Meet Gianna Purcell | Yoga, Meditation, and Mortality Educator

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

Hi Gianna, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
Over the years, my work-life balance has changed because my life is my work and my work is my life and life does nothing but change. My business is centered around the healing arts, embracing life, and preparing for death. All of these things change in accordance with the phase of life we are in. When I began my business, I worked on nothing but it. I was traveling 300 days out of the year for workshops, retreats, and trainings. I was writing manual after manual, creating new classes, and getting inspired in any way I could. It truly built during this time while my marriage completely fell apart. I missed important family events, like the birth of my sister’s children and I was near absent for the last two years of my father’s decline before he passed. After realizing this, I was dedicated to not working my days away anymore.
I made a list of what truly my needs were. “What do I need to make from this business every year to sustain my simple life?” Once I had this clarity, I could simplify my travel and my business needs, and dedicate my time appropriately. I now work enough to live a comfortable life. I chose to go against capitalistic ventures in order to stay true to what it is this business is, living a healthy and fulfilling life.
No one on their deathbed says I am glad I was rich and spent so little time living.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am my business. I live an Ayurvedic lifestyle centered around yoga, meditation, life expression, and death preparation. I am an Ayurvedic counselor helping people to find their unique paths to health by way of ancient healing techniques. I teach yoga asana and meditation. I advocate for people through end-of-life doula work and coach people on ways to find what matters in their life and how to healthfully get there. What is unique about my business is that most people find me because of me and my life. I was in a motorcycle accident that I used yoga and food to recover from, lost both my parents before the age of 30, and I have studied all over the world with some of the best teachers there are. I am an anarchist trying to reform the way I create community and opportunity. And I am honest. I do not see the people that reach out to me as opportunities for growth in my business. I see people as me, seekers that may not know why they reached out to me but we are here for some reason and I am willing to find out why.
Getting to this point has been a natural unfolding. Simply knowing that there is more to this life than money, attaining status, wealth, or followers keeps me grounded, learning, and growing in ways that do not appear on paper. Money comes and goes in my business. I know if it’s low now it will be high at another time. I have enough.
I want people to know that my business is community-focused and playful. We work to dismantle what a typical business is supposed to look like and create a space of opportunity for all. And if I can not help them through my work, I probably can recommend someone that can.

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.
My house is one of my favorite parts of Tucson. It is a quiet little home in central Tucson with a yoga room, workshop, music room, and comfortable backyard. I build a hot tub area and an outdoor shower and there is an old truck I am rebuilding in the back. So, we would definitely have some cozy nights where I cook an ayurvedic meal and we relax at the house. My favorite thing to do is take people on a sunset motorcycle ride around Gates Pass or hike at Tanque Verde Falls. My coffee spot is always Presta and my dinner spot is Tumerico.

Tucson runs at my favorite speed, pretty slow. So, I am always asking people to visit just to do nothing!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My father deserves great credit for my story. I grew up with a sick mother which my dad compensated for by working constantly to support his family of six. He showed me what true dedication was. He was dedicated to his work as well as the care of his family, especially my mother. He loved his job, his employees, as well as his patients, were family. He never once complained about work and always encouraged me to do what I love. I worked as a hair colorist in Chicago before I told him I could not do it anymore. He said, “you will spend most of your life doing your job, make it something you can not help but do.”
His funeral had a never-ending procession of people coming in and out for hours. He touched countless lives. Mine is just one of the many.

Website: giannayoga.com and siddhischoolofyoga.com

Instagram: @giannayoga

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

Youtube: giannayoga

Image Credits
Freddy Tyler Paul @FreddyTylerPaul