Every Friday I am going to feature a woman that I adore. They exude all the qualities of an Alpha Female and I want to dig into their lives to get some nuggets of knowledge to help us all live happier, healthier lives finding harmony between work and life.
Definition of an Alpha Female
An Alpha Female is a powerful and assertive woman. Her confidence is due to being an intelligent and intellectual problem-solver. Being an Alpha Female is a State of Mind based on choosing ambition and being proud of it. She strives for a happy and healthy work/life harmony.
Type A Alpha Females often come across as strong willed and selfish. When we stay true to our authentic selves and stay true to our mission we shine. A true Alpha Female puts the needs of herself first without sacrificing her principles or dignity. She fills up her cup or gas tank first so that she has enough energy for her friends, family, and coworkers. An Alpha Female strives for synergy with the world around her. She wants a perfect work/life balance but knows that it requires being true to your priorities and what makes you happy. She is never complacent about striving for better and nurtures relationships with the people in her life.
Meet Monica Reyes!
A Corporate Attorney by trade, Kundalini Yoga and meditation found Monica when she was living a highly stressful life as the owner of multiple companies, one of which was a fast growing and successful law firm. Through Kundalini Yoga and her spiritual studies, she found inner strength, confidence, and overcame her fears, including the fear of public speaking and social introvertedness, and she eventually left the practice of law to enter the world of transformational coaching.
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How are you an Alpha Female?
I am an Alpha Female because I am a powerful woman that knows what she wants and is courageous and confident enough to get it. I am a corporate attorney who had a successful law firm for 5.5 years and after realizing and deciding that I was no longer passionate about what I was doing, I sold my book of business and launched my company, Spiritual Success Coaching last November. I work really hard both in my business and on myself. I am a die-hard Kundalini yogi, sometimes waking up as early as 3 am to mediate for several hours of the day because I understand the importance of balance and harmony, and know that I might not have any other time to do it. I created the life I have and completely rewrote the story of life to one of happiness, fulfillment and authenticity.
What does work/life harmony look like for you?
I think work/life harmony is one where you integrate your life into your work and vice versa. It’s loving what you do and it loving you back. It’s being authentic so that there is no inner conflict or doing something that isn’t you or isn’t aligned with you or your lifestyle. It’s flow.
What are you most passionate about?
I am multi-passionate, so choosing just one is difficult for me. But I guess if I had to choose, I would have to say I am the most passionate about finding out about life’s mysteries. The mysticism of life, the Universe, spirituality. Tie for first would have to be creating. I love creating and being creative – whether it’s writing or thinking of ideas and brainstorming or dancing and painting with my daughter. And then what tops all of it is my daughter. Ha, told you I couldn’t choose.
What are you daily health habits that keep your immune system boosted?
I eat pretty healthy on a daily basis. I like to put my body through different detoxes, like giving up sugar, alcohol, coffee, meat, etc for certain amounts of time. I meditate daily – usually Kundalini Yoga, and I practice Mindfulness constantly.
What is your weekly fitness routine like?
I do Crossfit or go running. I also sprinkle in some Kundalini Yoga which can be pretty intense and hard at times.
How do you challenge yourself fitness wise?
Crossfit itself is pretty challenging. I do these Kundalini retreats twice a year where I meditate for 11-14 hours a day for 3 days straight that are pretty challenging, holding positions for 62 minutes at times. I also like to do multiple 40 day challenges of Kundalini yoga throughout the year, where I will do 4 am yoga (2.5 hours a day) for 40 days straight. I also like to do a race once a year.
What are you daily/weekly nutrition habits that keep you well nourished?
I start off every morning with lemon water. I eat a pretty healthy diet, with lots of greens, and little or no meat. I try to stay mindful when I eat, and not wait too long in between meals. Meditation keeps me self-aware so I don’t attack the fridge when I’m hungry.
What are your daily habits for winding down at night and reducing stress?
I meditate before bed at night. I like to write in my journal which helps me get whatever’s on my mind out so I’m not up thinking. I also stopped working as much at night as I used to. I instead read a book, write in my journal or snuggle with my husband. Working would keep me up thinking afterwards.
What are some pain points of being an Alpha Female that you have to problem solve for?
So my communication style is very – get down to business. I need the bottom line, no time for fluff. I was very misunderstood for a long time because I misunderstood myself. Once I realized the gap, I started to become more comfortable with being social. My husband has been AMAZING for this. He is so incredible with social communication, so he constantly helps me become more social and less to the point. He slows me down to ask someone how they are, rather than get straight to the point of why I’m calling. Pretty funny.
I would say the other thing is my drive and ambition, both really great traits, and so so thankful for them, but I had to learn balance. I used to take too much on – mostly the wrong things, and I was left drained and resentful. So the biggest tweak I made in my life is saying no to anything that isn’t aligned with my values – what’s my priority right now?- and that my intuition tells me isn’t a good fit. I used to say yes, regardless of my intuition or what was going on my life because of guilt and fear. Self-love is about being responsible for your life and knowing when to say no. I still take A LOT on, believe me. Like do a 4 am yoga class, meetings/coaching calls all day, then volunteer at the homeless shelter than go to a networking event all in one day, but at least the whole way through, I’m excited, inspired, and ignited. Way different energy and it carries you all the way through.
What is your definition of happiness?
My definition of happiness is being so authentic and true to yourself, taking all of the masks off, dropping the fear and ego, and just letting go- to the beat of your own drum as you dance to the song of your life. As long as I am being me, I can be happy anywhere.