Today we’d like to introduce you to BreaRose Smith.
BreaRose, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Wow, that is a big question. I will start at the beginning of my yoga journey because that history all pertains to the creation of Service & Savasana.
I grew up in San Diego, but I went to school back east at Rutgers University in New Jersey. The experience of college and all that comes with it resulted in my continued mental and physical health exploration. I say continued exploration because, as a little girl (in addition to joy and happiness), I experienced daily intense anxiety and chronic fear. As a result, my parents introduced me to mindfulness techniques at a very young age. This co-existed with my innate drive to understand the purpose of life, and I have been “seeking” ever since.
As I grew older, I held on to these mindfulness practices and practiced them mainly through movement. I dove deep into the practice of yoga during my college years. During that time, I remember so clearly the moment on my mat where I felt for the first time in my life a stark stillness of peace and spaciousness within; from that day forward, yoga felt like my saving grace.
When I began to teach yoga, I became aware of the internal strength, grace, and power that I possessed; I felt like I finally had a purpose and a way to understand myself and those around me. Having a “life purpose” has always been something I have tirelessly searched for. I have since then understood that one’s purpose changes at any given moment, but teaching yoga was the first and only thing that I felt “destined” to do up until that point. I knew I could be of service to others through teaching, and I realized how vital it was for me to be of service to others- for them, but also for my personal wellbeing and connection.
In the present day, I have found a safe home in my own heart, and it is the best gift of my life! However, I did not embody this sanctuary and wisdom overnight. It has not been an easy journey for me, far from it. I have experienced continuous debilitating anxiety and depression, major health issues, addiction struggles, and have had plenty of moments where I did not want to be here anymore. Yoga has been with me through it all, and the practices of pranayama (breath) and asana (movement) have helped to push me along and guide me through.
In terms of my profession, I have explored many vocations; I worked in finance, the non-profit sector, administration, studio management, and hospitality. I learned valuable skills from every job I have worked, and at the same time, I had always known that I would need to pave my own way in the world. About a year ago, I knew I needed a change professionally; I wasn’t sure what that would look like, but I wanted yoga and helping others to be the driving forces in whatever “it” was.
Service & Savasana was birthed in a lovely way. Nine months ago, my mother and I were partaking in our typical pastime, spending our morning discussing life at a coffee shop. We were brainstorming ways to help migrants fighting for their lives by venturing through the desert to seek safety in our country. These brave souls were (and are currently) living in dire conditions. Long story short, my mother’s friend Michelle generously donated her beautiful home for a donation yoga class where we raised money for a migrant shelter in need of clean food and water. The class attendees donated enough money to purchase a clean water filter for the shelter that housed (and still houses) hundreds of migrants.
The rest is pretty much history; I witnessed how bringing individuals together to practice yoga with the intention to also help others created indescribable energy of love and interconnectedness, and I was committed to keep it going. I continued to host donation yoga classes at Michelle’s home, then took the classes to yoga studios in the Encinitas area. The classes have also evolved into events with live music, sound healing, etc.
A wonderful Service & Savasana community has formed along the way, and I am currently offering about three donation classes/events a month. As a community, we have raised funds to help open The Women’s First Step House of North County, a free ten-day introduction to recovery from alcoholism for women, and we are currently collecting donations for the Duwara Consciousness Foundation, a non-profit that is providing free food, water, and hygiene services to individuals in need during this pandemic.
In addition to studio classes, we bring Service & Savasana yoga classes for a cause to corporations, individual’s homes, small businesses and currently via zoom! In order to create a larger impact in our world, my dream and my plan is to create a Service & Savasana studio where myself and other talented instructors can teach classes daily to raise money for different non-profits and social justice causes.
Has it been a smooth road?
No, it has not been a smooth road, nor do I expect it to be one moving forward; the magic becomes exposed through the hardship. It takes a large amount of bravery, patience, internal drive, grit, and faith to start a business and to keep it going. I do believe I have been “training” my whole life for this. Throughout my life journey, I have gone through the darkness that I didn’t believe I could ever come out of, but this same darkness created a sturdiness and bravery inside of me that enables me to create and run a business that I believe in.
People have told me that my ideas and plans for Service & Savasana won’t work, and people have told me that my business model is brilliant. I have had major struggles with doubt and worthiness in the past, especially if others expressed any doubt or disagreement. I have done a lot of therapy, meditation, yoga, retreats, mindfulness practices, and hours crying on the floor to learn how to quiet the fear inside and connect with what is true; love and grace. The ability to do this definitely comes in handy now 😉
I have days and moments where I experience terrible self-defeating thoughts, and at the same time, moments where I experience. faith, hope, drive, and what I like to call “gut orders,” or my intuitive messages of encouragement and love that push me in one direction or another (please note that my intuitive messages can sometimes be very painful, but there is always something better on the other side.) The Service & Savasana path feels divinely inspired for me because regardless of any doubt I may have, I continue to take action to move forward with the business on a daily basis. When I think about Service & Savasana, it takes me to a place of love, light, and joy which helps to smooth out the road ahead 🙂
Service & Savasana – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The way it works is simple: we put on community and business yoga events where 50%-70% of the profit goes to a non-profit organization or social justice group that is working to create positive change in our world. The yoga classes taught are donation-based, which creates an environment where anyone, regardless of their financial reality, can enjoy the benefits of yoga practice. Our intention is this: to create the opportunity for anyone, regardless of economic means, or physical ability, to find internal freedom through the practice of yoga and to know that at the same time they are contributing to healing our world.
What sets up apart? Our tagline is “freeing others while freeing ourselves.” Service & Savasana attendees pay for a wonderful yoga class and community connection experience, while also knowing that what they paid to attend will go towards helping others in need. We also come to you; we host yoga class events at your home, studio, or company. We are able to create a class that incorporates multiple offerings. In addition to yoga, we offer energy healing, boot-camp style workouts, sound healing, and meditation, all of which can be included in a class event. Customers are able to choose where they want to donate their money to the Service & Savasana charity of the month or a cause they are personally connected to. We collect donations and ensure the funds are delivered to the non-profit of choice.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I am focusing on taking it one day at a time. This helps me to stay connected to my intention, which is to be of service to others. Of course, I am continuously shifting my business plan to make a living and to grow our Service & Savasana community… AND I can do this one step at a time.
I see Service & Savasana having a space of its own, and hosting events in multiple corporations and studios monthly. I don’t feel the need to share any more at this time 🙂
Pricing:
- Public yoga events: suggested minimum donation $30.
- Host an event at your company: $150 for the event and all donations received that day go to the non-profit of choice.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.serviceandsavasana.org/
- Email: brearose@serviceandsavasana.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/service.savasana/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brea.smith.526
- Other: https://www.brearoses.com/
Suggest a story: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
