Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Warren.
Hi Justin, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I would like to start by saying thank you for the opportunity and space to share my love and passion for yoga. My name is Justin Warren, originally from Beaumont, Texas but raised in Houston, Texas. I graduated from Prairie View A&M University and currently located in Houston, Texas.
In 2017, after being laid-off from work, relocating back to Houston from Dallas, and searching for work – I needed something to take my mind off of the external factors that were weighing on me. Hurricane Harvey had just happened, and just as the city did, I had to restore myself. A cousin of mine was regularly attending yoga classes at BIG Power Yoga – Montrose and invited me to class one day. For context, I am pretty adventurous and spontaneous, and although I had never attended a class before, I was down to attend. As soon as I walked into the studio, I was greeted by a rush of hot air – it was a heated yoga class. I walked into the class unaware of what I had signed up for and walked out with a totally different perspective on yoga. This experience brought a sense of self-awareness to light. Ever since that first class, I went almost every day, participated in their 40 Day Breakthrough challenges, and never looked back. BIG Power Yoga became my home away from home.
During the pandemic, I practiced at BIG Power Yoga – Memorial and was having trouble finding my passion. I knew I enjoyed practicing yoga because it was different from your average group fitness class. As a result of a passion project, I enrolled in a yoga teacher training program at Lifetime Fitness at City Centre, where I completed my program with four other amazing individuals from two phenomenal instructors in December of 2021.
After completing my yoga teacher certification, the amount of love and support I received was heart-warming and fulfilling. It felt like I am finally living in my purpose.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Life is never smooth, there will always be obstacles. After completing my yoga teacher training, I was faced with the adversity of learning how to be an entrepreneur. I had to brand myself as a yoga teacher, find balance with yoga and my full-time job, and manage a positive mindset with life post-relationship during one of the most exciting times of my life.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My purpose is to bring yoga to Black and Brown communities, especially men. Yoga is not a community where we are as visible as those in the industry, and that’s okay – plan to change that. We are creating an experience for mindfulness, and self-awareness of body and breathe movements, because we need it. Yoga is for everybody, but we also have to create spaces for people to feel safe, at ease and also feel like they are able to relate to the environment that resonates with them.
One of my proudest moments thus far has been leading the 1st BROGA (Brothers doing Yoga) class in Dallas, Texas for a non-profit called Crowned Scholars. We brought 30+ men of color into a room to practice yoga. In my experience, this has never been seen before, so it was an honor to bring my practice and teachings to them. The feedback afterwards was heart-warming, so we agreed to continue the movement on a monthly basis. I also was able to teach the first yoga class at R3FUEL (a gym owned by Andrea Everline), and the energy and class attendance was truly incredible! If you haven’t experienced her gym yet, I highly recommend you run there, not walk. The energy that resides in her gym is amazing, and I am forever grateful and appreciative of her trusting me to bring the same level of energy and vibe through her space to practice yoga. As a result, we also agreed to offer R3FUEL Yoga classes on a monthly basis.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love Houston! Houston is home – I have practically been here all of my life, these are my stomping grounds. I am originally from Beaumont, Texas but relocated to Houston during grade school. The food, the culture, and the social life – all make Houston one of the greatest cities in the Nation. I can honestly say there isn’t anything I don’t like about Houston.
Contact Info:
- Website: linktr.ee/justothayogi
- Instagram: @JustoThaYogi
- TikTok: @JustoThaYogi
Image Credits:
Frank Xavier (@the_creativex)
