When we did our Caribbean Yogis You Should Know article in the first quarter of this year, we were inspired by the amount of wellness spaced that existed in the region. One of those persons that we featured was Stephenie Sobrian who, at the time, really caught our attention as a legal practitioner who walked away from her legal career to become a practitioner of a different sort. Recognizing the benefits that yoga had on her mental, emotional and physical well-being, Stephenie- a self-proclaimed ocean-obsessed island girl from the twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago- is a certified Life Coach and founder of the Inspire Yoga Studio located on Irish Avenue in Port-of-Spain. We caught up with Stephenie to discuss her career pivot, the influence that her former career had on her new career path and how yoga helped her to navigate her anxiety to walk her way to her true purpose.

TKK: Hi Stephenie! Tell us a little about yourself, where you are from, where you grew up and what you love most about your country.

SS: Hola! I’m a born and raised Trinidadian island girl. I am ocean-obsessed, it’s medicine to me. I also LOVE Trini food so much. Lunchtime is the best part of the day. My first few years were spent in Arima until we moved to Maraval as a young child. Now I live with my husband and son Noah (6) in Glencoe. I love Trinidad, the people are as warm as the weather and most of the family reside here.

TKK: Can you take us back to when you were practising law? What initially drew you to a career in civil litigation, and what was your experience like in the legal profession?

SS: My love for reading drew me to law and my desire for equality and fairness echoed through my veins. As a young law student, I was drawn to and wanted to advocate for the rights of women and children. The legal profession was not what I imagined. I won a national scholarship so had to work for the State at the Attorney General’s office when I graduated, and I did that for 4 years. The bureaucracy of it all left me defeated and so I ventured into private practice for another 3 years where I did land matters, contract matters, estate matters and divorces. I did so well, I made so much money and I had amazing senior attorneys looking out for me and passing me work however I felt like something was missing. [However], I felt I was not living in alignment with my values and not truly fulfilled practising law. There were good moments, and it is a wonderful profession, I am not knocking it, but I felt my skills, personality and empathy could be of greater use to help others differently. 

TKK: You started practising yoga in 2009 as a form of exercise. At what point did you realize that yoga offered benefits beyond the physical? How did it start to impact your mental and emotional well-being?

SS: After practicing yoga consistently for about a year I felt an overwhelming sense of peace and well-being. Yoga benefits quickly permeated other aspects of my life as I noticed a clearer mind and more emotional stability. My body felt strong and mobile, my mind calm and my heart centred. I NEEDED to share the gifts of yoga with EVERYONE. It was a calling, almost like a whisper from my higher self calling me forth. This I felt was my purpose, to help others fulfil their potential and feel good about themselves. I could not ignore the call. 

TK: What was the pivotal moment or experience that made you decide to leave law behind and pursue yoga full-time? Was it a gradual realization, or did something specific prompt the shift?

SS: I remember driving home LATE one night from the office after working on an injunction for days on end. I pulled over on the shoulder and sobbed. I was terrified because I could no longer lie to myself about where I felt I belonged. I knew I had to make a move. I was afraid to take the leap. Afraid of what others would think. I was afraid I would not be good enough and that I couldn’t do it. But that was the night I knew I was done. It took years of suffering, but we like to learn the hard way as humans, right? We often don’t make changes until we’ve suffered enough but the body is always signaling to us through sensations and our mood what’s right and what’s not a fit.

TKK: You mentioned that yoga helped you manage anxiety and provided a sense of freedom during a time when you felt hopeless, trapped, and exhausted. Could you share more about this period in your life and how yoga became a transformative tool for you?

SS: Yoga was medicine to me in perilous times and it still is. It’s a constant non-negotiable practice in my life. I HAVE to get on my mat for the breathing exercises and asanas (postures) and every day at 2:30 I also do a practice called Yoga Nidra (aka non-sleep deep meditative rest). I credit yoga for my well-being and contentment. Yoga has carried me through breakups, grief, and deep sadness and continues to support me. My yoga mat is a safe space for me to show up raw and unfiltered, yoga provides me with a healing that no other form of therapy ever could. 

