Stephani Magee

I attribute my success to years of dance classes where I was always taught to shine and to always be happy. That foundation of learning to radiate positivity and light through movement has carried through everything I do. It's about letting your light shine from within, not for an external audience, but for yourself. That philosophy of shining inward and staying positive has been the core of my journey and what I bring to my students.

The best career advice I ever received came from my teacher during my yoga training. She told me that even though it might feel like there are a lot of people getting into yoga, there's enough room for everybody. It's not a competition. That advice has stayed with me and shaped how I approach my work and how I support other practitioners. It reminds me that we can all shine in our own way and that supporting one another is more important than competing.

I would tell young women entering fitness or mindfulness to just find what moves you. Find what moves you mentally, physically, and emotionally. Find a practice that moves you and go for it. Be open to everything and don't feel like you have to limit yourself to one thing. I've taken TRX training and all different kinds of training. I know how to do functional strength training and will sub classes for people, but it's not my calling. I think being open to different experiences and cheering everybody on is so important. It's not a competition. My teacher once told me that even though there are a lot of people getting into yoga, there's enough room for everybody. So support one another and remember that we all have room to shine.

I think they're all opportunities, really. I don't see them as challenges because I talk to people from all over the world teaching at Bellagio, and because it's a hotel, people come from everywhere and do different types of movement. Whatever floats your boat, you know? It depends on what season in life you're in. My practices have changed over the years. I've always wanted movement that doesn't hurt myself. After dancing, I started to get bad back problems, but that straightened out when I got pregnant, which is funny. I like movement that is not too vigorous. That's why I like mind-body practices - I think you're taking care of yourself along the way. I'm more middle path. I want to do things that are good for my body and good for others, that make them feel good. It's a feel-good practice. I have so many people that come into the gym and say they have to be there, that they don't enjoy working out like that. I think there are all sorts of different ways you can approach movement, and if you're into working out hard, that's cool, but I'm just not that person. For me, it's about creating practices that are mindful and beneficial for both the individual and others.

The most important value to me is definitely making people feel good. I'm not the person that someone would come to if they want to get a smaller waistline or look a certain way. I want people to feel good, to understand that they're beautiful, and to expand their energy. That's what it's about for me it's energetics. It's about letting their light shine through movement. I want to create experiences where people shine from within, not for external validation or appearance, but because they feel that growth and expansion of energy within themselves, both mentally and physically.