Conversations with Yolanda López Haugabook

Today we’d like to introduce you to Yolanda López Haugabook.

Yolanda López, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Hola! My name is Yolanda López Haugabook, but most people call me Yo. I am the Founder and CEO of YoFit; I’m a hybrid athlete, a trauma-informed wellness and energy alignment guide, and co-founder of Sin Miedo, a BIPOC Trail Running Community.

I’ve been in the wellness space since 2011, and it all started with my own personal weight loss journey. In that first year, I lost 100 pounds, and along the way I also helped guide others through their weight loss journeys, some to 100 lbs like myself.

I was also teaching dance fitness classes full time, which I loved because it showed me how powerful movement and music can be for healing.

In those early stages, I got involved with a nutrition company, and I, along with our team, created one of the first and largest community fit camps in Nashville, drawing over 100 people at times. That experience really established me as a coach and a leader in the wellness space.

I still remember my very first dance fitness class as an instructor. I walked in (this was before my weight loss) and there must have been 60 or 70 people in the room. I could hear the whispers, all of which I understood because I am bilingual. Some people walked out, some looked curious to see what this big girl was all about, and others welcomed me with love.

Although that hurt my feelings, when the music came on and filled my body, there was no stopping me! That is when I knew that I would be doing this for as long as I could.

I did sneak behind the sound system a couple of times, though, to catch my breath, thinking I might not make it through, but I was determined to feel alive again.

At that time, I was trying to end a toxic relationship and was dealing with depression that started postpartum. I knew I had to take my life back and my son, who has special needs, needed me.

Unfortunately, what I had been taught culturally and societally was quick-fix dieting, food deprivation, that depression isn’t real, and that working out as hard as possible every single time is the only way to see results. But I knew there had to be and wanted there to be another way.

Over the years there were lots of ups but also downs, and at one point I realized I was doing the same things I had always done, but my body wasn’t responding the same way. That’s when I started noticing hormonal changes and knew something deeper was happening.

Right before the pandemic, I decided to take action, and then… the world shut down. But I was once again determined to find a way, so I went back to basics, earned my certification in macro nutrition, and created what was then known as Macros with Yo. I got the fittest I had been in a while and once again used that knowledge to help others do the same.

With the pandemic full-blown, I had to pivot the way that I was teaching and coaching. Everything went virtual, and although at first it seemed like a new opportunity to try something different, I didn’t realize I was about to go through a whirlwind of losses. Unknown to me, I was already grieving the loss of my in-person connection with my wellness community.

Once I adjusted, I experienced one of the biggest losses of all. I lost all of my living grandparents back-to-back. I had never experienced a loss so close and so big. I tried to pretend I was okay, but inside my heart was broken and my energy was scattered.

Then once everyone started to go back to “real life,” I experienced loss again because that wasn’t in the cards for me. My son lives with autism, and at the time I felt it was my responsibility to advocate for his safety. With so many unknowns still out there, we decided to continue isolating, and that didn’t change until September 2023.

All of that grief taught me the truth about wellness. It isn’t just about the body. It’s about the health of the mind and the spirit too. And during that time, my grief started to manifest in my body in the form of weight again. But this time it was different, I began to see it not as failure but as a message. My body was holding on to the pain I hadn’t processed, and it reminded me how deeply our emotions live within us.

Losing my grandparents also shifted my purpose. I realized they lived their lives without many of the experiences I have now. They sacrificed so much so my parents could have better, and then my parents did the same for me and my siblings; and I needed to live. Not just for the sake of their sacrifice but more so for the fact that I owed myself a thriving, vibrant life.

For years, I carried an unspoken gift, a calling to understand, to see beyond, and to live in alignment with my intuition, and I couldn’t silence it any longer. I made it my mission to align with the truest version of myself, but that kind of unlearning and realignment takes time, tools, and it is work.
That’s when I began studying meditation, holistic healing, energy work, and sound therapy. I paired all of that with what I already knew about movement and nutrition, and it became what YoFit is today.

Today, YoFit is unapologetic; some may consider it a disruptive approach to wellness. I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all. I believe wellness is often gatekept, especially from communities like mine. But it is our birthright to thrive, and it is time we take it back.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been smooth at ALL. For me, the biggest challenge had been learning how to continuously pivot and realign with whatever was happening in my life and not be hard on myself about having to do so. I’ve faced depression, grief, motherhood, a complete shift in how I work, and so much more. Each time I thought I had things figured out, life reminded me I needed to adjust again.

That is actually one of the reasons I do energy alignment work now. I’ve come to believe that wellness isn’t about creating a perfect routine you never break or things always going as planned. It’s about making room for life inside of your wellness plan, not trying to squeeze wellness into the margins of your life. Because life is always going to happen.

During the pandemic, while advocating for my son and navigating isolation, my biggest loss was actually myself. Not because of him, but because I didn’t know yet that I could also choose me too. I thought I had all the pieces of my life in order, and that getting fit and healthy was choosing myself, but I was missing out on so much of my own growth and joy that didn’t stem from a fitness routine.

As moms, we sometimes believe our lives stop belonging to us once we have children. And even just as women, we give our lives to everything but our own needs and desires. I’ve come to learn that is when life really begins, when we give ourselves permission to reconnect with who we are and who we have always been.

When I started stepping back into “real life,” I returned to teaching dance fitness classes. Just as I felt like I was finding myself again, that ended for reasons beyond my control. At first, I thought I was losing a part of myself I had just regained. What I didn’t realize was that it was opening the door for new adventures and new ways to reconnect with myself.