TKK: Transitioning from a traditional profession like law, especially in a Caribbean context, to something less conventional, such as yoga, can sometimes meet with resistance from family and friends. How did your loved ones react to your decision, and how did you navigate any pushback or doubts they might have had?

SS: You’re right. At the time I recall my grandparents looking at me with a confused look on their face like “YOGA” what!? I fearlessly defended my choice to switch careers to anyone who doubted me. There were many doubters and haters, but this is okay, people are often reflecting and projecting their fears into you. So, I tried not to take things personally. I remember them saying “You can’t make a living like that!” or “You’d go back to law soon” but I knew they were wrong. I worked on myself and my mindset and focused on what I wanted to create rather than on what could go wrong. 

TKK: Once you decided to pursue yoga full-time, how did you go about establishing Inspire Yoga TT? What challenges did you face in building a yoga brand, and how did your legal background influence your approach?

SS: Law helped me a lot. I even used my legal training to draft my incorporation documents and register the Company on my own. I taught yoga and practiced law simultaneously during 2015 and 2016 until I took the full leap in 2017. It took me over a year to tell my boss I wanted to leave. I love her and didn’t want to disappoint her, but I believe we each come onto this planet with a mission and if I stayed in law, I fear I would not have completed mine. 

It was rough building the brand. I wasn’t even on social media at the time. In the early days, I had low numbers in class as I was not established and I just invited family and friends to my classes and doubted myself, but I believe that once you do your best the rest will take care of itself. I taught each class with enthusiasm and showed up every day and numbers organically grew by word of mouth and recommendation. Now, classes are oversubscribed, and the schedule has tripled in size. I am so grateful. 

TKK: Since leaving the legal field and dedicating yourself to yoga, what has been the most rewarding aspect of this new chapter in your life? Are there any moments or achievements that stand out? 

SS: The most rewarding aspects are the relationships I get to build and nurture. I love the people I get to meet. I learn so much from them. My inner world has also been enriched as I am dedicated to personal growth. I feel more confident as a woman and entrepreneur. Bigger moments were times when I got to run a retreat for Prestige Holdings or facilitate Ansa McAL on their mental health wellness day. 

TKK: Looking back, do you have any regrets about leaving your legal career? What advice would you offer to other professionals who may be feeling trapped in their current roles but are hesitant to pursue a completely different path?

SS: I have zero regrets. It’s been a character-building ride but I feel like if I’d stayed in law, I’d be a version of myself I didn’t like (grumpy, irritated and exhausted). I’d say to others that we are never trapped. We are only ever as trapped or limited as our thinking. I’d say work on yourself and do some coaching to land in an abundant mindset and find where your true passion and purpose lie. The world needs more people who are alive. Nothing in life is certain anyway, we were just conditioned to think that “a certain way is the best way” and part of awakening is having the strength to challenge your existing beliefs and re-wire your brain for success and inner strength. 

TKK:  What’s next for Inspire Yoga TT? Do you have any new projects, classes, or initiatives that you’re excited about? How do you see your practice evolving in the future?

SS: Inspire is constantly growing and evolving. Classes have tripled and are well attended and I am so grateful I get to share the benefits of yoga with people. We have online courses as well. 

Inspire has also worked with many Companies as part of their mental health days and employee wellness programmes and retreats. I enjoy this work a lot. Many companies now see the value in taking care of their workers’ mental well-being and so I am often invited to guide meditations and do emotional awareness training with companies, and I LOVE IT! I’ve also been invited recently to create content for an app called Relax Infinity and I’m liaising with them as a consultant and teacher. 

TKK: Do you see any potential intersections between your legal background and your yoga practice? For instance, could your legal experience inform or enhance your approach to teaching or running your business?

SS: Of course. There is much value in possessing a law degree and having 7 years of practice under your belt. The advocacy training in law and appearing in Court in contentious cases helped my confidence and public speaking and helped me learn a lot about human nature. I think this is a large reason why I’m not afraid to speak up for myself, guide a class or women’s circle or workshop or address large audiences. 

How can readers connect with you? Take a class? Learn more about your journey?

I love connecting with people. You can connect with Stephenie via her website, Facebook and Instagram page.

Online courses:

My self-paced BEGINNERS yoga online course.

7-week Chakra yoga course

Coaching mini website