jo bregnard

Hi! I'm a caregiver touched by breast cancer offering everyday self-care experiences from my homestead in Southern Vermont.

I know from experience how hard it is for those who tend to others~~as part of their careers or as personal support for friends or family members~~to find the same attention for themselves. I'm here to provide you with a variety of practical tools (think yoga, mindfulness, breathwork, nurturing touch and acupressure, aromatherapy ...) to give your body and soul the support they need so you can continue doing the things that bring you joy in life. I look forward to working with you!

I was crushed when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002. I had always been active and healthy, so I couldn’t imagine what I had done wrong. That news came to me just three months after my husband’s life-changing serious burn injury, making for quite a second year of marriage. I started practicing yoga on a regular basis in 2009. I enjoyed not just the physical part of the practice, but the break it gave my mind and the boost it brought to my self-confidence. The only real issue was that my breast form kept slipping out of my top! But I felt so strong, free and even beautiful in class that one day I finally tossed it to the side of my mat. When no one seemed to notice or care, I realized that a yoga studio was a sacred space, indeed. 

As difficult as my own health struggles were, it wasn’t until my husband faced some sudden, severe~~and frightening~~heart issues that my practice was elevated to another level. That was when I found true comfort on my mat, and a peace that seemed unattainable anywhere else. 

I was inspired to share the fruits of this practice with others in 2014, so I that's when I began my 200-hour teacher training. Since then I've done additional study in teaching to beginners, prenatal and restorative yoga, and Fluid Yoga assisting; I'm Yoga 4 Cancer certified, and I obtained my 300-hour yoga certification in 2019. I also have Level I and II certifications in Reiki, yin yoga and Thai yoga bodywork, and I bring my years of experience in aromatherapy into my classes. I've completed certifications in Acupressure Meridian Therapy, the Five-Element Theory, Acupressure Bodywork and other Traditional Chinese Medicine topics, as well as Fall Prevention Tai Chi.

In July 2020 I opened my virtual self-care studio for those who spend their days caring for others. In addition to a monthly membership, I offer live classes and weekend retreats based on this six-"petaled" system that I've come to rely on:

I live in Southern Vermont with my husband, our sweet mutt Olive, our one-eyed rescue cat Oggie, and pet cows . LouLou and Posy. My mom passed in 2021, so when I'm not traveling to support my dad in a nearby state, I enjoy spending time outdoors tending to our veggie garden and fruit and nut trees, and staying in tune with the rhythms of the natural world.

I truly delight in making my sessions accessible, and I love the mindfulness yoga brings to time spent off the mat, as well as the community it helps create. Practice time reminds us to be present, and we can’t be any more ourselves as when we’re moving organically and breathing. I've used yoga to nurture myself while caring for others and I know what a difference this practice can make. It’s the ultimate in self-care, and there’s no one who can’t use an extra helping of that.