By TCTV Founder Rosalyn Fay

Meeting Isa “GlitterGirl” Isaacs came out of a rather serendipitous event. I was sitting at a cafe waiting to go into a yoga class nearby when a guy approached me and asked if he could join me. Assuming I was being hit on and slightly annoyed (yet also a little intrigued by his courageous move), I hesitantly agreed. After a while of surprisingly interesting conversation, I explained how I was looking for inspiring women to feature on my website. He immediately said “I know someone who would be perfect for you.” He was right. I’ve been in awe of Isa Isaacs since first looking over her website. By the time I finally got an interview with her, I was giddy. Let’s just say, it was so good, I decided to create a two-part series.

I would describe Isa as an empiricist of life. During the interview she eloquently took me on a personal journey of her life and the myriad of lessons she has internalized along the way. Isa grew up a “good girl who did what she was told,” living in accordance with the values of a good American citizen– working hard and climbing up in her high tech corporate job, saving and investing her money, etc. At the same time, she was struggling with obesity, repetitive strain (RSI) in her arms from her computer work and depression after her doctors informed her she had to choose between her passion, piano, and her job. Fortunately soon after, a door opened for Isa which would change her life. She was introduced to the SF underground dance community and “Poi”. Isa found herself dancing her heart out on the weekends and spinning her poi during her work breaks to help ease the pain of her RSI. Soon after, she began wearing glitter makeup to work and that’s when, she says, her “lifestyles began to clash.” She was fired from her six-figure income job and found herself living in a converted raw warehouse with several other roommates. Eight years later, Isa is the founder of Temple of Poi, and a world-renown poi spinner and fire dancing artist. She says, “I have less than half as much salary but 10 times as much joy.” She says she owes it all to her poi practice and the profound life lessons it has taught her.