Meet Iman Brewton of IBDivine Yoga

Today we’d like to introduce you to Iman Brewton.

Iman, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
It was the year 2010, I was a senior in high school preparing to finally go off to college and start a new life as a young adult. A few months before graduation, I experienced my first anxiety attack.

I remember feeling very afraid, I didn’t know what was happening and I ran into my Mom’s room telling her that I needed to go to the hospital. My heart was racing, and it felt like I was dying. Of course, when we got there, they said everything was fine, and I was having a panic attack.

At some point, I was prescribed Xanax to help with the attacks. I went off to college, and I was in this period of figuring out life and who I am beyond what I’ve been told by society, my family or anyone else. It was a scary time in my life because I was breaking down a lot of illusions to get to the core of myself. I stopped taking the medicine because I didn’t like the way it made me feel.

I was in the gym one day, and I remember seeing yoga on the class schedule. I’ve heard how relaxing it can be and peace was something I desperately needed at the time. I was curious about this practice, so I gave it a go. Once I took that first class, I started looking for more around the city. As I began getting into it more, I noticed a shift in my health.

The anxiety/panic attacks started to dwindle away, and I was amazed at the overall improvement of my life. I stepped in love with this new modality, and it opened me up to the world of holistic health. I was interested in pursuing a certification in yoga, and I started teacher training in 2015, one year after I graduated college. I wasn’t able to finish the training because I ended up moving home at the end of the year.

When I moved back to my hometown, I found a studio to do my training, and I went on that journey, which was such a valuable learning experience. I became a certified yoga instructor in April of 2017. Since then, I’ve been teaching and sharing a practice that has helped me completely shift my quality of life in mind, body, and spirit.

Has it been a smooth road?
It definitely wasn’t smooth. I’ve been an introvert for most of my life, so getting into this practice and wanting to teach it required being vulnerable, connecting with other people and speaking up. These were things I shied away from, but I had to step outside of my comfort zone to do what my heart desired.

Another challenge was moving back home and letting go of the teacher training I was pursuing at the time. I was on a roll, and I didn’t want to disrupt that process. There was a part of me that was afraid of failure.

In my mind at the time, going back to live with my mom was considered a failure because I was supposed to be a college graduate, living on my own with a career to support myself. However, going back home is what allowed me to finally do what I genuinely wanted to do.

We’d love to hear more about what you do.
I am a freelance yoga instructor. IBDvivine Yoga was created to guide those that I work with in finding their power. Whether that is the power to create true inner peace, improving their mental health or standard of living. I offer private sessions, and I partner with businesses that look to hire yoga instructors for public classes. I assist my clients using postures, meditation, journaling, gentle massages with essential oils and breathing exercises.

I cater my private sessions to the needs of my clients. It could be as simple as teaching pranayama (breathing) technique. If you give someone a tool like that, it can shift the way they respond to the different stressors in life. I’ve been practicing on my own longer than I’ve been teaching. It feels like I’m just getting started so there are some aspects that I’m still figuring out. I am proud of the fact that I am able to give something of value that can help someone change their health and I am a believer in the saying “your health is your wealth.”

What sets me apart is my story and what I was able to break through. I can relate to many people who may be experiencing the same thing and show them that getting to the other side is possible if they are willing to do the work. I will continue to be a student as long as I’m teaching. My willingness to learn is what will help me become a better teacher.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I have only been living in Georgia for one year. I am still learning about the city myself. However, I definitely think the Atlanta area is a good place to start because there are opportunities to teach and from my personal experience the people here seem to value yoga.

Pricing:

• Single Private Session: $40
• Couples Monthly Package: $120 (includes 1 session per week. $160 includes 2 sessions per week.
• Individual Monthly Package: $150 (includes 1 session per week. $200 includes 2 sessions per week.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ibdivine.com
• Email: ibdivine5@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ibdivineyoga
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IBDivineYoga/
• Other: https://g.co/kgs/Xqaotw , @sadiedivine

Image Credit:
Marsha Brouard, Mimi’s Aspiring Focus Photography, Cultured South

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