Meet Mya Cato | Yoga Teacher & Multidisciplinary Artist

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

Hi Mya, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The most important factor behind my success is vulnerability. Throughout my journey in life and my career, I’ve found that being vulnerable is a superpower. To bare your soul to world takes courage. I’ve done this countless times through my offerings and through my social media platforms. Vulnerability has allowed me to attract folks that actually see me and feel me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My work is an outpour of my soul. As a multidisciplinary artist, I work within the realms of moving art, digital art and writing. Some of my earliest memories as a movement artist include me performing during dance recitals and during church service. My parents were amateur athletes and always encouraged my brother and I to be active. For that reason, I’ve had the pleasure of participating in many sports but praise dancing has always been my thing.

In my solitude as an adolescent, I recall playing gospel music and twirling around my room. I can remember feeling the same exhilaration as I do now when I spin and jump around. My yoga journey began in 2014 after a series of traumatic events. It was the physical postures (asanas) that brought me back to God after leaving my church home. I realized that God is always with me and my body is a temple, a living sanctuary. One of my mentors, Ghylian Bell, helped me to dive deeper into the history of yoga with its roots in Africa. This was really transformative for me because representation matters and seeing postures on hieroglyphics made me feel wildly connected to my ancestors. Naturally I weaved aspects of various styles of yoga such as Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin and Ashtanga into my practice. I’m most known for offering Soul Yoga and Trap Yoga which are modern styles of the practice.

Digital art became a hobby in 2013 while I was interning at a fashion brand, Debonair District. I learned so much about graphic design from another one of my mentors, Justin Lambert (aka Jayy Cannon). He taught me principles of alignment, typography, space and texture. Oftentimes we would be in the studio late at night creating brilliant digital masterpieces. It was difficult to learn Adobe Photoshop back then but overtime, I grasped shortcuts and started to become faster and pulling ideas together. This skill has proven to be one of the greatest investments in my business. I am able to tell a story with one image and entice consumers to take action.

Writing is another hobby that I’ve spent the gist of my livelihood getting better at. In the past, I was very critical of my work just like many other artists. I am one of the spelling and grammar nerds that love language arts and seek to keep it intact. Most of my work is featured on Meeyogi’s blog (meeyogi.com). I’ve been working on a manuscript for quite some time and I’m eager to release it. The beautiful thing about writing as a hobby is that there’s no pressure. For me, it’s a stream of consciousness paired with some research. Typically I am writing about yoga, meditation, mindfulness, self-sustainability and soul care.

My intention is to educate folks on the complexity of the mind. body, soul and spirit in efforts to increase self-preservation habits for all. We deserve to live healthy and fulfilling lives but we must continue to study and refine ourselves.

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?
Florida is easily one of the most beautiful states in the country. It is lush in most places and the temperature is inviting for many outdoor activities. In the Tampa Bay Area, I love visiting Nana’s Restaurant & Juice Bar in Ybor Area. As a plant-based food lover, this spot consistently amazes me with their menu. The chef, Anisa, is a genuinely beautiful soul and she literally pours her heart into every dish. It is family-owned and operated with Dominican influence and urban flare.

Another favorite in the Tampa Bay Area is House of Vegano in the Saint Pete Area. The sushi and ramen are always perfectly executed. Pretty and delicious, they do not miss! The owner and head chef, Thalia, is also a beautiful soul who radiates so bright. She is a badass woman of color making strides in the city. You can tell the staff enjoys working there. The environment is exquisite and I love how thoughtful the menu is.

Smudged Life Energy Wellness is my top recommendation for all metaphysical needs. Sage, incense, books, crystals, as well as, reiki and yoga services for you to cleanse and rejuvenate. The owner, Camille Adrienne is another beautiful soul who has been diligent creating safe spaces in the Tampa Bay Area for folks to heal.

Bula Kavananda is one my favorite spots for a drink, a game of chess and co-working. Open early and closes late, the music and ambiance are always on point. As a sober lady, I appreciate the menu of teas and frappes.

Honeymoon Island and North Jetty Beach are two of my favorite beaches. Medard Park and Lettuce Lake Park are two of my favorite parks that have kayaking and canoeing options. Weekiwachee Springs and Crystal River are also really beautiful places for a serene, quiet environment to meditate and to explore.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I must give thanks to God for all of the beautiful creations bestowed upon us. My journey, like many others, had many peaks and valleys. This is inevitable. God has never left me and continues to move through me and my work. My family, friends, mentors and mentees are extremely special components in my life. In my darkest times, they’ve given me the strength to persevere. For that, I am forever grateful.

Website: myacato.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myacato

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/myacato/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myiesha.cato

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@meeyogi_

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@myacato https://www.meeyogi.com (business page)

Image Credits
Joerod Collier (Surreal Styles) Joshua Farquahar Nickai Peter Othello