Episode 144: How to Overcome Tremendous Obstacles and Build a Life of Joy and Wellness (plus an Instagram Following of 1M) with Koya Webb

She grew up in a tiny town in Tennessee and fell in love with track and field, practicing high jump using an old sewer pipe that her coach would hold, falling onto an old mattress that they’d found and put in a sand pit.

She got herself a full scholarship to college because of her athletic and academic achievements, but a sharp pain in her back one day that caused her to fall to the ground took her out for the season, leaving her wondering if her dreams of being an Olympian were ever going to come to fruition.

A counselor told her to try yoga, and even though her Southern Baptist roots made her fearful that doing yoga meant worshipping the Buddha, she gave it a go because she was promised it was "just stretching."

This woman’s story of healing injury, coming back to her athletic ambitions, going for it again, becoming injured again, going for it again, burning out again, and then coming back in a whole new way is one of overcoming tremendous obstacles and ultimately, finding wellness and joy in unexpected places.

Koya Webb did not go on to compete in the Olympics as she’d dreamed of her whole youth.

Instead, she let her first dream die so she could live the true dream: making a difference in the lives of people all over the world.

As an internationally recognized yoga teacher, personal trainer, holistic health and wellness coach, motivational speaker, model, and author of Let Your Fears Make You Fierce, Koya is a force of love in the world.

This week we have Koya on The Kate & Mike Show and, like a total dork, at the end of the podcast I blurted out, "I just really like you!" This woman is delightful and her joy is infectious. I’m so excited to share her with you today.

If you’ve ever pushed yourself so hard that you got injured, this episode is for you.

If you’ve been wondering how to grow your influence using social media to get the word out there about what you love, this episode is for you. (Koya has 1M followers, and the strategy she shares on the episode is simple and powerful.)

If you’ve ever been afraid of being the first in your family or peer group to go to college, surpass a certain income level, change your diet, prioritize your health, move far away, or have a happy relationship, this episode is for you.

If you’ve ever needed to let one dream die in order for another one to live, this episode is for you.

You can get your own copy of Do Less and still receive incredible bonuses at http://katenorthrup.com/book! Kate wants to hear from you, and you can post about your #DoLess experiences on Instagram, DM her (@katenorthrup) or email info@katenorthrup.com!

Would you, or a company you know, be a good fit to sponsor The Kate & Mike Show? If so, let’s talk! You can email mike@mikejwatts.com regarding current sponsorship opportunities.

Show notes and links for this episode can be found at http://www.katenorthrup.com/podcast.