Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Bergado.
Hi Brandon, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Hi guys, i’m a hockey player turned Yogi and Software Engineer. At the age of 15 I left my home in San Jose, CA and started traveling around the US and Canada playing for the various ice hockey teams that signed me. What I thought was going to be a long career was cut short because of multiple concussions within weeks apart from each other; leading me to have to walk away from playing. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through because I devoted my entire life to this sport. I now had to find a new career and start over. So at 21 years old I packed up my bags, flew home on a flight from Kansas and started doing the work to reinvent myself. ~ Enter meditation and Yoga ~
In an attempt to self-heal from these brain injuries, I started leaning into Yoga + meditation, and immediately started to notice the benefits of this practice. I would focus in on empowering mantras like, “These concussions didn’t kill brain cells, they woke them up.” And I genuinely think that contributed to the transformative shift going on inside of my mind. As the months progressed, I felt like I was slowly becoming the happiest version of me; despite loosing what was once most important to me. It was like the more I let go and accepted reality, the happier I became. Yoga defined itself to me as “the practice of building a happy home within” and I now know my life’s purpose is to share that with as many people as possible.
After recovering from those concussions I decided I wanted to go to school for Software Engineering. I dabbled with online coding courses before I enrolled and quickly fell in love with it. While studying in college, I started my personal Yoga brand and used my software knowledge to create and scale the business (ig: @brandonberg_). I am very grateful to say that this has led me to teaching Yoga workshops internationally through Portugal & Spain, and even collaborate with brands like Lululemon & Vuori.
Currently, I am teaching Yoga throughout San Diego, and developing websites, branding, and photography for mindfulness based entrepreneurs.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s been an absolute roller coaster. But I love it, and I think that’s what makes life that much more meaningful. Constant thoughts of, “who am I to teach mindfulness to adults who have more life experience than me?” A dialogue of self doubt we regularly experience in our modern day society. Or even sitting in Software classes, taking in that information and struggling through thoughts of, “How am I going to use what i’m learning to scale my business to how big ‘this’ persons business is?” Another anecdote of comparison and not being appreciative of where I am in the process. I would say most of the struggles were mental when reinventing this Yogi/Software version of me.
What helped me overcome these challenges of impatience and unhappiness was understanding that a boiling pot of water won’t boil any faster because you’re watching it anxiously. Similarly I wanted success for my Yoga brand, and Software Career to happen overnight and all I was doing was draining my energy. The seed of my business and self development was planted; all I needed to do was keep watering it, enjoy the process of who i’m becoming, and let it unfold in divine time.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
It’s fun to answer this because I feel like I accidentally found a niche service within the San Diego wellness community; from combining my software engineering experience with graphic design, photography and Yoga knowledge, I’m in the space of helping mindfulness based entrepreneurs conceptualize, create, and expand their business. I help clients take their passion projects/ideas and turn them into websites to give their business a concise online identity. Through this process I like to get to know and understand how each client thinks/feels about their business, and then we design everything with precise detail and intention. This ranges from doing photoshoots, creating brand kits, and then putting all of it together by developing their website. When we lay the fonts, colors, and logos down on the website, we make sure they portray the exact emotions that resemble the brand. Everything I create, I do so with so much intention that within 3 minutes of looking at the page you know exactly what it would be like to sit with, work with, and hang out with the brand, or owner. Intentional design to give you a feel of the brand’s personality instantaneously.
Through this process we’ve created a community of like-minded individuals that are passionate about what they offer to the world, and that’s probably my favorite part.
What’s next?
Right now, I am continuing to scale my website development business for wellness entrepreneurs. I am also designing new yoga merch through my brand Recharge; look out for my new line of clothing dropping this Fall (updates on my ig)! Being in the Yoga world made me want a wardrobe of clothes that are so cozy I could just close my eyes and meditate anywhere. So this past February I dropped my first line of crewnecks and they sold out completely. I’m very grateful to be able to say that. I am also leading various Yoga workshops/trainings both here in the US and internationally; you can stay up to date on those details and my local classes on my site: www.brandonbergado.com lets flow together!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.brandonbergado.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandonberg_/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD_wpdyw1Sd4PVPEiWfLOiw
Image Credits
– Luna Josephine
