Meet our ambassador Brian Landers, yogi, adrenaline junkie, lover of life…
What brought me to the mat???… to be honest… it was truly about trying to find a way I could to go faster in a race car… that and three years of my wife bugging me to come take class with her. To her surprise, I woke up one Sunday morning and said let’s go. I will never forget my first class and that first F’ing Parivrtta Trikonasana. I was a pool of sweaty goo, and my life was forever changed.
I have always been a student of 1) Design, in particular the geometry of design, golden triangle, Fibonacci sequencing and how all natural objects (I am particularly fond of beetles – yes, the insects) are as beautifully mathematic as they are aesthetic and functional 2) Indian and Asian Art & Culture. From an early age, I remember school field trips to the Nelson. I was captivated by the styling, the imagery and stories in the art, so much so, that I studied it even more in college. After that 1st yoga practice… It all made sense… The geometry of the body creating connection & energy with the natural world to bring into focus the spiritual and mystical life. Now what to do with it… I was hungry for more. I signed up for my first teacher training with Gretchen Robinson. I never intended to teach, but I am just too naturally curious for my own good sometimes. The first time I was put in front of a room to teach… Again, it just clicked as I saw what I knew from the inside occurring to others. I realized the privilege to watch and help others transform was a beautiful gift from the universe.
Shortly after I started teaching regularly, I took a slight detour. We will just refer to it here as a real life savasana. I mention this not because it is anything that I want to be defined by, but because it changed my practice and me. It brought to light what words like attachment and fear really mean. Fear is not a handstand in the middle of the room. I am quite certain that many reading this have lived wonderful and full lives without having done one, and they will continue to do so if they never achieve it. Does that mean you should not work at it?… NO! Fear is about letting go…fear really is savasana.
Well, this event only fueled my fire. I used to travel back and forth to the west coast for business frequently; matter of fact, it was so frequent that I started to take early morning surf lessons before I would go into the office. I had not surfed in several years, but after my “savasana” I felt the urge to get back to the ocean. That year I surfed in Saulita Mexico, Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles (so many Dolphins playing in the water around me), Cowell’s Beach in Santa Cruz and Wickersham Beach in Uclulete, British Columbia (with the eagles and trading waves with sea otters). I mention this because it led me to Eoin Finn and another step on my yoga journey – an advanced teacher training with Eoin in the Vancouver Islands. Eoin brought playfulness to the mat, continued to fuel my love of the ocean and nature, sparked my interest in a deeper understanding of movement and anatomy and introduced me to the writings of Joseph Campbell.
My mythology? Continue to learn and grow… Next stop was a 200 YA Teacher Training with Emily Darling and Christy Burnett to find softness in both my personal practice and my teaching… Don’t get me wrong… my classes are intense and challenging but mindfully so. They are also very accessible. As my BIO states, This combination of intensity and sensitivity is why Brian has been described as the “perfect dichotomy.” I believe that if you are not going to challenge yourself on the mat, you are less likely to challenge yourself off the mat. There is enough evidence now to show the relationship between physical ailments and emotional stress. For me, freedom, connection and cleansing/releasing of ALL comes through physical intensity first. That is the approach I consciously and mindfully bring to the mat on my teaching journey.
As I am sure the Universe had in its plan… I found myself once again frequenting the West Coast for business. It was on one of those trips that I found Annie Carpenter. I knew from my first 5 minutes of practice with her that I HAD to study with her. Her knowledge of anatomy, movement and physical discernment has brought so much to my practice and my teaching. So… I set a goal… Start my 500 HR Teacher Training in 2013 with her… I am happy to report that it looks as though I will crush that goal and finish the 500 HR training only 10 months later with a greater understanding of commitment and discipline to the practice.
I was recently given an amazing opportunity by Lululemon to attend the Ambassador Summit. Imagine if you can, 110 truly inspired yogis and fitness professionals all in one place, The Four Seasons Hotel at the base of Whistler Mountain in Vancouver… Oh… I should mention we had the entire hotel to ourselves and a set up to make us feel at home… game room, kitchen, library, hot tubs etc… To say it was inspirational would be an understatement… Here are my top 6 take aways…
1. Define Your vision
2. Set goals to achieve Your vision
3. Identify self imposed barriers to achieving Your vision
4. Build on strengths to knock those barriers down
5. Be You. The inspired You. The Authentic Real You. The You – You were meant to be.
6. And be that You… really fucking loud!
And do it all with a sense of gratitude and humility with no expectation.
While writing this I have been on a plane returning to the USA from Shanghai, China. My 3rd trip to Asia in as many years… Yes Universe… I am a bit slow but starting to get it. Yoga Retreat? Maybe…
May it be said again… Meet our ambassador Brian Landers: A Yogi. A coach. A strategic designer of his life vision. A goal setter. A strength finder. A follower of bliss by being his inspired real self. And doing it… pretty fucking loud… there is still room on the volume knob…
Brian teaches yoga in the Kansas City area at Darling Yoga, 11711 College Blvd., Overland Park, Kan. 66210, (913) 498-1144; and at Yoga Gallery, 7941 Santa Fe Dr., Overland Park, Kan. 66204, (913) 432-5568.
For more information on his teaching schedule please visit:
http://www.brianlandersyoga.com
The Tome of Brian 