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Meet Your Neighbor: Erica Marquez, owner of Butterfly Effect Aerial Yoga

Posted 8/13/20

Your name: Erica Marquez

Business name: Butterfly Effect Aerial Yoga

Website/social media: www.butterflyeffectaerialyoga.com; Facebook: ButterflyEffectAerialYoga; Instagram: …

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I am anchor

Meet Your Neighbor: Erica Marquez, owner of Butterfly Effect Aerial Yoga

Posted

Your name: Erica Marquez

Business name: Butterfly Effect Aerial Yoga

Website/social media: butterflyeffectaerialyoga.com; Facebook @ButterflyEffectAerialYoga; Instagram @Butterfly_Effect_Aerial_Yoga

Town/neighborhood: Queen Creek and surrounding areas

Hours of operation: Contact any time

Personal background highlights: Mom of three, active outdoors: kayaking, camping, some hiking, moved to Arizona in 2008 from Salem, Oregon.

Professional background highlights: Fingerprint clearance, CPR/First Aid certified, aerial yoga instructor, fitness motivator.

What I do: Provide aerial yoga --- also known as fly yoga, aerial fitness --- in an outdoor setting for groups, small groups, private lessons and private events.

What am I promoting: Self care, healthy lifestyle, positive thinking, positive body image, mental health awareness, friendship with a group of like-minded individuals.

What I’m excited about and why: I have been practicing aerial yoga for personal self care for the last 10 years and I am thrilled to be able to share this unique exercise with people in my community in such a unique way.

What are the benefits of aerial yoga: Like mat yoga, aerial yoga offers many benefits to the practitioner: it provides a full body workout, strengthens and lengthens your muscles, provides relief for anxiety/depression symptoms, mild headaches, menstrual symptoms, and backaches, aides in digestive health, circulation and mind/body balance and so much more.

When and why I started my business/employment here: We open Aug. 29. I live in Queen Creek and the nearest options to practice in a studio would be a 45-minute drive, which eliminated the option for me. So I thought why not bring it to where I am and offer it in a way that we can connect with the beautiful landscape and weather that AZ has to offer? One of the best ways to calm yourself is to ground yourself and you can’t do that with shoes on in a building; you need bare feet and dirt, grass or natural ground beneath your feet, fresh air and sunshine.

Why aerial yoga: Aerial yoga provides us with a deeper stretch and assistance for different poses using the hammock. You get a full-body workout with every flow because you are using all of your muscles getting into different poses in the silks and it is for every body. With the exception of the limitations in place for safety everyone and anyone can do aerial yoga. From toddlers to our silver community, aerial yoga does not recognize gender, race, age, body type or experience. It is for anyone looking to try something new or add a kick to their fitness routine.

Where I was before and why I left: I was an advocate from graduation until I was pregnant with my youngest. I worked with disadvantaged youth, homeless, addicts and crisis-response teams. I loved what I did but it took a toll on my personal life and mental health and I needed a change. I needed to find the positive in the world again and find my center. After time off with my kids I decided to become certified in the one thing that helped me stay sane when I felt hopeless and helpless. Aerial yoga allows me to spend time with my husband and children and still help my community.

People who inspire me (and how): My biggest inspiration is my best friend’s mother. She grew up hard like I did and turned all of that pain, anger and fear into not just one successful business but two. She is the kindest person I know; is wise and intelligent. She took care of me and supported me when I was just a lost kid and still offers me support and guidance to this day. She is not afraid to stand up for what she believes in, is nonjudgmental and has the biggest heart I have ever known. I hope to be like her when I grow up.

My guiding philosophy: It is tattooed on my left ankle so that I never forget: “What doesn’t kill you will only make you stronger.” That goes for all things in life including aerial yoga.