Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Elian Haan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Elian, thanks for joining us today. Setting up an independent practice is a daunting endeavor. Can you talk to us about what it was like for you – what were some of the main steps, challenges, etc.

Believe in yourself, and look back at what you have accomplished and invested thus far. One of the things I didnt realize when I was younger is that I had a lot to offer. I didn’t believe in my own talent and well earned expertise. It is difficult to move into a different mindset when you have always believed the same lies, sometimes it is the lies we tell ourself, mostly they are embedded by our past and/or traumatic experiences. I was happy with my work, teaching fitness and yoga, but scared to see myself as influential or inspirational. I suffered from an imposter syndrome, negative thinking and moved through life without a clear purpose. When a yoga student told me I should open my own studio, except having many classes in many different places, I found the courage to do so. The challenges were still huge, cash flow, hiring employees, time management, marketing, capital etc. but looking back, I did what I knew and I knew it well.

With that opening of my own studio, and 10 years later my own life coaching practice, I learned through feedback and connecting with my students & clients that I am highly skilled, experienced, talented and an inspiration to them through what I do. I found my purpose, knowing and believing that I can help, and shine my light onto someone else.

My advice would be to find out WHY you are doing what you are doing and HOW you can serve, help, connect or reach out to others. Then BELIEVE you can do it, without comparing yourself to others or thinking others know better. You have done the work, put in more work, be yourself and just do it!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I am an author, TV show host of “Elian’s Joy” and national motivational speaker and presenter. Born in the Netherlands, I moved in my thirties to the USA, trained in ballet, dance, theater, and fitness. I have spent most of my professional life in the fitness and wellness industry, and I am a certified life coach with a yoga studio and private practice in Texas.

In my work I have always focused on helping people feel healthy and well. and you can find my mind-body-spirit “Coach Approach” on the national stage presenting my own fitness and wellness programs. Besides my ongoing studio classes and private practice, I work as wellness counselor with trauma & addiction patients at a Texas inpatient rehab facility since 2015.

Specialized in pain management & anxiety intervention techniques, and certified in several specialty programs for addiction recovery, like trauma informed yoga & energy work, reiki, tai chi & qi gong, somatic therapy, remedial consult and corrective exercise, my patients and clients come to me for healing, energy and my honest and direct “Coach Approach”.

My purpose & passion has always been to create different ways to make people aware of their own physical strength and healing abilities, to teach simple and applicable functional fitness & movement and to promote a healthy, joyful, purposeful & mindful lifestyle to people of all ages.

Nowadays I teach and reach many through my winwinwomen TV show Elian’s Joy, life and virtual speaking engagements, and promoting my book, seminars and webinars!
I love what I do and do what I love!

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Since I was young, I had a bad back with huge scoliosis. It is a chronic pain thing, and I realized at a young age that movement and dance would help me tremendously. Besides my mother, who enrolled me in ballet class, others believed different and advised me to do something else. Despite physical pain and discomfort and many times against other people’s advice, I kept believing that movement, fitness and eventually yoga would help me with pain and posture and that I could help others to do the same.

Nowadays I am helping others to stay away from the doctor’s office and encourage people with scoliosis and related back issues to find an ‘alternative route’ first. Seeking physical & emotional healing thru movement, exercise, pain management, posture correction, a massage, physical therapy and chiropractors can have great benefits and results. I worked for me!

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

In my case, being able to connect with people, building trustworthy relationships and understanding my clients and students needs. As I progressed in my career, I saw it was not the necessary knowledge or years of experience that made me stand out, but the ability to care, connect and to provide exactly what my clients needed on an individual base. It is all about personality, being transparent with your ideas and goals, and the and the ability to share and collaborate in the journey of healing together

Contact Info:

• Website: www.elianhaan.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elianhaan
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elianhaan
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elianhaan
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/betterbodybasic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/elianhaan
• Other:  https://winwinwomen.tv/show/elians-joy