Before my 40th birthday in September 2024, I made a bold decision: I signed up for my very first marathon. I wasn’t a runner, and honestly, I never thought of myself as one. Nor did I have much interest in becoming one, but my husband, who has been a runner for more than 10 years and is also my best friend, ally, and the saving grace of my heart, mentioned the Every Woman’s Marathon and I was intrigued. A group of women he knew were signing up, and I don’t even think he was trying to convince me. But I felt the universe nudging me, and I went for it.

I trained for five months with All Strength Nashville (shout out to that amazing place I like to call the home I can always count on) and Fleet Feet (where I first found out that running changes everything).

That was the first time in a long time that I found community for myself instead of me being the one creating it for others.

At the same time, my own YoFit community, which I call the Diamond Tribe, was growing. It started virtually during the pandemic when I lost my in-person community, and it became a space where I could pour into others while also developing my own gifts. The Diamond Tribe gave me the strength to eventually return to in-person work, and today it continues to grow as YoFit reaches more people.

I crossed the finish line of my first marathon in November of 2024, and everything shifted. Since then, I’ve embraced being a runner, a hybrid athlete, and someone who chooses to reconnect with herself again and again.

It hasn’t always been easy. There are still moments I feel guilty for choosing myself, but I’ve learned that is exactly what this life is about, choosing yourself even if it is just one percent more each day.

That is how you claim your birthright to thrive.

The best part is that my son gets to see it. He cheers when I bring home a medal, he knows when I am heading out for a run or workout, and sometimes he races around the house saying he is fast like Mom.

That keeps me grounded in the truth that choosing myself also teaches him joy, resilience, and confidence.

And this journey has opened doors I couldn’t have imagined. If I hadn’t learned to align with my life again and again, and trusting the divine orchestration of it all, I would have missed opportunities that became life changing.

It has been this kind of growth that recently allowed me to build Sin Miedo, a BIPOC Trail Running Community, with my husband and some friends from a place of alignment and strength. Sin Miedo centers joy, education, and representation for BIPOC communities on the trails and in the outdoors, and it is another way I get to live my message of alignment and possibility.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Today my work lives through YoFit, where I guide people into wellness that is aligned with the life they deserve. I bring together all of the tools needed and personalize a plan so people can heal and thrive in a way that is true to them and sustainable.

I am passionate about helping people reconnect with their bodies, calm their minds, and strengthen their spirit. Specializing in trauma informed energy alignment, and helping people release the pressure of perfection and instead create practices that support their life experience.

My approach is unapologetic and sustainable because I do not believe in one size fits all or quick fixes. Whether you are a parent, single, a professional, a student, or even a CEO, my work is about opening doors so people from all walks of life, especially those who have felt unseen, or can’t find alignment, start the healing process.

I am most known for creating spaces that feel safe, welcoming, and empowering. I do that through my sessions with YoFit and also through Sin Miedo. Both are different expressions of the same mission: to show people they belong, to help them feel supported, and to guide them back to joy.

I strive daily to live what I teach even if not perfect. I am not afraid to share my struggles and I do not pretend to have a perfect routine. I know what it feels like to lose yourself and to have to rebuild piece by piece.

With that I bring my culture, my lived experiences, my voice, and my deep respect for community into every space I hold.

Besides being proud of my self for how far I have come and how much I have healed, what I’m most proud of is seeing people reclaim themselves. Whether it is someone taking their first deep breath in one of my meditation circles, finishing their first run on the trails with Sin Miedo, someone realizing they do not have to shrink who they are to belong, or even seeing someone set boundaries for the first time; those moments remind me why I do this work.

They remind me that wellness is not just about personal success. It is about collective healing, representation, and creating spaces where we can all thrive.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I am definitely more of a bookworm. In my beginning stages, one of the books that influenced me was How to Be a Bawse by Lilly Singh, because it gave me the push to go after my goals with courage. Over time I found myself drawn to what I like to call alignment poetry and short form collections. My absolute favorite is A Gentle Reminder by Bianca Sparacino. It is a collection I always come back to because it speaks to self worth, boundaries, and remembering who you are. Books like The Pivot Year by Brianna Wiest and In This Season by Jenna no Dale also offer the kind of daily reflections and truths that keep me grounded and remind me to keep choosing alignment and growth. Most recently, The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (thanks to my friend Emily and a beautiful book club she facilitated) has impacted me deeply, reminding me that every choice and every path we take can create a meaningful life.

For anyone looking to start exploring the outdoors, one app I recommend is AllTrails. It makes it easy to discover new places to walk, hike, or run, and can be a simple first step in getting connected with nature.

Along with that, I always come back to my own tools, which I have developed through YoFit. I offer free resources on my website to help people begin their wellness journey in ways that feel approachable and aligned.

And recently I started listening to the EarthMovers Podcast, which highlights powerful women and BIPOC leaders in the outdoors. I love supporting that work, uplifting their voices, and I am honored to also be featured as a guest.

Pricing:

• Group Coaching Community Access: $99/month
• Pop-Up Classes or Group Sessions: Starting at $199 * Including Dance Fitness, Sound Healing, Breathwork, and Meditation sessions
• Energy Alignment Sessions: Starting at $111 for a single session * Couples sessions available * Monthly membership options available for both individual and couples sessions
• Custom Packages: Available upon request
• Facilitator YoFit Academy Cohort Coming Soon

Contact Info:

• Website: https://yofitofficial.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yofitofficial?igsh=N3U1ZjNsMHo1cTN1&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/yofitruns?igsh=MWVhdHZwYm16eDIwOA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/sinmiedotrailrunners?igsh=MWt5OHN5MTZoeGRtOA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr