Breathe 4 Change training: Bee the Change
Donation protected
Happy New Year! 
I have enrolled in Breathe for Change a yoga training for teachers which takes place in a suburb of Madison WI this winter/spring. It is a 200 hour course that begins January 19-May 5th every other weekend.
It is the world’s only 200-hour wellness and yoga teacher training designed for educators.
Breathe For Change's curriculum integrates social-emotional learning, meditation, philosophy, anatomy, asana (physical yoga), and community building into accessible themes designed for use in education. These themes follow a transformational progression: Transformation of Self, Transformation of Relationships, Transformation of Community, and Integration & Renewal.
The Cost Breakdown:
Since October, I have been seeking funding to help pay for the training. There have been some hits and some misses. Here is how the costs are breaking down so far:
Training fee: $2,650
Lodging: $720 ($80x9)
Gas/food: $500
Total cost: $3,870
Funding:
Breathe for Change scholarship: $500
NMU Alumni Foundation: $1000
Remaining costs: $2,370
What does this have to do with you, and how can you benefit?
I would like to be a resource in my school for teachers and for art teachers in training. I would love to pass on this balance and wellness to my students and to share it with my family and community.
Along with teaching art for healing, I will also be able to branch out into yoga classes to help heal my community and to make a safe space for this to happen.
Sponsorship Rewards
I would love to provide some tangible rewards for sponsorship levels!
1. $1-$24: Thank you card featuring original artwork mailed to you
2. $25-$49: Bee the Change Hand printed tee shirt and thank you card
3. $50-$74: Shirt, card, and 5 free yoga sessions at the Honey House this summer (restorative yoga, family sessions also)
4. $75-$99: Shirt, card, and 7 free yoga sessions at the Honey House this summer (restorative yoga, family sessions also)
5. $100: Attend an afternoon (4 hour session) of Asanas, Art, and Appetizers workshop/retreat. These will be scheduled throughout the summer and will include painting or collage, yoga, and food/drinks.
6. $200: Combination of 4 and 5 or I will come to your location and do the workshop for a group of 4 people.
7. $500: I will do an 8 hour workshop for your group recapping the information that we learned in “Breathe for Change” along with art activities.
(below is an image of our space at Algomah Acres, a meditative, bright space for yoga and art sessions!)
Still Reading? Why do I want to pursue this professional development?
Parker Palmer in “Courage to Teach” poses an important question: “How can we take heart again so that we can give heart to others?”
What does taking heart again look like for you in your life and work?
Taking heart again means achieving a balance and making wellness a priority. For too long I have glorified being a workaholic and placing my personal value and worth on how much I got done. I realize this is not sustainable. I am reaching a point where authenticity and having energy for my students and life are more important that being the most productive or “best” at what I do. I would like to be a resource in my school for teachers and for art teachers in training. I would love to pass on this balance and wellness to my students and to share it with my family.
How can Breathe For Change support you in manifesting this vision?
Along with teaching art for healing, I will also be able to branch out into yoga classes to help heal my community and to make a safe space for this to happen. I am hoping that Breathe for Change can help to instill in me not only a sense of calm, but provide techniques to pass this calm on to people I meet and my students. Already through the pre-reading and assignments I feel like I am establishing healthy routines and that excites me. I look forward to seeing where this will go and how it will grow <3
· What are you already doing to enhance well-being in your communities?
I try to bring a calm, positive energy to whatever group I am working with. I smile as much as possible and try to be mindful of my words and actions…and to try to keep them positive. Growth mindset is on people’s minds.
My husband and I do honeybee education and host wellness festivals at our place of business. We try to inspire others to pursue wellness and to share ideas about their beliefs.
We support farmers and eat locally grown produce as much as possible.
• What is your vision for bringing well-being practices to your communities?
I see the continued pursuit of Mindful Leadership in my future, whatever that might be. Groups I strive to influence by example are: my classroom, my school community and colleagues, my family and my community at large.
I have mentioned this before, but I would like to break the old paradigm of praising overworking and competition in this way. If I can do this by example, that would be healing for my students and colleagues.
Thank you so much for taking the time to learn about my project. Any share, mention, or sponsorship is greatly appreciated.
"Blessing of Balance"
On the day when
The weight deadens
On your shoulders
And you stumble,
May the clay dance
To balance you.
And when your eyes
Freeze behind
The grey window
And the ghost of loss
Gets into you,
May a flock of colours,
Indigo, red, green
And azure blue,
Come to awaken in you
A meadow of delight.
When the canvas frays
In the currach of thought
And a stain of ocean
Blackens beneath you,
May there come across the waters
A path of yellow moonlight
To bring you safely home.
