How did I get here?

Kids LOVE to ask questions and nothing is off limits...

"How old are you?" "Do you have kids?"   "Are you married?" "Why not?" "Do you have a boyfriend?"  "What's his name?"  "Do you want kids?"

My favorite of all..."Is this your job?"

They're always excitedly shocked to find out that my job is a kids yoga teacher.  Even at such a young age, they're conditioned to think it's not a "real job". 

Now with kids, their curiosity comes with an innocence that can feel a bit less judgmental than when the same questions come from an adult.  They continue with more...

"What did you used to do?" 

Well, this list goes on for a while, so I usually give them the cliff notes.  I was an elementary school teacher for six years (they don't do the math). 

But, for your Sunday reading pleasure and a few laughs, here are a handful of jobs that prepared me for this wild ride of entrepreneurship...  

Babysitting - My go to, always felt easy and fun.  I also walked away with cash.  Yes, please:) Ice Cream Shop - Very short lived, ate too much of it and gave generous amounts to friends.  Oh, and I traded milkshakes for french fries with the restaurant next door🤷🏼‍♀️. Abercrombie & Fitch- Yep, senior year of college.  Sorry mom, I know you despised the store. Fox News - Affiliate sales and marketing - I was an intern.  Interesting, but more interested in NYC living:) Sports Reporter - I get uncomfortable thinking about this one.  Wayyy out of my comfort zone and did not like bothering athletes with questions or being on live TV. NYC Waitress - Wow, a crazy one.  You feel like you can conquer the world after working a Sunday brunch in the West Village during Gay Pride weekend.  Thanks for making me do this sister.  Some of my best friends were made here. Modeling - Eek, hard to share.  Really eye-opening and allowed me to travel quite a bit and live in Italy. Teaching - 4th, 1st, and 2nd grade - NY and LA.  Student taught in K, 3rd and 5th.  Now just realizing I’ve taught in all elementary school grade levels, cool.  Makes sense. Coaching - Love basketball and lacrosse.  Love teaching it.  Not sure I’m head coach material though. Tutoring - Still a job and I love it.  Feeds my academic fix - math and writing, woohoo!

And here I am.  

I am a kids yoga teacher.  Breathe & Learn is my company.  I do my best to nourish little minds and bodies with confidence, compassion and all of that good stuff.  And believe it or not, it took me a while to own it.  When I first left the classroom, I didn't feel like I was taken seriously.  My job was cute, not real. 

I smiled and laughed off comments from others, even close friends, who believed I practiced yoga all day long and drank green juice on the strand.  I didn't feel good enough and simply put, that didn't feel good. 

Teaching the B&L curriculum helps me just as much as I hope it helps my students.  I write in a gratitude journal daily and positive affirmations can be on my bathroom mirror or in one of my journals.  Most importantly though, I let go of others beliefs and assumptions about my story.  I am more confident and comfortable in my skin each and every day. I do yoga, I teach yoga, I run a company and I drink green juice on the strand.  This is my story and I am proud of it.  I am grateful I get to wake up every morning and continue writing it.  There is so much power in that.   

Soak up these last few days of July!  

xo

Joanie Plake Founder of B&L | M.A. Childhood & Special Education | E-RYT 200 www.breatheandlearn.com

p.s. The fall schedule is LIVE!  Check it out and book your spot now!  Ensure a mindful transition into the school year.*

*Mindful Minis is back on the schedule.  Drop-off your 4&5 year-olds for an hour with me!