Today we’d like to introduce you to Corey Heyman.
Hi Corey, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi I am Corey – sunshine spreader, community creator, connector. I am a lover and a teacher of yoga and I believe I was put here to create connection.
I found yoga a little over two and a half years ago and after my first class, I immediately knew I found my calling. I dove in headfirst, I learned absolutely everything I could, I practiced nonstop. For a lot of my life, I was floating without much direction and as soon as I found yoga, I knew that was it. Less than a year later, I got certified and started teaching my own outdoor classes during the sunrise on the beach. I grew my community, I gave back as much as I could, I held space for anyone who was willing to step into that space.
I teach for the Delray Beach community, for the recovery community, and for anyone who is willing and open to it. I spend most of my time teaching private one-on-one yoga and outdoor group classes.
I am in recovery, I celebrated seven years sober in October. Giving back and doing service is an important pillar of my life, and I feel strongly that recovery and yoga really go hand in hand. – we’re all trying to do the same thing: connect to something greater.
I hold a monthly wellness market called Coco Connections that aims to build community and foster new connections. The mission is to bring local businesses together to support one another and the larger wellness community. The market includes dozens of local vendors, health and wellness professionals providing healing modalities, live music, so many activities and a free yoga class. The market brings the wellness community together to spread the love. We meet at Veterans Park in Delray Beach on the first Sunday of the month from 9a-2p.
I am building as much as I can, pouring my whole heart into everything I do! I recently quit my corporate job in December 2021 to give this my all. It’s been so exciting and fulfilling.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road at all! But that road has some serious character. I have had many failures, and they have all taught me something and helped me to grow. Putting myself out there was scary. Starting my own business and my own brand was overwhelming. Teaching my own classes without a studio to back me was challenging.
Walking through fear is something I’ve become accustomed to. I was scared to step on anyone’s toes (I tread as lightly as I could), I was nervous nobody would show up (that has certainly happened), I was fearful I would literally and figuratively stumble and fall (check). There was so much fear before I quit my job, and now the fear is staying afloat financially completely on my own.
Often times I put lots of work into something then it rains, or I don’t get much of a turnout, or it doesn’t go how I anticipate. I know deep in my soul that I don’t get anywhere leading with fear, I have been taught to lead with love.
A friend and mentor of mine, Pedro Luna, encourages people to take “messy action”, even if there’s no set plan, even if they’re unsure what they’re doing or what will happen. That is what I do. I take action with no expectations. I show up as myself give everything I’ve got in the most authentic way I can.
It is not ever perfect, it is certainly not always successful. More often than not, I grow. The failures are not failures, they’re building blocks, they’re growth opportunities, they’re character builders.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I am known for showing up authentically as myself and bringing the energy to a class or event. I am a relationship builder, a community cultivator, a vibe bringer. I teach multiple outdoor classes and special events, as well as Coco Connections monthly outdoor wellness market.
I hold weekly sunrise and sunset classes on the beach and I teach in little outdoor cafes and parks. I feel the best practicing yoga outdoors in nature, so that is where I hold space for others. Beyond my private clients, I teach yoga for The Seagate, The Chalfonte, at Drive Shack and Downward Goat and at various drug and alcohol treatment centers to name a few. I host special events including: full moon events, yoga and live music, trauma conscious yoga, classes under the 100 ft Christmas Tree, reiki and movement on the beach, etc.
There is no shortage of yoga teachers, but I am trying to build something special. And I believe I’m doing it. I try to create an experience during my classes. I partner with local businesses and other healers in the community, I create new unique events. I do my best to leave everyone feeling grounded, present, alive, and open. I am all about feeling good. I believe there is a yoga teacher for everyone, and I know I’m not everyone’s cup of tea, but that’s totally fine! In most of my classes I am not the power yoga teacher who is going to kick your a*s, but I assure you you will be feeling GREAT when you leave my class.
I am proud of how far I’ve come and what I’ve built. I’m so excited to see where I am in a year from now. I have built a brand and a community from scratch and did it all on my own in a year. I cultivated a following just by connecting with people which spread the word about what I’m doing, I taught myself how to use computer programs to make myself a logo, I built a website from scratch without having any previous experience, I make every graphic for every class and event I host. I’m certainly not an expert but I’m having so much fun with it. I do it all myself, and if I don’t know how, you better believe I will teach myself!
Coco Market is fairly new but it’s growing fast and it’s been so incredible. We meet on the first Sunday of every month at Veterans Park in Delray Beach. The community shows up in such a huge way for this, and I’m beyond excited to watch it grow and grow. You can see more about the market at thecocoyogi.com/market.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I’ve had so many cheerleaders along the way – people who encouraged me, believed in me, supported me, helped me countless times, let me vent and cry and talk things through.
My dad actually dragged me to my first-ever yoga class and without him, I’m not sure if I ever would have found it. My parents have supported my dreams by letting me teach them zoom classes before I was certified. My mom basically asks me after every class how it was, how many people came, what it was like. My father is an entrepreneur who has been very successful in his field and he is my sounding board for every business decision that I make.
Pedro Luna has encouraged me every step of the way and given me so many helpful pieces of advice. He has his own (huge, amazing) outdoor community and even lets me sub some of his classes for him. He is such a wonderful person.
Robyn Cifuentez, another awesome local yoga teacher, gave me my first teaching opportunity the days after I got certified and it was a huge class for the recovery community which really set me on the right path with a full cup right from the start. I am very grateful for her.
My good friends John Fitch and Joe Steiner inspire me and create with me and have helped me so, so much. There are so many others and I have many incredible people in my front row, I’m very blessed in that regard.
Pricing:
- One-on-one and private small group yoga starts at $100
- Special events range from $20-40 depending on what and where it is
- Group beach classes are free, donations accepted!
- Coco Market is free! Free yoga starts at 9 AM on the first Sunday of every month at Veterans Park.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@thecocoyogi.com
- Website: Thecocoyogi.com
- Instagram: Thecocoyogi
- Facebook: Thecocoyogi
Image Credits
Jonathan Steiner Mike Dillow
