It’s time to introduce you to another of our fabulous partners as we shine a light on the human story behind our YST 2022 partners’ brands. This week we’re excited to introduce you to Breathe Yoga.
Breathe Yoga was founded in 1999 and emerged from Emma and Robin’s desire to lead a healthier lifestyle. Through their travels across India and Southeast Asia, Robin and Emma were inspired to create their business, which personalizes its practice to fit the needs of their individual clients. Today we will be hearing from Emma about what inspired their journey and what role community has played in this.
Over to Emma!
Is there a person or group of people that has had a significant impact on your life and has led you to where you are today?
There are so many people that we have been lucky to come across during our studies and travels in India from the late 1990s onwards. From wonderful yoga and meditation teachers to those serving chai on the train, these individuals have shaped our view of the world and ignited the spiritual aspect of our yogic path.
Has the pandemic changed your view on the role of community in your life or in relation to your business?
During the pandemic we offered donation-based classes to our community and started a WhatsApp group for our teachers to support each other with issues ranging from helping with government grants to discussing the best cameras to use for Zoom. Although the pandemic has been devastating for many, it has highlighted the importance of community and how enriching that is to our lives.
Are there any activities that you put on hold during lockdown and that you hope to restart?
Attending and hosting retreats and yoga holidays.
What accomplishment are you most proud of that your community helped you to reach?
During the first Christmas of lockdown our local neighborhood WhatsApp group worked together to make our streets feel safer and prettier. We planted flowers, put up lights, decorated trees and received many heartwarming notes and comments from the community about how it brightened up their day.
Is there a common misconception people make about your brand or community? If so, please tell us more.
Many people think that private yoga and Pilates lessons are only for the wealthy, but our teachers work with groups of friends and families who share the cost of their private lessons and have found that it is not only more cost effective, but also more useful since the teaching is focused on their individual needs. Although many offices initially stopped their yoga and Pilates private lessons during the pandemic, we have found that with an increase in people working from home more students can participate in office provided classes even on their days off. One class can also serve multiple branches of the same business since geography is no longer a factor.
Finally, we’d like to say a huge thank you to you for supporting YST 2022! Do you have a message for everyone taking part in Yoga Stops Traffick next March?
Thank you. We are honored to be involved with YST and grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such a worthy cause.
Find out more about Breathe Yoga here! https://breatheyoga.co.uk/
