Seattle Yoga News is on a mission to find and highlight all of the hidden, and maybe not so hidden, gems in our yoga community and beyond. We want you to learn about their experiences and perspectives, but also a bit more about their personalities, so we have a few fun questions for them. This week’s spotlight is turned towards Liandren Brown.
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED WITH YOGA?
As a collegiate athlete, playing volleyball for the University of Washington, I was looking for a healthy balance of physical work and calmness of mind. My life at the time was hectic, challenging and offered very little ease. My yoga practice began with weekly Hatha yoga classes. And slowly transitioned into Bikram and Power Vinyasa with different Master Teachers in the Seattle area. I found that my favorite Power Vinyasa instructors had poise, authentic presence and heart-felt classes. Yoga offers me a chance to work both physically and mentally, balancing movements with effort and ease.
WHAT KIND OF TRAININGS HAVE YOU PURSUED?
- 2 x 200hr Teacher Trainings
- 8-week advanced mentorship program
- Art of Hands-On Assisting training + Advanced Art of Hands-On Assisting training
- Pre-Natal and Post-Natal training
HOW HAS YOGA INFLUENCED YOUR LIFE AND WHO YOU ARE AS A PERSON?
I was going through a tough time when I started practicing yoga and didn’t really know if I was happy in my life. I had a career that I wanted to move away from. I was in a relationship that wasn’t great. I was in search of myself! Yoga helped me build strength and ultimately more confidence in my mental well-being. I was able to stand on my two feet and own my strength to find stability in who I was.
Once I stood in my full potential as a yoga instructor, career opportunities started to fall into place and my life as a whole seemed to make sense again. I regained a sense of direction and purpose! Now, I am a teacher of teachers. That in itself is an accomplishment. It’s a way to give back to the yoga community and lead the next generation of powerful yoga instructors!
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE LACK OF INCLUSION OF BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE IN YOGA SETTINGS?
Our wellness community has a lot of work to do on ensuring that our BIPOC community continues to be well represented in studios both as students and teachers. We’re in the middle of a racial awareness shift nation-wide, so I’m excited to see how this will continue to evolve and open doors.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE I HAVE FACED AS A BLACK YOGA TEACHER?
I have had a challenging time with unconscious bias from my peers. One of my challenges has been the observation that other professionals in this space, have been by all accounts, very enthusiastically promoting teachers that look like them, think like them, and are usually of the same race (white). I don’t typically get that same promotion, even though we work together and have great report in person.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST INSPIRATIONAL MOMENT YOU’VE EXPERIENCED AS A YOGA STUDENT AND A TEACHER?
Most inspirational moment as a student:
Hearing my teachers speak about their life stories and emotions that are carried in the body, gave me so much inspiration to lead a life where sharing my story is about regaining my power and where conscious breathing can open up portals of the body that heal my soul.
Most inspirational moment as a teacher:
Graduating 7 out of 10 students in my first co-facilitated Yoga Teacher Training as BIPOC
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE YOGA RELATED BOOK?
My favorite yoga related book is “Yoga of the Subtle Body: A Guide to the Physical and Energetic Anatomy of Yoga.
WHAT HELPS YOU GET BACK ON YOUR YOGA MAT WHEN YOU ARE FEELING DEMOTIVATED?
I actually have a hard time staying off my mat! My practice has become a daily ritual for me and something I look forward to every morning.
OTHER THAN PRACTICING YOGA, CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT SOME OF YOUR WELLNESS & SELF-CARE HABITS?
I balance out all of the yoga with runs 3x a week and resistance training 2x a week and nightly stretching. With being a mom of 2, my free time is very limited. Dedicating time to work out and go for walks is the boost I need to feel refreshed!
WHO IS THE YOGI WE SHOULD FEATURE NEXT?
Who do I nominate next? Breezy Charles. She has been an advocate for black lives and amplifying black voices during this uprising. Plus, she is a constant face for Nordstrom’s wellness presence online!
Liandren Brown’s Bio: Liandren first practiced yoga in 2004. As a collegiate athlete, playing volleyball for the University of Washington, she was looking for a healthy balance of physical work and calmness of mind. Her life at the time was hectic and challenging with no ease. Liandren, then began practicing Hatha, Bikram and Power Vinyasa with different Master Teachers in the Seattle area. She found that Baptiste Vinyasa yoga offered her a chance to work both physically and mentally, with a deep dive in co-creating a yoga class to not only inspire others but to lead with conviction. Liandren currently holds over 2000 hours of teaching experience. She creates a flow for students that allows them to experience the power of yoga as it has changed her life, through her lense. Her classes are physically challenging and yet playful. Liandren’s motivational stories during class connect the dots, for students, between the dynamic asana flows and the power one can have off the yoga mat and into the world.