BABE #376: BRIONNA JENKINS - Yoga Instructor, Actor + Writer
From a young age, Brionna proclaimed with conviction that she wanted to be an actress when she grew up. Always passionate about performing, she pursued acting and writing and has since welcomed yoga into her personal and professional journey. Brionna is equal parts yoga instructor, actor and writer—her roles often intersect, and she balances them well because they create balance in her. Whether on the stage or on the mat, Brionna uses her art as a catalyst for reflection and change, believing that “when we are better, the world is better.”
The Basics:
Hometown: Queens, NYC
Current city: Queens, NYC
Alma mater: St. John’s University & American Academy of Dramatic Arts
Degree: Broadcast Journalism
Very first job: Some boutique in SOHO—I hated it!
Hustle: Yoga Instructor, Actor + Writer
The Interests:
Babe you admire and why?
I’m a really big fan of Kerry Washington. As an artist and public figure, she is truly a force. I’ve watched just about every one of her films and to watch the progression of her career and the way she continues to become more amazing in each role is inspiring to me as an actor. I love that she’s done the work as an actor in such a legendary way and still allows herself space to grow in other areas like directing, producing and activism. There is also so much about her that we may not know, but we want to. You don’t get that allure much in today’s social media age, so I love that.
What’s your favorite way to start (or end) the weekend?
Ending the week just always seems so much more fun. Not that Monday’s aren’t okay, but it’s just something about that Friday air that hits different. I’d say I need something calming and something exciting. So maybe a nice yoga class during the day and a calm rooftop dinner with my girls at night. Maybe some dancing and definitely good music. (Yes, a rooftop. In the hypothetical scenario it is summer….because why not).
What’s one book that has greatly influenced your life?
"Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter" by Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson. The life lessons in this book through his very comedic anecdotes are priceless. Viewing lessons that we may have heard a million times before from other messengers, through the unique lens of his experiences, really resonated with me.
Do you have a go-to pump-up (or wind-down) playlist?
Pretty much any playlist I play during any given class I teach. Artists heavy in my rotation are Ari Lennox, Janelle Monae, Gold Link, Masego, J. Cole, Jay-Z . Really depends on the mood. I like variet—but not too much.
What’s the best piece of advice you've ever been given?
If you stay ready, you never have to get ready. On the surface it seemed so simple to me, but this can be applied in so many ways to almost every aspect of life. It really is all about being forward thinking, doing the work and letting the universe meet you where you are. There’s a process to getting ready and it's said that God (or the universe) will only bring you what you are prepared for.
The Hustle:
Tell us about your hustle, providing a summary of your roles and the work you do daily.
I’m a yoga instructor, actor, writer, and a really dope Black woman who likes to enjoy life! Part of that enjoyment comes from my work. As an instructor, I seek to share the experience of exploration of Self from the inside out with my students. Providing a safe, welcoming environment for their practice and sharing my knowledge is one of the things in life I am most proud of. Every single class I teach is truly a gift because each one allows me to be of service and holds me accountable to my personal work. I teach group classes, in-office corporate yoga, kids yoga and private sessions. This allows me to nurture my inner artist to bring all of my characters and creative ideas to life. Whether on stage or film, I’m passionate about using my art to be a catalyst for reflection and change one viewer at a time.
Which came first: your love for yoga or your love for acting? How do you balance the two?
My love for acting definitely came first. I don’t have ANY memories of NOT wanting to be an actor. I’ve been performing since I was three or four. So just continuing to follow that path through childhood until now has definitely been an interesting journey. Yoga came much later, and although I didn’t begin practicing or become an instructor until college, I do feel like it was always written in the stars for me. When it comes to doing both I don’t think it’s a matter of “how I balance them” because these two things are the balance; they create the balance for me. When we talk about yoga, it's more than just the asana practice—the bending and stretching of our physical bodies we see on instagrams. My practice very literally creates space in my body, mind and spirit to be present for the other work I have to do in life, professionally and personally. My practice is a tool in my artist toolbox, if you will. Actors shed light on humanity so to consistently explore my own and assist my students with theirs allows me to bring those lessons to bring life to my characters, too.
Tarik Smith
What draws you to yoga? What elements of it do you most enjoy teaching and practicing?
