Episode 024: Blending Fitness with Magic and Mindset with Emily Flood
I am so excited to share this conversation with you because Emily Flood is exactly the kind of entrepreneur who proves that being authentically yourself is the fastest path to success. Known as "The Fitness Witch," Emily has created something truly unique in the fitness space by blending traditional fitness coaching with magical life coaching, witchcraft, and emotional regulation work.
This episode is packed with insights about finding your authentic voice as a neurodivergent entrepreneur, navigating the challenges of being different in traditional spaces, and creating a business that truly serves your soul. If you've ever felt like you don't quite fit the mold in your industry, this conversation will light you up.
The Journey from Teacher to Fitness Witch
Emily's entrepreneurial story started in early 2020 when she was competing in bodybuilding and people began reaching out for coaching. But here's what I love - she was a high school French teacher at the time, and like so many of us, she hit that wall where she realized she couldn't keep doing something that was draining her soul.
"I cannot imagine going back to teaching again because if there's any teachers listening, it is one of the most exhausting thankless careers ever," Emily shared. The breaking point came when she hired her first business coach who told her she could quit teaching within a month. That moment of possibility changed everything.
What strikes me about Emily's journey is how she trusted her intuition even when it meant leaving behind everything her family expected of her. Sometimes the biggest risk is staying exactly where you are.
Witchcraft Meets Fitness: A Revolutionary Approach
Here's where Emily's story gets really exciting. She discovered her calling wasn't just in traditional fitness coaching, but in blending that with Celtic shamanism and magical practices. I love how she describes using shamanic journeys - extended visualization meditations - to help her clients connect with their inner wisdom.
"I have lots of clients who aren't witches at all and probably would be like 'I don't know about this,' but we do visualization meditations and we do these shamanic journeys together," Emily explained. The results? Her clients hear guidance from their own future selves instead of just getting advice from their coach, which makes them infinitely more likely to take action.
This is brilliant because it puts the power back in the client's hands. Instead of Emily telling someone they need more rest, their future self delivers that message during a meditation. The impact is deeper and more lasting.
The Neurodivergent Entrepreneur Experience
As someone who received a late ADHD diagnosis, Emily understands the unique challenges we face as neurodivergent business owners. One thing that really resonated with me was her perspective on not fitting in.
"I used to have this limiting belief - lifelong belief especially being neurodivergent - that I don't belong, I don't fit in. And now I've chosen to view that as a good thing because I don't want to belong and I don't want to fit in because I want to change the fitness industry."
This mindset shift is everything. Instead of seeing our differences as obstacles, we can recognize them as our competitive advantage. Only 0.2% of female entrepreneurs ever make it to seven figures, and Emily believes that's exactly because success requires not fitting in.
Practical Strategies for ADHD Entrepreneurs
Emily shared some game-changing strategies that I immediately wanted to implement. Her "done board" instead of a to-do list is genius - she writes down tasks as she completes them rather than creating overwhelming lists of everything she thinks she should do.
"Instead of making a to-do list which always is way too long when you have ADHD because you think that you always have so much extra time during the day, I like to write down the tasks that I do get done because then it makes me feel really accomplished at the end of the day."
She also emphasized the importance of tuning into your body for decision-making, especially as a Human Design generator. When anxiety takes over and whispers "do more, you're not doing enough," she steps outside, takes seven deep breaths, and reconnects with what actually needs her attention.
Sensory Considerations in Fitness
One aspect of Emily's work that I find so important is how she addresses sensory sensitivities in gym environments. Traditional gyms with artificial lighting, loud music, and crowded spaces can be overwhelming for neurodivergent people, but Emily helps her clients find alternatives.
She found her perfect gym - a garage gym with open doors, natural light, and even a quiet room where she can go if she needs a moment to decompress. Her advice to shop around for smaller, locally-owned gyms that might offer unique accommodations is spot-on.
"If you are anxious going to the gym, there's a big stereotype in the fitness community where it's like 'just suck it up, people aren't looking at you' and that really invalidates the neurodivergent experience," Emily said. Instead, she works with clients to understand where their anxiety comes from and creates solutions that honor their needs.
The Magic of Authenticity
What I love most about Emily's story is how coming out as a witch initially cost her 200 Instagram followers, but then led to gaining over 36,000 TikTok followers who were truly her people. This perfectly illustrates what I always say - when you raise your vibration and show up authentically, you naturally attract higher-vibe people and opportunities.
Emily's work proves that there's room for all of us to be exactly who we are, even in traditional industries. By integrating her spiritual practices with fitness coaching, she's created something that serves people on a much deeper level than just physical transformation.
Beyond Physical Results
Emily's approach goes far beyond typical fitness coaching. She ties her clients' fitness results to their life results, asking questions like: "How will losing weight impact your confidence and how you show up in your life, your career, your business?"
Sometimes this means addressing why someone dreads going to the gym because they hate their job. Emily doesn't just push them to work out anyway - she helps them examine whether they need a new job or ways to make their current situation more enjoyable.
This holistic approach through her Fitness Witch Academy focuses on subconscious reprogramming rather than just trying different diet strategies. As Emily puts it, "What subconscious programming do you have around being worthy, around being good enough, that is the real reason why you haven't been successful before?"
Self-Care for Entrepreneurs
Emily emphasized something I talk about constantly - real self-care isn't facials and pedicures. It's setting boundaries that protect your well-being. For Emily, this means a strict 7:30 PM work cutoff to prevent the ADHD hyperfocus trap of working until 10 PM and then crashing.
She also incorporates grounding practices throughout her day, like stepping outside to put her feet in her apartment pool for just five minutes. These small moments of regulation prevent anxiety from building up and help her maintain focus for hours afterward.
I love that Emily has embraced being an early riser, waking at 5 AM to have peaceful hours for journaling, meditation, and content creation before the sun comes up. She's learned to work with her natural rhythms instead of fighting them.
Connect with Emily
Emily is doing incredible work in the fitness space, and I encourage you to check out her content and programs. You can find her on TikTok and Instagram @emyogi_fit, and she has a podcast called "Witchy Wellness with Em" available on all major platforms.
She offers a freebie of 50 magical rituals for your fitness journey, and her Fitness Witch Academy is perfect for anyone ready to approach their wellness journey from a deeper, more holistic perspective.
What I admire most about Emily is her commitment to helping people love their fitness journey instead of viewing it as punishment. If you're tired of traditional fitness approaches that ignore your emotional and spiritual needs, Emily's work might be exactly what you're looking for.
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Connect with Emily Flood:
