Breathe Director of Teacher Training, Margot and Breathe Founder, Svitlana
“During this teacher training I was going through a tough transition in my life and I then had to deal with some difficult personal issues halfway through the programme. Not only did the programme give me tools and space to focus on myself and to heal but it also gave me a hugely supportive, caring and wise group of peers and teachers who helped me to cope and to learn more about myself and become stronger and comfortable with myself. I was able to be vulnerable and share in the space that Breathe gave me and this made a very big impact on my wellbeing.”
– Graduate, Breathe Yoga Teacher Training Program
Over the 10+ years that Breathe has offered Yoga Teacher Training in Toronto, our Founder Svitlana has seen literally hundreds of students pass through the program. And what stands out the most to her?
When she started the teacher training program, Svitlana thought that her biggest wish was to see her graduates become yoga teacher superstars. Dynamic personalities with super advanced yoga practices that would fill up classes at Breathe.
But as the years went by, something more meaningful emerged.
What actually transpired year after year was that students enrolled in the teacher training program were finding courage to make profound changes in unhealthy lifestyle habits, relationships, jobs. Anything that was no longer serving them.
About a month into the program Svitlana would start seeing a lot of emotion. Some cried. Others were asking a lot of deep questions like “Why am I so unhappy?” . ” Why do I feel so much happier after I’ve been practising yoga?”. “Why do I love this so much?”. Even realizations like, “I want to leave my job.” “I need to leave my job.” “This relationship is making me unhappy.” “I need to leave this toxic relationship”.
On the other end of the spectrum “I am truly happy doing what I am doing.” “My partner makes me happy.” “I am so grateful to have kids, a partner and friends who love me – I need to start appreciating them more”.
Essentially Svitlana started noticing that the biggest and the most important thing that was happening was TRANSFORMATION.
By spending a lot of time on their yoga mats and the self study that ensues, students were beginning to embrace their fears. They started articulating the root cause of unhappiness. Or the root cause of their happiness. With this knowledge, they could start working towards change for the better. Change for the healthier. Almost all would leave the program with a deeper sense of gratitude for the journey. And for the blessings they have in life.
Today would she take the super star teacher graduate who could fill Studio Classes ? Sure. But knowing that the Breathe teacher training program here in Toronto * is really about is enabling its participants to undergo positive change in their lives is way more gratifying. She’ll take that any day.
And by the way? Along this path of self growth, finding courage to make positive healthy choices and studying the Breathe teacher training curriculum, Breathe yoga teacher training grads become outstanding yoga teachers. Our yoga teacher training graduates are amongst the best teachers in the Toronto, teaching in some of the leading yoga studios and health clubs. Many employment opportunities can even be found online these days using job search tools such as https://ca.jooble.org/. Svitlana couldn’t be prouder of them.
APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2020 TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAM ARE BEING ACCEPTED NOW. APPLY NOW.
* Read ‘Why Take Your Teacher Training Program in Your Community’ here
Svitlana February 27th, 2020
Posted In: Uncategorised
February is coming to an end and we are making our way through 2020.
Unfortunately many of us are falling into the habits we swore off at the beginning of January. We are back into the habit of being busy. We live in a society where this is the norm, if not the celebrated way of life. We are all so used to the constant pressure to be “everything” to everyone. Many of us are feeling our most tired, most stressed, and even at the end of our rope.
Here’s the thing. Most of us have others relying on us. Our children, partners, ageing parents, colleagues or other people that hold a special place in our life. Many of us take too much on, feeling like we can’t say no. This leads our overall wellness to suffer. And frankly a lot of this is our own fault. Yes, some things are an emergency. But most of what we are running ourselves ragged over, isn’t.
How can we course correct two months into this New Year? If you are like most of us, you do everything because you can.
You may even (secretly) be proud of your never-ending To-Do List, like a badge of honour. But if you are at the point of Burn-Out, is it really something to be proud of?
This might be the time for a little introspection and realization that just because you are capable of doing a task doesn’t mean it’s your’s to do.
Time is a non-renewable resource. Every time you commit your time to one thing it will always be a trade-off for something else. For every “Yes” you give, there is a silent “No” to something else.
Let’s be honest. It is gratifying to get things done and to “achieve” at work, at home and in life.
However, if you are completely spent and you aren’t doing the things that bring you joy like:
you will eventually come to an existence of feeling resentful, bitter, exhausted, unfulfilled and all around miserable.
We change our priorities.
If we don’t prioritize and pay attention to our wellness, it will get our attention through other aspects of our life falling apart.
You cannot burn a candle on both ends. You need to slow down.
This can be scary for most of us. But Breathe is here to help you make the transition and improve the overall quality of your wellness.
Svitlana February 26th, 2020
Posted In: Uncategorised