I actually had a major breakthrough the other day. I’ve been very passively working on my headstand practice and one of my mentors said, “yeah you can’t be afraid to fall.” Which I am. Who isn’t? A couple of weeks ago I did fall. I didn’t hurt myself but still, I fell. Not a big deal. Last weekend I said hey, let's give it a try. I got close enough to the wall just in case, and it was successful. These are the moments that remind me why this practice is important and why it’s meaningful to share it with others. How you show up on the mat is how you show up in life. In yoga (in my classes at least,) right and wrong don’t exist. It’s your practice, your journey. Such is life. There are props and modifications to make things more accessible when needed, just like I used the wall to support me as a safety precaution or prop. In life, some of us have a variety of resources that are there to help us along the way, and if we’re smart we utilize them. The only thing that stood between me and my headstand was fear. When I removed the fear, the gap between me and that goal disappeared. How many times in life have you not done something because you were afraid to fall? That’s why yoga is amazing to me and why I want to share it. When you are your most authentic Self is when you are most connected to the Divine. Yoga creates space for that.
What’s your advice for someone at the beginning of their acting audition journey?
If you’re in a room, you’re there because you’re supposed to be. Act like it! Take up space and don’t be afraid to learn what you don’t know. I still have to remind myself of that.
What keeps you motivated when you’re struggling with a particular scene or performance? How do you get past burnouts or roadblocks in your work?
My tribe. I can call my sisters-in-art whenever I need to and talk through things. Get honest feedback. Vent. Cry. Read lines. Self-tape auditions. When it comes to roadblocks, again it's about asking myself: “What am I not facing internally, that is preventing me from connecting?” Unpacking those things and looking myself in the eye from the inside out is crucial.
How have your past professional and academic experiences and lessons prepared you for the work you do today? How have they not prepared you?
I think that all of my academic experiences have helped me on the surface and with more technical aspects of the work I do, but there’s nothing like on-the-job training. Nothing can teach you how to hold space for someone in a yoga class like actually doing it can. I can read and understand Michael Shurtleff’s “12 Guideposts to Acting” a million times, but until I put it to work for real, it's merely just a blueprint. So I’m grateful for my blueprints. It's like a coloring book. The picture is there for me to fill in and I get as creative as I see fit to create my own masterpiece.
Tarik Smith
What’s one thing you’re proud to have accomplished in your career thus far?
I’m a writer by trade since I have a degree in Journalism and I’ve written for publications. Being able to call myself, “the writer” of my first short film is something I’m most proud of to date. I’ve not made the film yet—and with everything going on, I’m not exactly sure when that’s going to happen—but it's certainly at the forefront of my mind. The script is done (or as done as it needs to be), I’m incredibly entertained by it, and I’m super excited to bring it to life.
How would you say being a woman has affected your professional experience? What can we do to create more equal, uplifting (and well-paying!) spaces for women in your industry?
When I hear this question I really hear Black woman, because I’m Black before anything else and that is a loaded question. The yoga and wellness industry has its fair share of women—but not as many that look like me. I think on the most basic level to answer this question, there needs to be more Black teachers in studios. And not just like, a couple of chocolate chips in the cookie more. Actually more. I’ve practiced at so many studios around the city that don’t have a Black instructors on the schedule at all. We live in the most diverse city in the world—make it make sense.
What’s the gender ratio like in your industries? Do you see it evolving? Why or why not?
As far as the acting world goes as a whole, the numbers are definitely heavier on the male side—because you have to factor in not just the actors, but everyone who makes a film, tv show, broadway production come to life. I think there have and continue to be more efforts to diversify so that women are where they should be. We certainly have the hard work of awesome women directors, producers and showrunners for blazing that trail. There’s still a long way to go, and an even longer way if you speak specifically of Black women and WOC.
Tarik Smith
What are some common misconceptions about your job(s)?
To all the people who tell artists to get a real job: this work is exhausting in all the best ways. It is challenging! It’s so taxing on the mind and the body and you’ve got to give it your all. I once had an acting teacher say “If it’s not life or death, get the f*ck off the stage”. Every time I get sides or a script, I try to remind myself of that. Nobody at the call center is saying, “if it's not life or death get the f*ck off the next call in the queue.” I’m just saying!
In the past year, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved your career?
The art of letting go!
Who are some women in your field that you look to for inspiration?
I think the women in wellness that are most inspirational to me are ones that I know personally and the ones that look like me. The face of wellness has been one thing for so long, so anytime I see a Brown person championing this work and bringing wellness into communities where it wasn’t always accessible—inspired is an understatement. Syntyche Francella, Dianne Bondy, Jessamyn Stanley, Karma Tudor, Karen Taylor-Bass, Faith Hunter, Bre Scullark are inclusive but not exclusive to the list of women who are doing great work that inspire me.
Career and/or life advice for other babes?
Trust your gut!
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