Moving into Success with The Flexible Realtor

(part one)

We sat down with Justin Dees about business, yoga, love, and loss. Read the first part of his interview below.

What is your job? I am a real estate agent. I recently transitioned to real estate after 24 years in the healthcare industry as an MRI technologist. 

24 years. That is a long time to stay in one place. It is. So Over the last 6 years I began traveling as a technologist, which helped break up the monotony of my job and helped me grow as a person. I became bored and needed mental stimulation. We get comfortable in our boxes, but growth doesn’t come out of being comfortable. 

Well said. At the same time, traveling came with its own challenges. Yoga was an integral part of my life as a traveling technologist over the last 6 years because life on the road is lonely (no fam friends and you’re staying in someone else’s house. I needed a stabilizing force during times by myself. I did the same several programs while on the road so it was like these people were with me while I was away from home. 

What first drew you to yoga? I was in an abusive relationship for 2.5 years that had just ended. He was moving out but needed a month to do so. I committed to 30 days of consecutive yoga to keep me out of the house as much as possible until he moved. I didn’t really know anything about yoga. I started at the gym where I was a member. In one of those classes I found my first teacher who finally got me to go to her studio.

Was that a game changer? Yes, I found community again, smiles again, myself again. I began practicing 5-6 hours a day-2 classes a day, working through my shit. Finding community. My body started changing, my mind started changing. I found my place and myself again.

In what ways has yoga helped you as a busy professional? My mind in general is always racing. Add that to my very busy schedule of healthcare and real estate on top of that. We get so busy doing things for other people; time for myself is something that no one can take from me. So, I make sure to do it consecutively throughout the week and it’s very important to me. 

Do you do yoga every day? When I don’t do it my body knocks at the door, “Knock knock knock, ‘hey what are you doing? It’s time to get back to this’” So I definitely feel it. For the last 13 years, this month, I have been doing it at least weekly and it makes a difference. 

So you don’t feel like you have to do it every day? Not anymore, but I was for at least 6 months. Each new pose made me feel good about myself. I started getting advanced and then was like, “then what”? I realized it’s not about that. It’s about being healthy. Everything in moderation-including my yoga practice. It’s a tool for my mental health and my physical health.  

Is there a way that you still incorporate yoga daily even though you don’t do a full practice? Deep breaths, returning to the present, taking a moment to do those things goes a long way. 

Do you think you would be able to have a work-life balance without your yoga practice? Of course, but I would find something if yoga wasn’t the thing. Yoga is not the be all and end all, but it was what I found that works for me. It’s portable, I don’t have to go to a gym, it’s only for me. And it reminds me to chill out. 

What advice would you give someone who is struggling to find success and also peace of mind? I would ask them what their priorities are. I remember striving for a 6 pack years ago–trying all these workouts. I hurt myself twice in the process. So, great, but at what cost. It depends on what success means to them and is it worth it? Is success worth your peace of mind? Find something that brings you happiness if what you’re striving for is not giving you peace of mind. 

Part Two of the interview will be released in June