“Our bodies are works of art! Every cell lovingly created to spin and swirl through the choreography that is each unique life. When you find yourself so habituated to this body that you forget the beauty and uniqueness of its artform, come closer, find the smallest detail and see a universe unfold. Then, stand back breathe deeply and enjoy the masterpiece.”
Owner and Founder of Ocean Breath Yoga:
Breath, Movement and Posture Specialist
Body, Mind, Spirit Curator
THE STORY:
Like many, Beverly was drawn to Yoga via the idea that she needed to get a good stretch. This was when rollerblading 20 km each day to work during a transit strike. She very quickly began to understand that the Yoga was not the “stretches” but what happened as she breathed and moved and aligned her intentions with her cellular being. As Beverly’s practice progressed it also brought her closer to a full and intimate understanding of the self beyond simply the physical body.
She chose, in her early 40’s, to step into her purpose for being. Using her life experiences, which include some of the following: extremely low blood pressure, intrinsic asthma, heart arrhythmia and tachycardia, shredded shoulder muscles, fractured wrist ligaments, pelvic displacement, miscarriage, 2 parents with individual cancer struggles and a 5 + years journey of intense peri-menopause symptoms, she chose to train and become the best Guide, Educator, Curator of Lived Experience, Coach, Facilitator and sometime Posture Whisperer ;) she could be. In so doing she encourages others to access a healthier, wealthier, more empowered existence.
Every year like a tree, she grows and changes. Her roots remain steadfast keeping her in balance while her centre expands and her branches stretch outwards to provide cover from the storms of life. She continually adds to her knowledge base and empathic abilities.
The goal - to share what she continues to learn with as many people as are ready to experience themselves, learning to live, rather than to just make it through another day.
THE JOURNEY HERE:
After a week long stay on a cardiac ward where she was told she needed to have a piece of her heart burned out at the age 42, Beverly chose Yoga.
The health crisis arose after her fathers 5 month journey with pancreatic cancer. Once he transitioned, stress and exhaustion found its home in her heart. Yoga and wellness practices reclaimed ownership of her heart and life.
The following year she gave up everything and decided to take her 12 year Yoga practice further and return through Karma Yoga what her practice had done for her by becoming a teacher.
Starting with a basic 200 Hour Hatha based training in 2010, she began teaching then was certified in Yin, Nidra, and Kundalini Yoga adding Restorative and Prenatal to the garden of connected practices. Since then there has been the addition of TRE, Nature wellness, CranioSacral Therapy and her own wisdom growth.
She studies the Vedas (the philosophy that all of Yoga is based on…basically how to live within, connected to and in balance with the laws of nature). Influenced by Somatics and the study of connective tissues within the fascial body, Beverly’s teaching asks people to slow down and truly learn to value this life they are moving through. The gift they will receive? More opportunity to experience moments of contentment, wellbeing, joy, creativity and “freedom”.
The belief that they must have or be or do something in order to be worthwhile begins to retreat to the fantasy world that it came from.
Her form of guidance cannot be categorized into any one box (much like life). It focuses on the release of stress and anxiety while leaning into an awareness of how the physical body is intimately connected with the energetic, mental, spiritual and sense body. She is grounded in technical knowledge with a deep empathic understanding of each individual she works with. Her students have come to understand that she is not here to fix them, but rather support them to find what it is that their uniqueness demands.
Through her work, she has created The 5 Body Integration. Working through the 5 bodies (koshas) we all inhabit to arrive at moments of bliss.
In a world that encourages us to shut down and tune out, and push forward, she instead asks you to slow down, tune in, open up, question and experience this life as it was meant to be experienced, like a play that you are writing and want to be the lead actor in.
Become the Writer, Director, Producer and Lead of Your life.
THE PRACTICAL:
The practices you will learn do not require you to have a mat or twist yourself in knots. They are practical, life changing practices that are accessible to nearly any age, shape, ability and body type. Maybe you struggle with anxiety, for you the unexpected assist may be reorganizing your posture so there is less stress on your tissues and nervous system. Maybe you are always tripping on things, for you it might be slowness and breath rather than balance. No two people have the same reasons for similar responses. What is it that you require?
Improve your wellbeing, find more peace, connect to your creative source without or ever needing to, set foot in a studio. Understand your body, heart and mind enough that you may be empowered to step into everything you do as befits your needs, your life and your desire.
THE PROMISE:
Beverly’s promise to you.
“I will meet you where you are on your life’s journey to assist you in discovering a way to fully experience your possibilities. I will not tell you what to do, but teach you how to understand what you need, and who you are beneath all the stories and labels, aches and pains that have built up over your lifetime.
If you work with me it is because you are ready to have a better relationship with your life, body, mind and heart. I choose to only work with those who are ready to step in and do the work rather than waiting for someone to “fix” them. “Be ready to commit to believing you are worth it.”
Available for:
Private and Group Coaching and Facilitation
Speaker for Leadership Conferences,
Corporate Training and Events,
Wellbeing Conferences and Wellness Programs,
Yoga Teacher Training
Retreats
Podcast Guest (Wellness and Empowerment)
Teacher Pro-D Days
My Guides:
Thank you to all my teachers. (Which also means deep gratitude to all their teachers before them) NAMASTE
The teachers of greatest influence:
Jeffrey Armstrong, Max Strom, Saul David Raye, Bernie Clark, Gil Hedley and Janet Stone
Paul and Suzie Grilley, Mark Whitwell, Michele Denis, Rolf Gates
Special Recognition for teachings and guidance from:
Kia Miller, Dr. David Berceli, Dawn Cartwright, Seane Corn, Dr. Ray Long, Rod Stryker, James Bailey, Shiva Rea, Gurumukh Kaur Khalsa.
(Online and by book Donna Farhi, Judith Hansen Lassiter, Sally Kempton and Anodhea Judith, amazing teachers I hope one day to spend time with)
Further Inspiration:
Diana Beresford Kroeger, Botanist, (last of a lineage of Druids),
Authors Mark Matousek and Mark Nepo
Stephen Jenkinson, Author of “Come of Age: The Case For Elderhood In a Time of Trouble” and performer of Orphan Wisdom
Paul Stamets (The Mushroom guy), Monica Gagliano, Suzanne Simard, Robin Waller Kimmerer
Louie Schwartzberg, director MovingArt.com
”Everyone I encounter is a teacher and the lessons of my life are innumerable. Thank you to each and every one I meet. I promise to forever be a student.” ~ Beverly Akhurst
“Remember… it will always be a practice so enjoy learning from the imperfection of everything. Without imperfection we would never know beauty.”