~John O’Donohue
With Gratitude, Melissa
I have enrolled in Breathe for Change a yoga training for teachers which takes place in a suburb of Madison WI this winter/spring. It is a 200 hour course that begins January 19-May 5th every other weekend.
It is the world’s only 200-hour wellness and yoga teacher training designed for educators.
Breathe For Change's curriculum integrates social-emotional learning, meditation, philosophy, anatomy, asana (physical yoga), and community building into accessible themes designed for use in education. These themes follow a transformational progression: Transformation of Self, Transformation of Relationships, Transformation of Community, and Integration & Renewal.
The Cost Breakdown:Since October, I have been seeking funding to help pay for the training. There have been some hits and some misses. Here is how the costs are breaking down so far:
Training fee: $2,650
Lodging: $720 ($80x9)
Gas/food: $500
Total cost: $3,870
Funding:
Breathe for Change scholarship: $500
NMU Alumni Foundation: $1000
Remaining costs: $2,370
What does this have to do with you, and how can you benefit?
I would like to be a resource in my school for teachers and for art teachers in training. I would love to pass on this balance and wellness to my students and to share it with my family and community.
Along with teaching art for healing, I will also be able to branch out into yoga classes to help heal my community and to make a safe space for this to happen.
Sponsorship Rewards
I would love to provide some tangible rewards for sponsorship levels!
1. $1-$24: Thank you card featuring original artwork mailed to you
2. $25-$49: Bee the Change Hand printed tee shirt and thank you card
3. $50-$74: Shirt, card, and 5 free yoga sessions at the Honey House this summer (restorative yoga, family sessions also)
4. $75-$99: Shirt, card, and 7 free yoga sessions at the Honey House this summer (restorative yoga, family sessions also)
5. $100: Attend an afternoon (4 hour session) of Asanas, Art, and Appetizers workshop/retreat. These will be scheduled throughout the summer and will include painting or collage, yoga, and food/drinks.
6. $200: Combination of 4 and 5 or I will come to your location and do the workshop for a group of 4 people.
7. $500: I will do an 8 hour workshop for your group recapping the information that we learned in “Breathe for Change” along with art activities.
(below is an image of our space at Algomah Acres, a meditative, bright space for yoga and art sessions!)
Still Reading? Why do I want to pursue this professional development?
Parker Palmer in “Courage to Teach” poses an important question: “How can we take heart again so that we can give heart to others?”
What does taking heart again look like for you in your life and work?
Taking heart again means achieving a balance and making wellness a priority. For too long I have glorified being a workaholic and placing my personal value and worth on how much I got done. I realize this is not sustainable. I am reaching a point where authenticity and having energy for my students and life are more important that being the most productive or “best” at what I do. I would like to be a resource in my school for teachers and for art teachers in training. I would love to pass on this balance and wellness to my students and to share it with my family.
How can Breathe For Change support you in manifesting this vision?
Along with teaching art for healing, I will also be able to branch out into yoga classes to help heal my community and to make a safe space for this to happen. I am hoping that Breathe for Change can help to instill in me not only a sense of calm, but provide techniques to pass this calm on to people I meet and my students. Already through the pre-reading and assignments I feel like I am establishing healthy routines and that excites me. I look forward to seeing where this will go and how it will grow <3
· What are you already doing to enhance well-being in your communities?
I try to bring a calm, positive energy to whatever group I am working with. I smile as much as possible and try to be mindful of my words and actions…and to try to keep them positive. Growth mindset is on people’s minds.
My husband and I do honeybee education and host wellness festivals at our place of business. We try to inspire others to pursue wellness and to share ideas about their beliefs.
We support farmers and eat locally grown produce as much as possible.
• What is your vision for bringing well-being practices to your communities?
I see the continued pursuit of Mindful Leadership in my future, whatever that might be. Groups I strive to influence by example are: my classroom, my school community and colleagues, my family and my community at large.
I have mentioned this before, but I would like to break the old paradigm of praising overworking and competition in this way. If I can do this by example, that would be healing for my students and colleagues.
Thank you so much for taking the time to learn about my project. Any share, mention, or sponsorship is greatly appreciated. "Blessing of Balance"
On the day when
The weight deadens
On your shoulders
And you stumble,
May the clay dance
To balance you.
And when your eyes
Freeze behind
The grey window
And the ghost of loss
Gets into you,
May a flock of colours,
Indigo, red, green
And azure blue,
Come to awaken in you
A meadow of delight.
When the canvas frays
In the currach of thought
And a stain of ocean
Blackens beneath you,
May there come across the waters
A path of yellow moonlight
To bring you safely home.
~John O’Donohue
With Gratitude, Melissa
Organizer
Melissa Hronkin
Organizer
Lake Mine, MI
