We were lucky to catch up with Tiana Duncan recently and have shared our conversation below.

Tiana, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

I quit my full-time director position with no job lined up, with limited savings, and left for Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, for eight weeks. Most melanated people understand the need to keep a job or have another job lined up before quitting. However, it is culturally looked down upon to be unemployed. I got to this place after relocating back to Seattle, Washington, from Atlanta, Georgia, for a promotion and to be closer to my family in the summer of 2014.

Until then, I’ve been very blessed to have employers that allowed me the freedom to move as I please as long as my work was done.

Once I relocated to Washington state, I quickly learned the Pacific Northwest and that I no longer had anything in common- from the gray skies to the passive-aggressive environment. After two and half years of trying to make it work in my new position, I decided to call it quits and take a break from the United States altogether in the Fall of 2017

As I spent time alone for two months on the other side of the world, it gave me a chance to evaluate my core values on how I want my life to feel moving forward. I realized freedom, authentic self-expression, fun, and family meant the most to me. Once my eight weeks were over, I returned to Seattle, Washington, revived and rested. I soon gave birth to two companies- The Duncan Connection, a nonprofit providing access to holistic resources, fitness classes, and swimming education for free or at a reduced cost for all. And Indigo Movement, a for-profit company empowering our clients to take back their me-time and live their life to their fullest potential.

Sometimes taking a risk works out for the best.

Tiana, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Indigo Movement’s founder and owner, Tiana Duncan, realized her enthusiasm and passion for movement at a young age. She was enrolled in swimming lessons at her local community center and later swam competitively for several local teams. Duncan started her aquatics career at Rainier Beach Community Center and then served as an Aquatics Director for the Seattle and Atlanta YMCA.

Constantly in water, Duncan learned how interconnected the mind, body, and spirit were and wanted to share her knowledge and experience with others. In 2017, she started Indigo Movement and today she employs a team of highly trained and certified staff members who offer massage, circuit training, kickboxing, Nia, Zumba, and yoga to clients.

Duncan received her certification for massage therapy from the Brian Utting School of Massage in 2006 and is licensed to practice in Washington and Oregon state.

She currently resides in Seattle, Washington, and is also the founder of The Duncan Connection, a non-profit providing holistic resources, fitness classes, and swim lessons to underserved communities in the South Seattle area. She remains an active member of the community, championing issues such as diversity, social justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and environmental preservation.

Tiana is known as the body whisperer.

Now more than ever, we, as a society, are struggling to find and maintain balance within our lives. Technological advances intended to improve our lives, social media platforms created to stay more connected with our communities, and of course, current events have all contributed to our physical and mental well-being. The way in which we move is faster, too, and there never seem to be enough hours in a day. Thus, Indigo Movement was created after observing how we struggle to take time and care for ourselves. We want to help people feel empowered to take back their me-time and live their life to their fullest potential.

Values- Indigo Movement is purposefully aligned with clients who are active within their communities and champion issues such as diversity, social justice, LGBTQ+, and improving the environment, inside and outside the workplace.

Mission-Indigo Movement wants every client to feel empowered to take back their me-time and have the ability to self-advocate for their well-being.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele is word of mouth. Personal referrals will always reign supreme when it comes to growing your clientele. Your work ethic, core values, and service will always speak for you.

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

What has been the most helpful to succeed in my field has been ensuring the basics are always taken care. Taking care of the basics for me are going to bed at a decent time, cutting off work at 7 pm, carving out time daily to workout, scheduling weekly bodywork (massage therapy, chiropractor, stretchologist), taking time off every 90 days, spending time in solitude once a week to enjoy my energy, not working on my off days and making that clear to my team, and most crucial eating regularly.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://indigomovement.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indigo_movement_seattle/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Indigo.Movement.Seattle
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/tianamduncan
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl0dG2EEFoL02vZwWV9HhHw
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/indigo-movement-seattle
• Other: TIKTok- https://www.tiktok.com/@indigo_movement_seattle

Image Credits
Ivan Mrsic Studio