We had the good fortune of connecting with Brett Fleisher and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brett, what do you attribute your success to?
I think its loving on people. I am forever curious about where people come from and what’s alive for them. Through my own journey with chronic pain, I have, over many years, developed empathy for human experiences that experience suffering, on an emotional, mental, energetic, spiritual and physical level, which moves them out of their natural way of being in the world.

I learned that isolation and hiding were antithetical to my own healing process, and that being vulnerable, not only privately, but also in public, communal settings, was a pathway to greater connection, movement and integration.

I believe that success can be measured with feeling as much as by statistics. So, I would say the factor attributing to the success of The Yummy Heart, is the willingness to feel and be honest about those feelings.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
The Yummy Heart is an alternative healing arts practice that employs the techniques of Structural Integration Bodywork (Hellerwork), somatic facilitation, herbal support and nervous system regulation, with the intention to bring the body and all of its systems into balance, harmony and deeper states of self awareness.

In addition to one-on-one client work, The Yummy Heart also offers weekly, community tea/tisane gatherings in a backyard tea temple located in Highland Park. This offering is free and open to all and has been designed to invite in more connection to self, the plants, the community, the ancestors and the land.

The growth of the Yummy Heart has been slow and organic and in tune with the natural rhythms of the California soil that lurks beneath the frenetic pace of Los Angeles. Our weekly Tea/Tisane Ceremonies started in September of 2019, and quickly transitioned to online gatherings during lockdown, which sustained for over 50+ weeks until the return to the Temple Of The Yummy Heart in May 2021. A few dedicated herb nerds kept the offering alive for another year or so, until the winds picked it up and one by one the community grew and started to sustain itself.

This experiment has been a lesson in showing up consistently, in perseverance to a commitment towards community service and learning how to lean into support.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We would definitely spend time at Tea At Shiloh in Downtown LA both for daylight hours and nighttime lounge vibes. Sitting and walking through the meditation gardens at the Self Realization Fellowship in Mt. Washington, would be another highlight as well as hiking up to the pond at Ernest E Debs Park.

For food, we would grab brunch at Amara Kitchen in Highland Park and an evening at Little Beast in Eagle Rock.

I think one of LA’s most hidden gems is the Yin and Healing Collective Yoga Class at Kinship Yoga on Monday and Thursday’s at 4:30pm.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The plants that have been here for a long time, that have become my allies and teachers, deserve my first acknowledgement. I am so honored to call Lavender, and Roobios, and Jiaogulan and Calendula, and Rose Buds, and so many others, my friends. I have come to lean on them, to be still with them, to call on them when hurting, to communicate viscerally with them, and to listen to their soft and fierce wisdom.

I have been blessed to have a few elder mentors and peer friendtors along the way. Huge shoutouts to Judith Johnson of PyschoNueroEnergetics, Kevin Walton of Conscious Creatorhood, Catalina Ureta of The Somatic Institute LA, Gary Swanson of The Montauk Theater Group, Trevor Springs of Body Language and Rooted Futures, and Zat Baraka of Mens Wisdom Work.

Special shoutout to my temple and sauna designer, Aidan McCarthy who poured blood, sweat and tears into turning my (sometimes impossible) visions/dreams into ‘brick and mortar’ realities.

There are more friends and loved ones than I could possibly shoutout in a cohesive way, that have helped shape and house my quirks and eccentricities, and have been positive encouragement for all things Yummy Heart. The community that has come together in the past 5 years to celebrate and support each other, here in North East Los Angeles, is overwhelmingly beautiful and humbles me perpetually.

Thank you to Alicia Sadler for shouting me out in the first place… here’s a shoutout right back at ya!

Website: https://theyummyheart.com

Instagram: @theyummyheart

Facebook: The Yummy Heart

Image Credits
Documenting The Light – Joshua Ballinger

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.