From cubicle to studio, Rikk Czarnowski pursued his dream and opened up a successful yoga studio (that Stacey practices yoga at several times weekly!) so he can truly practice what he believes in: mind and body health and wellness. Read on to learn about his career path. – Sarah

‪What attracted you to the field of health and wellness? I’d always been active—cycling, working out at the gym, hiking—but years of confinement in an office cubicle started to take a real toll on my wellbeing, and the idea of work and life being in balance was very attractive.

‪Your Job Title and ‪Company you are with now: Owner, Body Temp Yoga

Website: http://www.bodytempyoga.com/

Social Media:  – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Body-Temp-Yoga/100111136814197

‪A typical (or not so typical) day-in-the-work-life for you: Up at 4am, meditate, drive the Smart car from Hayes Valley over Pacific Heights to The Marina district in San Francisco with some favorite tunes, tidy up the studio, teach 2 classes, take a class, answer phone messages, take care of the banking, ordering supplies, teacher scheduling.

‪How did you get your current job in health and wellness? I believe yoga, in a very real way, saved my life, so after practicing for years, and teaching Bikram for seven, when the opportunity presented itself to partner with a friend in opening a new yoga studio, I couldn’t say no. Instead I said goodbye to the cubicle.

‪What skills were you born with and what skills have you learned along the way? Actually, I don’t think human beings are born with skills at all—we barely breathe on our own—but when we are challenged or challenge ourselves, our capacity to learn is enormous. We may come programmed with certain passions and talents, but for me learning to master yoga postures, teach others and run a business were not skills that came naturally. However, I am lucky enough to have my yoga mentor as my business partner. I rather subscribe to the theories of Malcom Gladwell here and his 10,000 hour rule for mastery (simply: practice makes perfect).

‪What advice do you have for others wanting to be just as successful and fulfilled as you? Surround yourself with people who want the same things!

‪If you could be paid for your job with something other than a paycheck, what would it be? Trips or traveling vouchers. I want to see the world!

Sarah Koszyk, MA, RDN, is a Registered Dietitian and Sports Nutritionist specializing in Weight Management and Sports Nutrition for youth and adults. She writes articles for multiple publications, provides customized nutrition coaching, and is a brand spokesperson. She is founder of Family. Food. Fiesta.Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, or LinkedIn.