
Candace Marie Celmer
The Facets of Acting and Yoga by a Minority in a Journey of Self-Discovery
Early Life and Acting Career
She was born Candace Marie Celmer on December 31, 1985, in Miami, Florida, of the United States. Standing 5′ 1″ (1.55 m) tall, she grew up in a city full of flair and energy that most certainly helped fuel her passion for the arts. Her early career took off with her rising to fame in acting roles in popular productions such as Magic Mike from 2012, Family Guy from 1999, and The Cleveland Show from 2009. She voiced the character of Miley Cyrus in Family Guy, including in such episodes as "Hannah Banana," and she has had the recurring role of Meg's friend, Beth. Candace also appeared in the movie Take Four as the character 'Punky'.
Transition to Yoga: A Path of Selfhealing
Her turning point in life came when she was in her mid-twenties. This 26-year-old lady felt sluggish, lost, and disassociated from the vibrancy of earlier years. Growing up, Candace had been active, but the challenges in adulthood weighed her down both in body and mind. She sought healing, and toward that end, she revisited an old passion: yoga.
A tentative beginning soon changed her life. The difference this time lay in walking into a hatha yoga class and renting a mat. No mirrors to distract her, she nurtured deeper acceptance and peace within her. Yoga became respite from self-doubt; each class brought an inner transformation. Not long into the practice, she realized very clearly that the moments when her mind was most clear and she felt content were the moments right after getting off the mat.
Immerse Yourself in Yoga Philosophy
For Candace, this new love of yoga wasn't merely physical but rather emanated from so much more. She wrapped herself in the philosophy and emotional aspects of yoga, finding this practice wasn't about perfecting the poses but was about so much more. The bold decision to teach yoga fueled her desire to learn more as she dove head-first into finding the best training program.
After much research, she found YogaWorks, which sounded just right. The initial commitment was daunting on all levels—emotional and financial—but she knew right off this was the right thing to do. For the first weeks of the program, Candace says she felt pretty nervous, apprehensive, and insecure. As slowly and surely she learned to breathe and let go into the process, she grew more comfortable with herself—mind and body alike. She faced years of internalized fears and insecurities through yoga, replacing them bit by bit with self-awareness and peace.
The YogaWorks Teacher Training Experience
The night before the start of her YogaWorks teacher training, Candace felt like a schoolgirl first day of school, with nervous anticipation. Of course, when the class started, it became a life-changing experience. It dawned on Candace that yoga wasn't something physical at all; instead, it was an opportunity to explore her being at an emotional and mental level. The training taught her how to understand pain, frustrations, and limitations—both on and off the mat.
Over several months of training with 15 other students under the guidance of several instructors, Candace learned how interrelated physical and emotional openness can be. As she grew physically stronger and surer, her emotional confidence did too. The experience pushed her to confront fears, push through discomfort, and make a transition in her life with resistance yet graciousness.
Friendships and Self-Discovery
Perhaps the most profound touches of her yoga journey would be the true friendships she had been able to develop from the training. These connections inspire her and create a venue for growth not only as a yogini but also as a person. Most importantly, she found that long-awaited friendship with herself, that sense of self-acceptance and love which took 27 years to build.
Of course, it wasn't all easy; there had been many sleepless nights with tears and a physically exhausting condition from detoxing old emotional baggage. Yet, somehow, after each setback, she felt lighter and more attuned to her purpose.
Change and Moving Forward
Candace describes her yoga journey as one in which everything we fear is usually exactly what we need. She barely resembles the woman who entered this yoga training. Lighter, stronger, more self-assured, Candace still practices yoga and implements the lessons learned in every avenue of life.
For her, yoga is not just a set of movements of the body; it's a lifelong commitment to bettering herself. Each time she steps onto her mat, Candace reconnects with the clarity and strength she first gained during her training. And as she looks to the future, she cannot see navigating life's next chapters without the wisdom and peace that yoga has brought her.
