We’re looking forward to introducing you to Courtney Smith. Check out our conversation below.
Courtney, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Listening to the new Clipse album while hiking or biking in the stunning Elk Mountain range with my partner
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Courtney Smith, the founder, owner, teacher, bawse of Thug Yoga®️. Thug Yoga is an all-levels, all-homies flow, themed per month to dive deeper into the mind/body connection and curated to rap music, lyrics & history. The affordable price of $10pp, includes complimentary mats and Hair of the Downward Dogg from our sponsors. Born in a snowboard shop, this style developed out of a necessity for inclusivity, authenticity and affordability in yoga. With our “do less, breathe more” mantra, beginners and those with injuries are welcomed to practice and benefit from the class with a variety of pose options. Paying homage to our rap heros and O.G. yogis alike, we integrate hip hop history with yoga philosophy and find our flow to the beats of the greats. Inspired by 2Pac’s definition of a “thug” (one who has no home, but holds his head high and overcomes obstacles to succeed), we created a “backronym” as he often did with words. T.he H.ustle U. G.ive Y.oga O.pens G.reater A.wareness is our acronym to remind us the true purpose of yoga. A portion of the monthly proceeds from Thug Yoga go to the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation as a standing donation.
We are currently planning our 3rd Thug Yoga/Surf Retreat, this time to Costa Dulce, Nicaragua in October. After amazing retreats to Morocco and Indonesia, the Nicaragua retreat sold out within weeks of its announcment.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
Moving to Sydney, Australia from Arkansas. It was like a total rebirth into the world I was craving but didn’t know existed. All expectations that were placed on, mostly females, in the South were completely dispelled. I met so many different people of all walks of life, but in Sydney, they all seemed to be doing exactly what they wanted to do and turning up their noses to the so-called societal norms. Some of the smartest, most successful people I met did not have college degrees. Some of the happiest couples did not have kids on purpose. Some were not married but had the most incredible, solid, trusting, committed and FUN relationships. Some turned down career promotions to take a sabatical and travel the world. There was a beautiful “live and let live” vibe there among nationalities, religions, races, genders, ages, sexual orientation and lifestyles that felt like Utopia. Even among rival rugby nations, there was solid banter but always mutual respect. Nothing was taken too seriously, exept holidays! Everyone took their holidays (vacations) and they were much longer than what was given in the US. Very few people worked past 6pm and rarely took work home with them. Nothing happened over the Christmas holidays up to Australia day. We were encouraged to take off work for the Olympic events, considering the historical nature of having it in your own city. The work-life balance was fully in tact.
I had been raised in the deep south of the US and, while my parents always promoted the “you can do whatever you want” mentality, all around me was pressure to get married ASAP, have many babies, stay at home and cook, clean, make your mans happy. The only alternative was to go to college, maybe go to grad school, get married, have a short career and THEN have kids.
The liberty I felt in Australia gave me the breathing room to become the person I was meant to be.
When you were sad or scared as a child, what helped?
Music. Our house was always filled with Motown music or at Christmas… the Nutcracker and other classical music that my mom loved. When my parents would be out of town and my grandmother kept me, she sang John Denver. My other grandma always sang the Temptations and these songs still bring comfort today.
My brother and I listened to the Gap Band a lot and made up our own dances. It made us laugh and feel close as a family.
During one of the hardest times of my life… the poetic lyrics of 2Pac inspired my fight to keep going, the smooth voice of Biggie gave me comfort and I felt like both were my guardian angels.
Music has always been, and is to this day, my life line.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
Delivering Thug Yoga to the world. Every single person on Earth deserves and can benefit from the practice of yoga. Whether it’s simply learning to breathe, focusing your mind with meditation or moving your body through physical postures.. yoga is for everyone. And it doesn’t have to look like any particular package. Whether it’s an intense 90-minute Astanga practice in full sanskrit or listening to rap music while breathing and moving through physical postures dedicated to that rap artist, if fluctuations of the mind are stilled, then yoga happens and the individual melts into universal consciousness like a drop of water into the ocean.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
Sounds crazy, but I feel most at peace when traveling in a foreign country, meeting new people, tasting new foods, exploring new locations, experiencing new cultures… where everything is a new experience for me. I just feel really connected to the world. And even through all the new experiences, I’m always reminded that we are all more alike than different and most people just want peace and love.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.808meditate.com https://www.thugyoga.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thugyoga/
- Twitter: @thugyoga
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thugyoga/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@808medit8
Image Credits
Sunny Ivanson, Michael Turner, Matthew Wardenaar
