March 7, 2022

What a wild ride it has been to get to where I am now. I have grown so much over the years, and especially the last 18 months of living here in Sedona, and I know there is still so much magic to unfold.

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I am excited to share I was recently interviewed for an article in Shout Out Arizona. A special shoutout to all my teachers, mentors, family, friends, and clients who have supported me and cheered me on along the way. You know who you are! I see you and appreciate you! 

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Meet Cheryl Bailey | Certified Yoga Instructor, Certified Mindfulness/Meditation Instructor, Sound Healing Practitioner, and Certified Crystal Practitioner

https://shoutoutarizona.com/meet-cheryl-bailey-certified-yoga-instructor-certified-mindfulness-meditation-instructor-sound-healing-practitioner-and-certified-crystal-practitioner/

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

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Hi Cheryl, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?

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My passion in the holistic and wellness field began years ago after personally facing several traumatic and life-altering events. I found a sense of purpose and meaning through the beautiful practice of yoga and meditation and their teachings served as an anchor and healing modality creating a deep and radical shift spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. This shift in perspective inspired me to share with others what I have discovered personally. We all have a story…a past, and perhaps some experiences that are not so pleasant in our lives. We need to have support in helping to let go of these issues so we can move beyond them and become the best version of ourselves.

In 2018, I combined my love of academics with my personal and spiritual growth and launched my venture as a Soulpreneur and founded my own business of Grit and Grace Meditation, LLC. I had spent many years working in higher education, and decided it was time to take baby steps towards an eventual career change.

I always had a passion for yoga, meditation, and other practices in the holistic field, however I never thought I would be able to have a business that could support me financially. So, I began sharing my love on a part-time basis. Now, what initially began as a nice side-hustle business has turned into a full-time dream job. 

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It’s all about location, location, location.  This has a lot to do with my current success, as I live in Sedona, Arizona, a gorgeous travel destination and spiritual mecca. When I first began sharing these teachings, I was living on the East Coast in New Jersey. In June 2020, my husband and I knew it was time for a change, and we moved across country to live full time in Sedona.

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Living in one of the spiritual meccas of the country has definitely supported and helped me grow my business. I can share my teachings through Grit and Grace Meditation, but I also teach at several resorts/retreat centers in town where guests love to dive into the metaphysical and holistic practices.

I love to be able to share practices that I know are healing and relaxing for the human body. Many people are in a constant state of “doing” and are feeling stressed a lot the time. I know these practices have the ability to create a deep sense of rest and relaxation, connect you to yourself, bring in a sense of personal awareness, and help to alleviate the stress and anxiety. I guess I see myself as spreading some loving kindness, peace and ease in this world, as I believe we all could use a little more of that.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
 

I am a 200 Hour Certified Yoga Instructor, 200 Hour Certified Mindfulness & Meditation Instructor, a Certified Sound Practitioner, a 40-hour Certified Yoga Nidra Instructor, a Certified Hibiscus Moon Crystal Practitioner, and an Usani Level II Reiki Practitioner.

I initially began my journey with obtaining my yoga teacher certification.  Then, over the years my interests and teachings have expanded my practices to include the practice of meditation, sound healing, Reiki, and working with crystals. One of my deepest passions is working with sound as vibrational medicine, as I believe that sound promotes deep relaxation and has the power to create, move and shift energy.

My journey to living my best life is ongoing. I am constantly studying and learning new tools for my personal growth, healing, and self-care, and I work to keep up to date on the latest research in the holistic healing area.

My dream of taking what was once a part-time side-hustle, is now a reality as I have grown as a holistic practitioner in Sedona, Arizona. I truly believe I practice what I preach, as my line of work is more than a source of income — it’s my soul’s purpose!

What I want the world to know about my brand and story is listen to your intuition, tap into your heart, and follow your dreams.

Take baby steps each and every day to make your dreams a reality. It may take months or even years, but all things are possible. If you had told me even 5 years ago, I would be living in Sedona, Arizona sharing what I love so much with others, I would have said it was a not possible. But here I am living my dream and very much in love with what I do. I see myself sprinkling a little love, joy and compassion in the world we live in. I teach and share from my heart. I love bringing the practices of ancient wisdom and modern science together.

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.

Sedona, Arizona is probably one of the top 10 destinations in the country to visit. It is a magical and breathtaking place to live. I feel so blessed to call it my home. From the first time I began coming here, I knew there was something extraordinary Sedona offered my soul. I truly feel at home here.

Sedona is magnified by the gorgeous and stunning red rocks and mystical energy they hold. Being outside with nature here is very special as you truly can witness some of God’s wondrous manifestations. Whether you want a for a place to connect with nature and the outdoors, or reconnect with yourself and your deepest desires, Sedona will not disappoint.

There would be so much to see and do in a week, but we would begin by jumping into all things in the holistic world. We would do a yoga class outside on the red rocks with a magnificent view, we would visit some of the local crystal shops, and we would visit the Stupa for a meditation practice. In the evening, we would definitely experience some of my magical energies from the sounds from my crystal alchemy bowls and symphonic gong.

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We would hike the beautiful trails…I would probably take them to Fay Canyon, Doe Mesa and Cathedral Rock, and Sugarloaf Mountain, just to name a few. Then we would stop at one of my favorite spots in town, Crescent Moon Ranch, where would have a picnic, a short hike and sit by the creek and listen to it flow.

We would eat at some of my favorite restaurants which include The Hudson, Pumphouse Gardens, Mole’, Layla’s Bakery and Pisa Lisa. We would definitely hit the shops Uptown and Tlaqupaque to get some great gifts or souvenirs, and we would also be able to see some of the local artisan’s work. We would grab a drink at the local hotspot of Vino de Sedona for a glass of wine or two.

No visit would be complete if you didn’t take a Pink Jeep Tour out on the land and hit the famous Broken Arrow tour and visit my favorite hike of all Merry Go Round Rock. This is the spot where I eloped and got married in Sedona in 2019. If time allowed, we would drive to Page Springs to see some of the local wineries where we would have some wine and appetizers as we listened to some music.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
 

I would like to give a shout out to my husband, Marc for always supporting and loving me, and for allowing me to pursue my passions and dreams and giving me the space to spread my wings and fly.

I would also like to give a shout out to all my teachers and mentors who I have worked with over the years. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and heart. It is my deepest desire to share that wisdom with others as they walk their own personal journey.

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