Meet Alexa Rose | writer, artist, meditation/yoga instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alexa Rose and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alexa, how does your business help the community?
My children’s books as well as my classes are extensions of the work i have been doing for the past 20 years. It is amazing to grow and change as a person, mom and teacher right along with the children and families that i work with. There is a need for a return to mentorship. A space for families to connect, share and learn from each other. Through my meditation classes my students learn the balancing affects of meditation as well as how to truly hold space for each other. By doing this they begin to create a safe community that is accepting, creative and honest. We explore meditation through art, music, movement, breath work and community service. Some of the children that i have worked with over the years are part of the lgbtq community. Some are working with depression, anxiety and trauma. I also work with special needs children and always have had an open door policy. All are welcome All of the time. In the past few years I have published two books that are reflective of my classes, my family and the stories woven throughout the time shared. Both books are an encouraging reminder to the adults in the lives of children to breath, feel, release and accept. Our world is made of so many beautiful, brave, different types of humans. We all come with a different story, impression and thought process. The divinity within that is while we are all individuals we are forever connected by thread of being human. My books and classes cultivate the humane within the journey of being human. We are all much stronger when connected. And love is the greatest gift we can give. My short term goal would be for schools to use my books as a guide not just for their students but for the teachers. We are all mentors if we choose to be! Sometimes we just need a reminder❤️ Long term goal for all of this would be for schools, communities to adapt my mentoring classes at the junior high, high school level in place of detention, suspension and isolation. Through my work as well as my own personal experiences I have found that children when they are in trouble need more love and mentorship. Not less. We can teach accountability and self reflection by connecting them to mentors, meditation and community service. By doing this we are teaching them that not only are they worth the time but that they matter within the community. Connecting them to elders in the community and doing acts of service offers way more than kicking them off of their favorite sports team, art program or kicking them out of school. We are helping them navigate through the hows and why they are making destructive choices. It is the difference of asking someone “what’s WRONG with YOU” vs “what Happened?” That one question saved my life when I was in high school. I will forever remember and love my first mentor!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art is always changing. The fluidity of life and how quickly things can change is reflective in my work. I have always found peace through writing and painting. Prayer and meditation are what i find in those moments of creating. Each experience becomes an opportunity to heal, create and release. I am always learning the importance of self care and taking time to write and paint is part of that. I struggle sometimes with the work/life balance. Especially when it comes to my family, friends and children that I work with. My empathetic heart is always full! Im not sure that will ever be easy for me to constantly maintain a balance. But it is something that I am always working on!

I am honest about my challenges in my art and the classes I offer. i feel it is important for my students and my own children to know that above any other role i might be i am first and foremost human. I am on this journey with them and like them find it very hard sometimes. By being honest we can help the necessity of fluidity to happen in our lives. Finding strength in our story and learning ways to navigate through the more challenging times is often a life saver for many of the children I work with. I encourage them to Identify with their story but don’t necessarily make it your identity. Life is like art. Always changing, always fluid and always a stepping stone to yourself!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
growing up in one of the best cities makes this question easy and hard!! There are so many amazing things to do in Chicago and the towns surrounding it! I love music so we would definitely find ourselves either at an outdoor concert or at an old haunt like The Metro, Vic or the The Green Dolphin. The shopping os amazing too! But I am definitely more of a vintage, resale shop kind a girl. So that would definitely take us to the five corners and anywhere in Wicker Park, Buck Town and Lincoln Park. A walk by Lake Michigan any time of year is beautiful. And every museum is always fun! Especially the MCA and the Art Institute. The hiking at Matthesion is beautiful. If we headed west we would end up at Harveys Tales. My favorite book store! Independently owned. Roxanne and Chuck are amazing and give so much to our community. We would definitly go to Cafe and Barr or Kava Diem for coffee and Bloom f Yoga Center for Yoga. And for food there a million places under the sun in Chicago or outside of it! You really cant pick one.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I love this!❤️ I want to dedicate my shoutout to my children. Aidan, Bella and Haven. You three are my constant teachers, guides and keep everything interesting! I could never be me without you. My husband Patrick and my constant mirror. Without you the inner work may have never started for our outer world to exist. I am very proud of you and of us!

To my momma and angel here on earth. You are a warrior and reminder that self worth is not someone else’s to give to you. It is your and yours alone to give to yourself. To My dad that became mine through time not biology. I love you and am beyond grateful for your friendship and support. My mother and sister in law. Thank you for your love and family! Matthew my younger brother. You have always been larger than life to me and have this way to make everything make sense without it getting caught up with over thinking. Thank you! And you married the Best person ever! Thank you Lauren for marrying my brother! I love you! To all of my older brothers. and sister,, I always love you. To my Auntie, my nieces and nephews and cousins that are more like sisters! Endless laughter and coffee time! To the Horwitz Clan! Love all of you! That is everything to me. Karen my godmother and family. You are all love and always in my heart.

To My soul tribe. You have walked me out of the darkness too many times to count. Always reminding me that its my light that needs to shine. Sara your faith and constant love are all that is right with this world. Sarah, Josh, Phyllis, Lauren, Rose Marie, Alyssa, Abbrielle, Kosta, Nina, Mariah, Christina, Kay, Diana, Kathy, Joshua, Jarret, Amber, Linda, Laura, Sheri, Dave, Jeanine, Paul, Erin, Jen, Jon, Christina, Cody, Arie, Nilsa, Keli, Ms. Ro, George. All of you Amazing people! A million thank you’s can never fully express how much I love you!. To all of the amazing families I get to work with! Thank you for your love and support. My publishers Nate and Erin from story Book Genius Publishing. Thank you for your endless patience and faith in me. Harveys Tales, Kava Diem and Cafe and Barr. Thank you for giving my books a home and for holding space for all of us dreamers and artisits. The entire Shine Family. That was my beginning of remembering myself. I Love you all.

And last but never least. Mr. Holland. You started all of this! Thank You for believing in me. Thank you for your mentorship and guidance. Thank you for getting me my first job in fitness. Thank you for asking me “What Happened?” instead of “Whats Wrong with You?” ❤️

Instagram: alexa.rose.5

Facebook: Harriet The Hippoyogamus