When Johnny Venus of the hip-hop duo EarthGang took the mic at the Blavity Compass Experience, it wasn’t to drop bars — it was to drop truth: real talk about yoga, the body, the mind and the spirit. He wasn’t there to sell a trend. He was there to shift the narrative.
“I love a challenge,” he said, reflecting on his first-ever hot yoga class in L.A., introduced by his homegirl Mariam. “It was physically challenging. It was mentally challenging. It was spiritually challenging. And I was like, ‘Let’s run it.'” That moment cracked open a journey — one that’s now six years deep — and what began as sweat and stillness has turned into something far bigger: a mission.
No filter, no flex, just flow
Let’s get one thing straight. Johnny Venus isn’t out here trying to be your stereotypical yoga guru. He’s breaking down who yoga is really for — and surprise: it’s you.
“One of the biggest misconceptions about yoga is that you have to look a certain way or act a certain way to participate,” Venus said. “All you got to do is be yourself — and yoga be for you.”
It’s that radical authenticity, that ATL-rooted realness, that made his message hit home. Venus emphasized that yoga is not about perfection. It’s about presence. “You don’t have to be perfect,” he said. “You just got to show up.” In a world obsessed with filters and finish lines, that’s a healing bar right there.
Grace, grit and grounding
Over six years of practice, Johnny has collected gems that go deeper than just poses. He spoke about grace for oneself — the kind that lets you breathe when your body’s not doing what it did last week. He encouraged staying active in whatever way works for your body. Chair yoga, floor yoga, it’s all valid. “The floor supports your back,” he noted, even referencing his grandfather’s habit of sleeping on the floor because it just felt right.
And when it comes to lower back pain? He kept it simple: “Lay flat. Move your legs side to side. Bring ’em up. Stretch it out. The key is to stay grounded.”
For the community
Beyond the mat, yoga has become a mirror and a magnet. “I’ve met a lot of amazing people,” Venus said, pointing to the community that builds around stillness, struggle and shared breath. Yoga is no longer a quiet corner of wellness culture. It’s now a collective vibe for those ready to tune into themselves.
Find your way with Compass CXS
To close out his talk, Johnny put the spotlight on Compass CXS, a lifestyle brand and wellness community with the tagline “Find Your Way.” Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or still wondering what Shavasana means, Compass CXS offers tools to help navigate life — real tools, real talk. You can tap in at compass.com/cxs or on IG @compasscxs_.
Johnny Venus is doing what EarthGang’s always done best — pushing culture forward. Only this time, it’s barefoot, on a mat and rooted in breath.
