Victoria Crawford
RYT 200, CYI
I am inspired, encouraged and empowered by the miracles I see when people are able to listen to and act on the wisdom of their true Self. My work, as a coach, speaker and yoga instructor, is helping people find this within themselves and then, grounded in their own experiences and wisdom, know inner stability, clarity and a sense of greater ease.
I was born in Washington, D.C and raised in Maryland. I love the east coast with its beautiful Tulip Poplars and visible history everywhere. I went to college at SMU in Dallas, Texas where I graduated with a degree in Education and spent 5 years as a teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing. I came to AZ. because of a job for my former husband and have now been here over thirty years. I have three children I adore, that are now grown and on their own, and a new daughter in law that is a wonderful addition. Two dogs, Lucy and Mackey, are my buddies and hiking companions and my growing edge is dating!
Yoga has been a big part of my life for thirty plus years. I was originally drawn to it for stress management. As a highly sensitive person I found yoga a great help for low back pain, headaches and digestive problems brought on by an over active mind and a deep desire to seek approval and acceptance from others. I was hooked after the first shavasana. Since that initial attraction, I have grown to love the philosophy, poses and practical nature of the practice. I especially appreciate the value of taking the teaching and learnings found in yoga ‘off the mat into the world’.
As a coach my area of expertise is personal leadership and transition coaching. I help people deepen their relationship to their true Self, believe and trust in themselves, others and life and have the courage to go for their dreams. I founded Way of Discovery, a coaching and consulting company, in 1998. I spent the first part of my coaching career in corporate settings, teaching goal setting workshops and working with managers for better performance. Then, wanting a more intimate setting and a greater sense of impact, I switched to small business leadership teams and facilitated vision, mission and values plans along with the goal setting programs and individual coaching. During these times I also coached individuals from the artistic and creative community that were going through change and transition to help them gain clarity and find a greater sense of purpose and meaning in their lives and take effective action. I provided a loose structure, practices to deepen self trust and simple accountability to help them move forward with greater confidence.
Over the years I have developed programs for mindfulness based stress management, ‘Relax Already!’, for life purpose, ‘Life Path’ and for ‘how to get out of your own way’, Way of Discovery. Seeing that trust in one’s self is so important and having had deep personal challenges and experiences in this area myself, in 2003 I began writing The Art & Practice of Trust; Finding Your Way through Uncertainty, Change and Transition. In the writing itself, I discovered a simple, universal pathway that let’s readers see choices that lead to greater freedom and opportunity and those that lead to limitations and dead ends. In 2009, the book was published and I have since shared it through coaching, speaking and teaching opportunities.
I love to share what I have learned with others and be in service. I see myself as a bridge, bridging both the importance and value of the ‘practical’ in life: goals, strategies, good leadership skills, accountability, and of Presence within; qualities of wholeheartedness, Spirit, inner knowing, symbols and trust.
Travel is one of my most favorite things to do. Exploring and discovering new places and learning new things feeds my soul. And I love to create through art and writing.
Being a part of A Desert Song Community for over 14 years has been a joy and privilege and I’m grateful for the opportunity to work along side with so many great people. I greatly appreciate Mary Beth and Vince for their vision, commitment and dedication to A Desert Song and all my colleagues for their inspiration, skillfulness and lightheartedness!
Favorite Quote
What lies before us and what lies behind us are small matters compared to what lies within us. And when we bring what is within out into the world, miracles happen.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Schedule
| Monday | 7:05pm - 8:30pm | $7 Community |
| Sunday | 8:30am - 9:55pm | All Levels |