Today we’d like to introduce you to Elian Haan.
Elian, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My story starts in the Netherlands, I am Dutch and moved to the States in 1995. According to my Mother, I danced on my toes as soon as I could walk. I remember only that I had to, and still do, move to music. When I was four years old, Mom put me in a ballet class that had started in the small church that also served as library….a dance teacher had moved to our little town and I was sold. I can still remember the interior of the church building, the smell of books and vaguely the music that set the stage for my dreams to be a ballerina. During the early elementary years, I was also diagnosed with a severe degree of scoliosis, but this was more incentive for my Mom to push my ballet career instead of listening to the doctor’s story about surgery and wheelchairs. I received a great ballet education and trained to audition for Dance Academy. I walked thru the doors of the Conservatory School during my sophomore year; my Dad brought me three times a week to the rigorous dance training.
Straight after high school, I got accepted (with my ‘bad back’) at the Theater School in Amsterdam to continue my training in dance. Fun and tough years, as my back would become a ‘visual challenge’ to the choreographers. I worked my butt off but got mostly rejected. Determined to keep moving, I started to teach and dance for a musical producer’s couple that very much believed in my love and talent for movement and teaching. I worked for them for several years, from TV shows to huge musical shows on the road.
During the same time, the word aerobics became the new thing, Jane Fonda & Richard Simmons took over the media (and my life) No more pink leotards but bright high cut glitter suits and ankle warmers. Exchange toe shoes for sneakers and way less rejection because of my back. Also, due to great posture and years of sitting on a phone book, I was able to ‘hide’ my scoliosis at shows, auditions and during classes.
As soon as possible, I took one of the first group exercise exams available, went back to class for months and walked out with a diploma. I started classes all over town and certified in different programs that made its way to the Netherlands from the US. At the same time, I studied Art & Theatre history at the University of Amsterdam and owned a popular pool hall/bar in the center of the city.
Dance, acting and fitness were my passion, but in my thirties I started going in different directions. Mostly due to expectations, financial needs & traumatic events that occurred. I lost my parents, a long relationship ended, an endless lawsuit finalized, there was alcohol abuse, a failed marriage and a scary but final move to the USA. I ended up here alone, without a plan. I ended up in Dallas after some more unforeseen adventures.
There was work in fitness, still on the rise. Starting from the ground up was difficult, but I had not much to go back to. I moved constantly, restless, but did meet people that were crucial to my new world, new faith, self-esteem, confidence. I loved my fitness jobs and spend many years teaching new trends in fitness 3 to 4 days a week all over Dallas. As an actress in found work in theatre and worked in the film and TV industry in Dallas and LA. Exciting, tough, tumultous and adventurous times. I ultimately married and divorced again but had my awesome son.
In 2005 I moved south of Dallas and started Better Body Basics, excited to make this fitness career work, and opened my own studio in 2011. Realizing I had so many years of experience in the industry I was able to offer a variety of classes and disciplines. I developed my creative and innovative AFTER programs and started traveling the country to present my motivational programs at fitness conventions. More motivational speaking engagements followed, and more opportunities to help people followed. In 2015 I started a wellness coach position at a national addiction rehab facility, where patients stay for 30 to 90 days in recovery. I was asked to develop the wellness curriculum and this has been an amazing journey, helping people in addiction thru movement, yoga, trauma-informed yoga, energy work and meditation. Frequently I work with patients on a one on one basis, help with pain management after severe opioid addiction, or work with patients on anxiety intervention. I am so grateful for my work, finding my true purpose in life, and being able to continue to share with others.
I believe in physical healing, the power of energy, and look forward to share more in anxiety and depression intervention, trauma yoga, tai chi and qigong, somatic approaches and pain management. I love to MOVE people with my stories. I love to inspire people to MOVE in life and find their passion again. I am a passionate motivational speaker and teacher. I am truly grateful and excited to be part of changing peoples lifes. Happy to say I am a pro and in the best place ever.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In my thirties and forties, I experienced a lot of hardship and pain. Sometimes I feel, due to these personal struggles and unexpected roads I took, that I had a late start, wanting to achieve and settle but didn’t see how to move towards my own success. Looking back now, I can see that there was a lot of opportunity but I did not act on it, not sure, not believing I was deserving of happiness and success. And there were plenty of occasions where others were gladly taking advantage of my expertise, skill sets or ideas but did not reward me for it, whereas I constantly felt depleted and abandoned, emotionally and physically. It is the well-known concept of being your own worst enemy, insecure, angry and scared. Hiding fear and failure with plenty of alcohol…One of my biggest emotional disabilities is asking for help, showing weakness and sharing my pain, that is hard for me. Imagine, I had been through it all alone, without help…I fought hard, did the work. Keeping up appearances, so to speak, was a concept I was raised with. Combine that with a good dose of genetic earthly toughness and a never complain attitude and hence the ingredients for pain, failure, fear and addiction. Don’t talk, just talk a walk…Funny enough that is still my motto, but now in a different setting with clear communication about goal setting, perspective, objective and transformation. A strong body supports a strong mind.
Again, I also did the work. Years of self-work and self-study, some great mentors, a healthy dose of self-reflection, much self-critique and honesty. Not having to prove myself anymore, being able to let go of shame and guilt, bad choices and painful experiences. I found what my God’s given purpose was. I found strength in vulnerability and healing thru yoga, tai chi and meditation. The last ten years have been the easiest, happiest of my life. I have a loving, generous and funny partner and a son with a great mind and kind heart. We share love, laughter, joy and mutual respect that keeps me constantly in an attitude of gratitude. I can share and give back in my work, still have a lot to do…
Please tell us about Better Body Basics & Addiction Campuses.
Currently, my Better Body Basics studio offers yoga classes and I love to travel around the country for motivational & inspirational speaking engagements & yoga/fitness conventions. I owe much of that work to the start that SCWFit gave me, the largest fitness pro conventions and fitness education platform in the country. I have developed many programs for them and they produced several of my DVD’s.
My daily work is in the substance abuse and pain management field at the Treehouse, a rehab facility south of Dallas. I love to help people with pain management (sharing about my own daily chronic pain due to scoliosis and how I move with pain) This is one of my specialties and I believe I am known for that work…in my opinion we distribute way too much pain pills way too easy, the opioid addiction has increased in this country. I am proud that my physical work with people helps them, tells them to believe in the healing powers of their own body. Rely on your own physical strength. I am an advocate for physical, spiritual and emotional well-being through meditation and self-care, and believe I have been able to bring that message to many people in distress, who needed to go back to breathing, grounding and finding a sense of calm and safe.
I believe what sets me apart is that I give my clients a sense of calm, comfort, a little of my peace that shines all day…I am an empath and love to make people feel happy and help them find their inner and physical strength. I am proud of my little success stories and always grateful to get positive feedback from my clients. I am very grateful to be able to do what I love and love what I do!
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My parents took us frequently for a long walk in the woods on Sundays, sometimes different destinations….and more extended family and/or friends would gather. The group and us kids would walk, talk and play for hours and share a meal afterwards at a local restaurant or deli. I love those memories of my childhood.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.treehouserehab.org
- Phone: 214-923-6891 direct
- Email: elianhaan@yahoo.com
Image Credit:
Elian Haan
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