Mya Cato helps turn the world into a better place, one yoga pose at a time.
Not many children are offered the opportunity to travel the world by the age of 13 before landing as a local in Greater Tampa Bay. Yes, it is thrilling to see faraway places at such a young age as a member of a global military family, but there is another side to the whirlwind of international travel. Mya Cato can share that bittersweet journey she experienced firsthand.
Adolescence is a time of maturation and finding a place in the world. After literally seeing just how big that world is can make finding the way more challenging. That is the story of local yoga guru Cato. At the height of her professional customer service career, the young Cato was a lost soul, until she delved into her first downward dog.
“Yoga found me at a time when I was very misguided and unfulfilled,” Cato said.
The practice helped Cato heal her emotional wounds while cultivating an irreplaceable sense of peace. Her lifestyle brand and yoga studio, Meeyogi, was born out of the desire to share the experience with the community.
“I personally believe that we are all meant to be of service to one another,” Cato said. “My practice has allowed me to release what’s trapped and to be empowered to lead effectively in my community.”
Cato’s truth is tangible and magnetic. Her relatable struggles and transformation now sustain her mental and physical well-being while respecting all life around her. At age 27, she began making more drastic changes to her diet and environmental care, like choosing a plant-based lifestyle and recycling everything from plastic to clothing.
Meeyogi reflects Cato’s lifestyle choices and shares them with the community.
In Cato’s own words, Meeyogi “embodies Yoga and embraces entrepreneurship,” and it brings “like-minded individuals together to reduce social inequality and redesign sustainable living.”
Cato believes the sooner we all realize our connection to nature, the sooner we will understand the necessity to honor and give thanks to all that nature provides.
“The great sages, mystics and yogis of history all speak about the positive impact on your being when you decide to walk barefoot on soil and sand,” Cato said. “Our ancestors rest on the grounds beneath us, and it is our due diligence to pay homage and respect to them because from the ground comes our food and other essential things for us to live.”
Cato’s passion for leading a natural, holistic life inspired her to write a book. She put a pen in hand to answer all the questions her students had about her lifestyle in, “Meeyogi’s Beginner Guide To Yoga.” Mya continues to spread the wealth with her upcoming Reclaiming Wellness workshop Feb. 26 and a Trap Yoga Social Feb. 27.
The most poignant point Cato can make to her neighbors in GTB is that this way of life is not just an exercise set aside for a particular pact.
“Yoga is for everyone — every body type, gender and cultural background,” Cato said. “It is a way of living, a discipline to keep you aligned in the mind, body and soul. Everyone should practice yoga, from birth to death.”
Want some of what GTB’s neighbor has to offer? Stop into Meeyogi and take a class. Want even more? Request Cato for a seminar or training. Her website offers plenty of ways to make yoga a new lifestyle that alters personal health and planetary sustainability through an online community and a wellness lounge. It is all just one Lotus pose away at 813-906-9642.
By Angela Underwood / Photos by Jensen Taylor
