We were lucky to catch up with Courtney Rohan recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Courtney , thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
Recently, I completed a residency with a non profit housed on the west side of Charlotte. The work was based on the city’s playbook in which the city had compiled maps to display demographics, culture, and interviews that allowed residence a voice in order to share their needs. Before beginning the residency, I was asked to consider one issue brought to light within the playbook. One of the things that stood out to me most was how many people mentioned how much litter they encountered in the area. As a result, all of the work that I created was built of refuse.
Of the art created, I was able to assemble work that showed our abundant consumption and its impacting internal and external litter. This work is most meaningful to me as I hope that those who enjoy my art are also changed by it. As a health and wellness professional and a chronic cancer patient, I am always looking for ways to remind us all of our influence on the things and people around us and the greatness we have within us to make positive change happen.
Courtney , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am artist, a facilitator, and writer of multiple genres. Born and raised in Connecticut, I attended a performing arts school, formerly known as The Academy of Performing Arts. I was trained in vocal artistry and writing from which I won several contests to sing in Russia during a foreign exchange opportunity and read poetry in Ireland as a Sunken Garden poetry winner.
In college, first at Hampton University, and then Rutgers University, I continued to study English, and minored in psychology. After receiving my Masters Degree in Education from Arcadia University, I began teaching middle school English/language arts, After several years of hard work in the inner city of Philadelphia, I married, had a son, and followed my then husband to New Hampshire for his job advancement. It was then, in Dover, New Hampshire, that I struggled to find work within my profession, so I committed to a yoga practice and a yoga teacher training in energy flow. I practiced and studied Hatha yoga through the 200 hour training, learning Ashtanga, Kundalini yoga, and Thai Yoga Massage.
Since then, I have moved about the country learning more about myself as a healing and visual artist and teaching diverse audiences, to include but not limited to high school students, teachers, yogis, entrepreneurs. I offer a variety of original courses to include Yoga Fusion, African Dance Meets Yoga, Yoga on the Pilates Ball, Align at the Heart and the Dream Sessions. In addition to the residency, I recently published a co-authored poetry book called “The World is Still Chaos.” As Courtney Rohan Yoga, I offer my services as a wellness, writing coach and facilitator, online and in person, through workshops and community gatherings where I live in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
I had no idea about fellowships or residencies and I wish I had known earlier, but I am so happy I know now. It gave me more confidence about my craft and space to create what my heart and community was calling for, while being paid. For too many years, I created art that I hoped someone would see, bartering with my art and singing at funerals and in front of half-drunk Karaoke and Open Mic audiences. I sold myself and my work short unable to see the gift that I was sharing, thinking it just a little thing.
Though it still remains a challenge to get in front of the people who will value the work at times, having learned of residencies and fellowships, new opportunities have been made known to me. I am more excited now for the work that I will create and share in the future because of my first of many residencies to come. I know my work to be healing in more ways than one and I look forward to sharing it with people who will enjoy it.
Have you ever had to pivot?
In 2010, I was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia (CLL). My son had just turned five, and I had just turned 30, my then-husband, 31. Needless to say, we were all young, and the diagnosis shocked us. As a healthy yogi, mother and wife, I couldn’t fathom what it would mean to me and my small family. I decided to go through chemotherapy. My family and friends supported me as I continued to teach 7th grade English at Chapin Middle School in South Carolina and yoga at Blue Cross Blue Shield and sublease a space for private clients. I had a lot on my plate.
At that time though, I tried to live life like normal. It was not. Many times, I had to call things off or ask for help. I know as an English teacher that each sentence must have a verb to be complete. However “No” had to become a complete sentence during my hardest days, if I was going to be able to say “Yes” ever again. As well, I learned that asking for help does not make one weak. Being vulnerable is one of life’s hidden gems that can only be picked up when one is willing to put down their pride. I learned how to pivot to support the moments as they came, and I continue to learn this as I thrive with this chronic diagnosis today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://courtneyrohan.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneyrohan/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneyrohan
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/courtney-rohan
Image Credits
Micheal Maxwell
QC Family Tree