KIKI BLACK (Shakera Blackmon) is an Atlanta based, internationally certified Personal Trainer (ISSA) and Flexibility Coach. While KIKI is also a certified Yoga Teacher (ER) she found her true passion for health of the Mind, Body and Spirit when she spent a month in Chennai and Kerla India studying South Asian Dance, Yoga & Meditation. Today, KIKI prides herself on wholistic health and encourages class participants and clients to prioritize not only physical health but Mental and Spiritual health. KIKI believes that the consistent work to improve health in all three areas ultimately create a “whole” and healthy person. Kiki offers a while spectrum of services, classes and products which promote wholistic health. Her services include but are not limited to Personal Training, Strength & Flexibility Training, Yoga Seduction, Twerkout Bootycamp and Meditation.

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Where did you grow up and what was it like growing up there?

I grew up in East Atlanta GA. I lived in a very urban community but went to a performing arts school for K - 12 grade.Because of my school, I was exposed to differing cultures, ethnicities and ways of life in general. This environmental really allowed my creative and artistic side to be nurtured and developed. My mother was also very diverse and always traveling, mostly to different parts of Africa. My dad was always very supportive of my creativity, taking me to dance, acting and modeling practice and allowing me to do random creative things like paint on my bed headboard and cut up, bleach and decorating my clothing and shoes. I had a unique upbringing because it was exposed to a mesh of different cultures at one time.All of which, encouraged passion, entrepreneurship and creativity.

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Tell us about your journey on how you became a yoga instructor and when you became interested in wholistic health ?

I’ve always been a very active person and been fascinated with the human body. My background is in dance. I studied ballet, jazz, modern, hip hop, salsa and merengue dance.• Dekalb School of the Arts (GA)• The College or Wooster (Ohio)• Universidad Veritas (Costa Rica)In college, I traveled to Chennai and Kerala India to study South Asian dance forms but we were required to study yoga and practice yoga daily, before and while in India. I had no idea that I would fall in love and later become a certified yoga instructor. As a person who was once depressed and highly anxious; God, yoga and fitness literally saved my life. I’ve made it my business to share and teach others how to prioritize the health of their Mind, Body and Spirit, so that they can be blessed, become whole and healthy just as I did.

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What is the name of your business and what are some of the services you provide to help with wellness ?

The name of my business is Yoga Seduction LLC but better know as (DBA) YS Fitness and Flexibility. I offer the following services:• Personal Training (Virtual & In Person)• Flexibility Coaching (Virtual & In Person)• Stretch Therapy (Manual Stretching on Table)• Injury Prevention/ Injury Rehab• Guided Meditation (Virtual & In Person)• Class instructor (for special events & parties)• Meal PlanningAND MORE!I also offer a wide of fitness and flexibility products such as Yoga mats, Detox and Lyfe teas, waist trainers, booty bandz, pain relief cream, stress relief spray, A FULL KIKI BLACK Fitness & Flexibility Apparel line and MORE at WWW.KIKIBLACK.COM

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When you first started your business what were some of the ups and downs you went through and how did you overcome them?

Wow, where do I begin? !No, not at all. When I 1st quit my job to go into the fitness world full time, I was by definition “obese” my 1st project was ME! People don’t realize that their losing weight is about 80 percent mental. The social expectations of what a personal trainer should look like weighed on me daily. I remember going to a friends baby shower and meeting a woman who told me “you shouldn’t tell anyone you are a personal trainer” because of my weight and body type. I was heart broken and embarrassed but DETERMINED!!!

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I went even harder in the gym.I started my 1st fitness/ flexibility class Yoga Seduction in October of 2018. The class was doing great and full EVERY class right off the back. I felt like I was finally starting to take steps forward. My body was starting to change for the better, clientele as thriving and my class was the talk for the Atlanta fitness world! Then, on Thanksgiving Day of the same year, I tore my meniscus and was on crutches for four months. Even after I got off crutches, I had gained a lot of weight and couldn’t do the normal things I was used to doing physically.

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I couldn’t run, jump, squat, full bend or straighten my left leg. Clientele was almost none existent, my class turn out was DRAMATICALLY low. Sometimes only having 1 or 2 people attending BUT Not once did I cancel my class. I felt as if I was letting the women down if I did. I would meet with one of my clients before class and attempt to explain to the yoga poses and/or combinations I was going to do and she would have to Demonstrate for me during class because I was not physically able to do the movements myself.And would you believe that THAT'S NOT IT! I have experienced a little bit of everything during this process.

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From the gym I was working at shutting down without notice, to trying to work at my old apartment complex and them threatening to evict me if I continued to train on the property. BUT GOD! I have to give honor to my lord and savior Jesus Christ because I made it through it all. Since then, I’ve been invited to my apartment of Adidas Atlanta Fit Crew, Invited as a special guest to Pretty Girls Sweat, Invited to teach classes at 3 different Ebony Fit Weekend, hosted my own events like the “Yoga Seduction Brunch Party” and the “Yoga Seduction Retreat” and SO MUCH MORE!!! My passion is active and my vision and prayers has become my reality.

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Self care is so important!!..Can you give some advice to people who don't practice self-care and why it is important for healing?

LEARN SELF CARE OR YOU’LL BE IN A DOCTORS CARE!!! Physical self care with exercise is a given but it is also extremely important to create time for your mind and spirit as well. Be sure to make time to pray, meditate, read, learn and BREATHE!!!These things are just as important to your well being.

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Is there anything else that you have a passion for outside of wellness?

FOOD!!! I love to cook and i’m a huge foodie.This actually goes hand in hand with my work in fitness/ flexibility training. I now grow my own vegetables and herbs which makes it a little easier to eat healthier while still having excellent tasting food! About a year and a half ago I started “Kiki’s Kitchen” @kikiis.kitchen which is recipes, meal prep and meal ideas for foodies who want to eat healthier but STILL ENJOY THEIR FOOD!!!

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What's next for you, and how can our readers further follow your work?

I will be opening the Ebony Fit Weekend with Trap Yoga July 24th and Hosting a Health and fitness brunch on July 31st. Both events can be found via my social media pages and/or eventbrite.com. Be sure check out my website WWW.KIKIBLACK.COM for products and virtual/ in person services that are designed to improve the Health of your Mind, Body and Spirit!Follow me on all social media platforms at @kikiiblack (Instagram, Tiktok, Twitter, Facebook etc)

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