Meet Larissa Parson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Larissa Parson. 

Hi Larissa, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
My route to doing the work I do now was pretty circuitous. I found yoga when I was in graduate school in the late 1990s. I did half a teacher training, then, later another half of a teacher training. But I never considered teaching movement as a profession–I was a high school English teacher. When my twins came along in 2011, I found myself with a persistent case of plantar fasciitis. We moved to North Carolina from California in 2013; my feet still hurt. I found relief through PT and maintained it when I started studying movement and biomechanics with Katy Bowman. 

Six months into my studies with Katy and I quit my high school teaching job. I’ve spent my working hours (and, let’s be honest, non-working hours, too) talking bodies and movement ever since. I developed a love for core & pelvic floor as a focus of my practice because I found that so many of the people, I talked to felt disconnected from their bodies due to issues with their core or pelvic floor function. This interest led me to complete my Restore Your Core® teacher training in 2017. 

My work has shifted over the last few years to a more expansive focus on body liberation and movement as a pathway to joy. I incorporate a few coaching modalities into the work I do with my clients–mindset and connection work is as important as movement. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Does any entrepreneur come to you with a story of an easy road? Did they have a trust fund or inherit their funding? Because I can’t imagine this is easy for anyone. I’ve had a lot of space and time to build my business slowly while also homeschooling my kids because my husband’s income supports our family. That being said, most of the bumps have been a lack of time, childcare, and quiet space to work, especially during the pandemic. 

It also took me a while to figure out what my best work looks like, and how to be comfortable with a shift in focus as I do my own self-development work. I wouldn’t call those bumps, necessarily–they’re the natural consequences of learning and growing. 

Moving my business–which was all in-person–to pretty much all online during the pandemic has been both a challenge and a blessing. I’m loving the flexibility of working from home, but am looking forward to being able to offer some in-person workshops and retreats again, eventually. 

Right now, I’ll be honest that my own health has presented a bunch of challenges–I recently had surgery related to my Crohn’s disease. Recovering from this procedure has made me stop and think more seriously about how to work and have enough time to rest regularly. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
What sets me apart: In addition to my deep knowledge of core & pelvic floor dysfunction, I take a whole-person approach. I help my clients get radically resourced in their bodies so that they can live a life rooted in embodied joy. I do this through movement classes, group coaching, and 1-1 support. 

Connecting to your body gives you a better filter. It gives you the emotional and physical intelligence to feel when something’s not right. And when you’re able to actually listen to your body, you’re able to make better decisions, choose joy, and work for a more just world, in whatever way is right for you. 

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Haha, I created a whole class for folks just starting out at Restore Your Core® teachers this year. The short version is trust yourself and listen to your body. The longer version is to make time and space to grow if possible and to structure your business in a way that is sustainable for you both physically and mentally. I certainly didn’t realize that 50% of my time would be spent on admin and non-client-facing work! You need lots of time for all of it, and plenty of time off, too. 

Pricing:

• Membership: sliding scale $150/month, with discounted memberships upon request
• 1-1 session: $125
• 1 month of weekly 1-1 coaching (including movement and conversation): $500/month
• I offer class series periodically; usually, those are about $150

Contact Info:

• Email: move@larissaparson.com
• Website: https://www.larissaparson.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larissa_parson/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dynamicwellnessnc

Image Credits
Allie Mullin