Meet Tate O’Brien

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tate O’Brien.

Hi Tate, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
It always seems in hindsight that the path I have been walking is so clear. I have been practicing yoga for a long time, 7th grade or so, but really only used it as a physical practice to supplement my workouts and rock climbing in my early to mid-20s. After being diagnosed with a chronic illness and living through Covid lockdown alone I began searching for “more”.

I ended up taking a 200-hour yoga teacher training at a local studio in Omaha, NE, and fell in love with the deeper practices of yoga. I taught vinyasa-inspired classes at a climbing gym there and really enjoyed how it was a creative outlet for me, but I really loved teaching Yoga Nidra the most. There was something so beautiful about seeing a room full of humans relax fully.

I moved to Colorado Springs in May 2022 and adored it here, however, I still had an itch on the bottom of my feet. In October 2023 I moved to Sonoita, Arizona. A small quiet township outside of Tucson. I found a philosophy-focused 300-hour Yoga Teacher Training in Tucson that was absolutely amazing to be a part of.

I learned Thai Yoga Massage from one of my teachers in the program and thought it would be a great modality to share. Thai Yoga Massage is not only bodywork but also energy work. It’s gentle, nurturing, and in my belief healing. It’s absolutely an honor to hold people in such a sacred space. In this day and age, I think we need more spaces where people can be held gently.

Last October I completed my training in TYM to level 4. I am very proud of how hard I’ve worked to learn this practice. I take my studies seriously and from the feedback I’ve received from clients, I know it shows in my work. During the summer of 2023, I was trying to figure out if I should officially move back to Colorado Springs or go back to Arizona, as I had been bouncing between the two.

While I was in Colorado, I had been working with the Mountain Wellness Collective in Dillon, CO, and taught an Intro to Breath Work and Meditation Workshop for the city during their summer program. I think those weekend commutes really helped me make up my mind. I just loved the mountains, the water, the way I felt being in this environment.

I officially opened my business in January 2024. I did a soft opening at the end of October 2023 and took the time between to work out the finer details, like how to run a website and make posters, in order to launch as confidently as possible. It’s been an amazing journey deciding to root down here in Colorado Springs. Once I made that decision to stay here, everything else seemed to fall into place. I am beyond excited about my studio location above the Squash Blossom in Old Colorado City.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been smooth, but I have been patient. I am a firm believer that patience is not about how long you wait, but how you act while waiting. I have learned the most through the struggles, like learning about social media content creation, marketing, and business operations.

It’s one thing to passionately want to share my skills and talents, but it is another thing to bring it to fruition. I am so proud of myself for not giving up. I have to remind myself that I also used to know nothing about yoga, but with interest, effort, and time – I can pretty much learn anything to a capable degree.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I would say being a yoga teacher is a creative endeavor. My speciality is in restful yoga practices; Restorative Yoga, Yoga Nidra, and Thai Yoga Massage. Those practices I mostly do with clients one-on-one. However I occasionally teach classes online and do workshops, and I do have a weekly group class at the bouldering gym where I teach a vinyasa-inspired flow.

What sets me apart is my background. I have a Bachelor of Science in History and Anthropology, a passion for philosophy, and a curiosity for science and spirituality. I love knowing how my practices can affect human physiology, and I have such profound respect for these practices that have been around long before modern sciences.

I take a holistic approach to my practices, and I am proud of that. If anything knowing the science has deepened my own roots of spirituality. Knowing the history of my practices is the best way I can honor them. Having this innate desire for curiosity keeps me grounded in my never-ending studies. It’s all a practice and done with devotion.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I hope it grows! I would love to see more restful wellness practices like Thai Yoga Massage being shared. Yoga is certainly popular already as a physical practice, and I think we are nearly at the tipping point where the other parts of yoga will be more widely practiced. People are burnt out, rest and mindfulness is key to healing. I look forward to the cultural shift.

Pricing:

• Thai Yoga Massage $55 – 60 min
• Yoga Nidra $45 – 60 min
• Restorative Yoga $45 – 60 min
• Saturday Vinyasa Class $15 -60 min

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.YogawithTate.com
• Instagram: @Yoga.with.Tate
• Facebook: @Yoga with Tate

Image Credits
Jessica Parks