Breath For Change

Mary and I just recently began our 200 hour yoga teacher training with Breathe For Change. Upon completion of this training we will be certified yoga instructors through the Yoga Alliance. (see more details on the Yoga Alliance 200 – Hour Standards)

We thought that it would be worth sharing our experience here on Wellrounded.guru. We want to provide information for others who are interested in getting yoga certified and give them a general idea of what they might expect from a teacher training program. We will check in regularly throughout the training to share insights, resources, and give our personal story as we go through the training process.

The Program

Our training is through Breath For Change which is a relatively new organization founded here in Madison, WI in 2015. They are the first ever yoga teacher training program designed specifically for educators. Since its inception, B4C has grown to include training in both the Bay area and now New York city. Because Mary is a pre-K teacher and I am a music instructor, we fit naturally into alignment with B4C’s interests.

Our mission is to empower educators to take care of themselves, their students, and their school communities through wellness practices such as yoga, mindfulness, and community building. ~ B4C

The program itself is 200 hours and spans 16 days. Originally we were scheduled to do the summer intensive training which is 16 days consecutively, however, due to conflicts, we switched to the fall training where classes are held every other weekend for 15 weeks. Here you will find more details on the B4C teacher training and application process.

Intentions & Expectations

Mary and I have had an interest in yoga certification for awhile but we were never quite sure of when to fit it into our daily life. We have long dreamed about teaching yoga classes, both individually and as a couple, and we love to envision the possibility of someday opening our own studio. When Mary started her research on yoga teacher trainings offered in the Madison area, she came across the B4C website. It seemed like the perfect fit so we decided it was time to start chipping away at our goal.

After working in childcare and doing yoga for over a decade now, it feels like a natural transition to combine the two and offer kids yoga. Through my training, I hope to gain more tools that can help me better navigate life and become a more mindful person. I aim to further develop the skills which allow me to connect more with children and share with them what is needed to be successful in both life and in school. ~ Mary

Over the years I have ran into a variety of health problems including low back pain and a repetitive stress injury. Overcoming these obstacles has always included a dedicated yoga practice in my routine. My goal is to continue developing my understanding of the body and mind and how yoga is an integral part of living a healthy life. In particular, I hope to help musicians navigate their stresses as their job requires them to strain the body through the use of small muscle groups over extended periods of time. From my experience, performing through the pain does not have to be the only option for artists. ~ Jourdan

Although our intensions include longer term aspirations, our immediate goal is to remain open to the training process. We have the obvious expectations to learn more about foundations and technique however we want to remain open-minded in order to take away as much as possible from the training experience.

To New Beginnings

We feel fortunate to have the opportunity to participate in the training and greatly look forward to the journey. Yoga has been an important part of our lives and we are excited to deepen our understanding, expand upon our experiences, and make room for new possibilities. Transformation is not merely an additional benefit but more likely an essential part the process.