new vibe. “My Sparkle group members have been so supportive,” she said. “They showed up to support me when I taught my first yoga class. My biggest change has been the way I look at the world. ... It helps you see the small changes in yourself and in others. And it helps you to see that no matter how small a victory is, it is still a victory.”
Seeking readers’ stories of lifestyle changes: We’re looking for stories about changing health habits. While The Atlanta Journal-Constitution does not endorse any specific programs, we include names and links for the benefit of readers who want further information. If you would like to share your story of a lifestyle change, or if you have appeared in the column before and have an update to share with readers, please contact reporter Michelle C. Brooks and include your email address, phone number, and before and after photos (by mail or JPEG), and contact us at: Success Stories, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 223 Perimeter Center Parkway, Atlanta, GA, 30346-1301; or email Michelle C. Brooks directly at: ajcsuccessstories@gmail.com.
About the Author
