Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandee Hewlett.
Hi Brandee, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Just over five years ago, I quit my bartending career of 14 years to pursue my passion in holistic healing. I stopped drinking and very quickly became tired of the bar scene. I found myself becoming more focused on being intentional with my life, and I didn’t feel like drinking or serving alcohol was in alignment with that. It’s funny how it all came together. In the summer of 2015, I won a bartending competition hosted by Stoli Elit where the grand prize was a trip to Ibiza, Spain. I don’t recall the day I decided that I wanted to become a yoga teacher, but after returning to LA from Spain, the travel bug had bitten me, and I found myself on Google looking for yoga schools internationally. I came across a YouTube vlog from a former student of Trimurti Yoga School.
Five months later, I was on a plane to Goa, India to attain my first yoga teaching certificate. Those 30 days changed the trajectory of my life. I came home to LA and hit the ground running. By the end of my first year, I had taught over 500 classes. I wanted to be the best, so I studied, I taught, and I studied more. I was becoming immersed as I found myself committing all of my time to the practice. I took numerous styles of training to expand my knowledge. In late 2017, I took what I call a divine stumble upon a cannabis yoga teacher training. I immediately signed up. I remember thinking, “Wow, there are other people that love yoga and cannabis as much as I do?!” After that training, I dedicated myself to leading cannabis-enhanced yoga classes, sound baths, trainings and retreats. However, at the time, many yoga studios snubbed the idea of cannabis and yoga as a dual practice. Although discouraged, this did not halt my pursuit in bringing into fruition my vision. I did whatever I could to build momentum. I rented event spaces, rooftops, back yards, you name it! I invited my friends, their friends, and strangers on the street. I also started building relationships with cannabis companies to sponsor my events with goodies.
And then, 2020 and the Pandemic hit. As we all know, everything came to a full stop. It was a difficult time for everyone. It was hard for me because I lost the community I was working so hard to build. Fast forward to 2021, Yoga Nest in Venice reopened and I now host sold-out monthly cannabis enhanced events. My focus during these events is to educate people on cannabis use, social justice, racial equity, and working towards erasing the stigma that is still so prevalent today. I pair with cannabis brands with an emphasis on the same morals and commitments like Kanha, Flora and Bast, queer-owned cannabis brands Stone Road, women-owned and run, Potli. All companies share a commitment to social justice in the cannabis industry. A portion of event ticket sales goes to Last Prisoner Project, a non-profit that works with currently incarcerated cannabis prisoners. Their main mission is to set all 40,000 prisoners free. The next event is March 26th and I will be leading a retreat in Lake Arrowhead, CA in April. You can visit my website for more details on both.
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?
Trying to erase the stigma has been one of the toughest roadblocks I’ve faced. Even with cannabis being mentioned in the fourth Veda (earliest yogic text) as a sacred plant, I have been judged and snubbed by many yoga studios and owners when presenting the idea of pairing cannabis with a yoga practice, more than likely due to the heavy conditioning and programming that has been placed upon it for so many years. Lord Shiva, who is considered the God of Yoga, was said to have gifted us the plant to aid in deeper meditation and insights. I want to spread education that hasn’t been in the mainstream to people because I believe my generation is capable of erasing the stigma of this sacred plant. My reason for wanting to build these events and hold this space is because I know firsthand how healing cannabis and yoga have been for my own life. Having struggled with anxiety and depression, I have medicated with cannabis for years as a natural coping mechanism. Yeah, consuming cannabis is fun, but it is also deeply healing. I am determined to keep advocating for the benefit of pairing these two healing modalities.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Although I am known for my cannabis-enhanced yoga & sound baths, I also offer a wide range of healing tools in my business. I created 420 Hope Dealer as an avenue to help people heal through yoga, bodywork, sound healing, and my new high-end CBD wellness product line. I have many different offerings, the main goal and mission has always been to get people to the point where they can relax in a culture that doesn’t support or encourage it. My weekly classes at Yoga Nest Venice are Yin & Sound Bath every Monday at 7:30pm. I always say this class allows me to tuck people into bed. By the time they walk out of the studio they can float off into their beds for an amazing night’s rest. My product line has a sore muscle soak for the bath that has CBD, magnesium salts, essential oils, and moisturizing oils that help to relax and soothe your body. The bodywork I offer is a myofascial release technique that helps get people out of chronic pain and clears trauma from the body. I created this business because I saw a need for it in my community, and I wanted to be here to serve and support that.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I’m putting myself out there a bit, but to be honest and transparent I’ve been what they call ‘Cali sober’ for close to ten years now. I have been able to heal some deep-rooted traumas with the assistance of plant medicine, which allowed me to leave all drugs and alcohol behind. I feel this is the reason I am so passionate about everything I do. I got a second chance at life and I am not going to take that lightly. Cannabis is medicine. It’s time we start recognizing that.
Pricing:
- Cannabis enhanced yoga class $45
- CBD products $16-40
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.420hopedealer.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/420hopedealer/
Image Credits:
Laura Witherspoon & Trooth
