SarahLyn McConahay

SarahLyn McConahay
Foundations + Advanced Program Graduate
C-IAYT Yoga Therapist, Massage Therapist
Location: Ketchikan, Alaska
Website: https://rainforestbodyworks.com

As a recent graduate of the Advanced Program, I want to share a bit more about my experience: Joining the Advanced Practicum was truly the icing on the cake of my training. The opportunity to share real client experiences and receive thoughtful feedback from Brandt and my peers was invaluable. It deepened my clinical understanding and strengthened my confidence in ways that only hands-on experience with diverse, real-world cases can.

Having a supportive network when cases felt complex or challenging made all the difference. There were moments I may have doubted myself if working alone, but the guidance and collaborative insight allowed me to stay engaged with those clients—and ultimately witness meaningful progress.

Listening to others present their cases expanded my perspective even further. It offered fresh ideas, nuanced approaches, and practical wisdom that can’t be gained from coursework alone. The practicum created a space to actively integrate the advanced modules and truly embody the material, rather than simply understand it conceptually.

I now feel a deeper sense of courage and confidence in bringing this work fully into my practice. I am incredibly grateful for the support, generosity, and kindness found within the Breathing Deeply community. 

(See more details of my experience throughout Foundations below)

Since starting the Breathing Deeply Yoga Therapy Program, I have found a new purpose in sharing these tools and techniques. I have learned more about myself and how to manage different conditions I experience personally. I have a greater understanding and appreciation for a multitude of health conditions in others. I’m excited to help others find what works for them with this new found knowledge.

I am currently a medical massage therapist. I sustained a back Injury that made me start thinking about a backup career or something that can supplement my massage career. When I learned about yoga therapy and how you can still work with people one-on-one and help them with the same issues I was currently working on in massage sessions using a different approach, it made a lot of sense to me that this was what I was looking for.

I chose Breathing Deeply’s program because of the online flexibility of the foundations course and advanced modules. I also really liked the practical approach Brandt offered—his emphasis on both physical and emotional conditions. I appreciated learning in a language that I can understand and convey to my clients with ease who have no background in yoga or Sanskrit.

Personally, learning how to balance my imbalances in my doshas has been eye-opening. Using breath techniques when feeling anxious has helped me feel much calmer throughout my day. Yoga nidra has been life-changing, giving me the ability to notice some of my habits that needed changing and giving me more energy to do the things I love.

This training exceeded my expectations. I came looking to learn how to help others and it brought awareness of things to heal in myself and that I now had the tools to do that.

The most valuable part of the program for me has been being able to take the advanced modules and learn more about specific conditions in addition to the foundations. This helped keep me motivated to complete the foundations and also gave me a better idea of how I am going to use this information to build my yoga therapy business.

I currently own a private massage business that includes yoga therapy. My clients appreciate a more personal approach to their specific situation and how to incorporate the techniques into their daily lives. I have helped my clients with anxiety, chronic fatigue, neck pain from forward head posture, and how to find deep rest with learning the practice of yoga nidra.

If you are considering a yoga therapy school, don’t hesitate! Just sign up. This community is welcoming, supportive, and knowledgeable. The online format is super convenient, and the advanced program modules have real usable material that you are taught how to implement. I love that the material is taught in a logical, practical way.