"I will teach my daughter not to wear her skin like a drunken apology. I will tell her ‘make a home out of your body, live in yourself, do not let people turn you into a regret, do not justify yourself. If you are a disaster it is not forever, if you are a disaster you are the most beautiful one I’ve ever seen. Do not deconstruct from the inside out, you belong here, you belong here, not because you are lovely, but because you are more than that." - Azra Tabassum
If you follow Jade Alectra online, you are bound to be stopped in your tracks by some deliciously written words like these at least once a day. Jade frequently and passionately shares the writings of today's most articulate (and largely undiscovered) female poets like Azra T, Caitlyn Siehl and Nayyirah Waheed, just to name a few. She utilizes their musings as a foundation for sharing her own truth, which comes in form of raw ramblings on life, love and heartbreak. Combined with photography and captivating video of Jade moving through her emotions via challenging yoga postures, creates the perfect storm for her signature style: WOMAN POETRY.
Jade's ability to be so raw and real stole my heart about a year back. I felt called to connect with her and collaborate on a female-empowerment event together. From that mutual positive energy flow, the first "Woman Poetry" workshop was birthed. This Saturday night in San Diego, we will hold the space for healing and radical self-love. {more info here}
Here's a chance for you to get to know the Jade behind the popular instagram page. With a dedicated fan-base of over 40,000 people, Jade actively engages with each of them and above all, creates a space for woman (and men, too!) to share their truths, move past pain, and learn to love themselves again.
Name, age, location: Jade Alectra, 27. Orange County, California
In 10 words, what is WOMAN POETRY? WP is when your soul utilizes movement to convey the message it can't yet speak.
How did you develop this style? It more so happened to me rather than me creating it, and once I noticed it was such a healing way of practicing, I decided that the name Woman Poetry was the best expression for something that can't be expressed in words.
What does a typical day look like for you? If I'm not teaching, or working out, I'm at the beach exploring sea caves, or hiking to all the waterfalls Southern California has to offer.
What did you do in your past life, pre-yoga? Basketball and PoleVaulting were my go to and anything that avoided stretching!
What was the first big (or little) step you took to create this life you now live? The first little AND big step was to allow myself to be forced into a yoga class by a yoga teacher at the gym I work at. I walked out of two classes and on the third one I stayed, and have been hooked ever since!
Who are the biggest female inspirations to you? Who do you follow online? The biggest females inspirations aren't the blogs that post perfectly tanned and toned bikini babes, but the girls that are raw and completely themselves. @yoga_girl (Rachel Brathen) has really morphed into one of those for me and the depth she takes her instagram posts are the same vibrations and feelings I hope to be leaving out for the world to find. In a world of perfect poses and videos and edits, I enjoy the ones that share their real life. The spills, the face plants, the break ups, depression, and the deaths. It's important to take life as a whole and not just worship the 'pretty' parts. I've always learned more falling and scraping my knee than when I nail a pose 'perfectly.' Both teach you something but one without the other and I think balance becomes elusive.
In 10 words, what is WOMAN POETRY? WP is when your soul utilizes movement to convey the message it can't yet speak.
How did you develop this style? It more so happened to me rather than me creating it, and once I noticed it was such a healing way of practicing, I decided that the name Woman Poetry was the best expression for something that can't be expressed in words.
What does a typical day look like for you? If I'm not teaching, or working out, I'm at the beach exploring sea caves, or hiking to all the waterfalls Southern California has to offer.
What did you do in your past life, pre-yoga? Basketball and PoleVaulting were my go to and anything that avoided stretching!
What was the first big (or little) step you took to create this life you now live? The first little AND big step was to allow myself to be forced into a yoga class by a yoga teacher at the gym I work at. I walked out of two classes and on the third one I stayed, and have been hooked ever since!
Who are the biggest female inspirations to you? Who do you follow online? The biggest females inspirations aren't the blogs that post perfectly tanned and toned bikini babes, but the girls that are raw and completely themselves. @yoga_girl (Rachel Brathen) has really morphed into one of those for me and the depth she takes her instagram posts are the same vibrations and feelings I hope to be leaving out for the world to find. In a world of perfect poses and videos and edits, I enjoy the ones that share their real life. The spills, the face plants, the break ups, depression, and the deaths. It's important to take life as a whole and not just worship the 'pretty' parts. I've always learned more falling and scraping my knee than when I nail a pose 'perfectly.' Both teach you something but one without the other and I think balance becomes elusive.
What are your 3 biggest fears?
#1: Losing myself to what society thinks or wants to think of me.
#2: Spending too much time staring at my phone posting the past and not living in the present.
#3: Not loving myself fully.
How do you work to conquer them everyday?
#1: I noticed that I was posting only seamless videos and pics. I began to post 'fails' and face plants, and I broke up with my pattern of posting.
#2: My boyfriend and I made a rule that we need to leave our phones at home for at least 4 hours a day. To fully be present and enjoy.
#3: I go make up-less often and spend time alone at beaches and hikes. I write and do yoga and remind myself that my body and mind are my own and I am in charge of loving myself truly before anyone else.
What is your advice to people in overcoming their deepest fears? Jump right in. If you stop and stare and try and plan your moves forever, suddenly it's years of living in fear and less time actually living.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? It's February 2020, what's life like, Jade? I see myself living in a tropical place in a small modest home with my boyfriend, leading retreats all over the world, and living part time in a tiny house (look up Tiny House on Netflix... Such an inspiring minimalist lifestyle) and full-time in a bikini. Just 'be'ing. And always near the ocean!
#1: Losing myself to what society thinks or wants to think of me.
#2: Spending too much time staring at my phone posting the past and not living in the present.
#3: Not loving myself fully.
How do you work to conquer them everyday?
#1: I noticed that I was posting only seamless videos and pics. I began to post 'fails' and face plants, and I broke up with my pattern of posting.
#2: My boyfriend and I made a rule that we need to leave our phones at home for at least 4 hours a day. To fully be present and enjoy.
#3: I go make up-less often and spend time alone at beaches and hikes. I write and do yoga and remind myself that my body and mind are my own and I am in charge of loving myself truly before anyone else.
What is your advice to people in overcoming their deepest fears? Jump right in. If you stop and stare and try and plan your moves forever, suddenly it's years of living in fear and less time actually living.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? It's February 2020, what's life like, Jade? I see myself living in a tropical place in a small modest home with my boyfriend, leading retreats all over the world, and living part time in a tiny house (look up Tiny House on Netflix... Such an inspiring minimalist lifestyle) and full-time in a bikini. Just 'be'ing. And always near the ocean!
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