Today we’d like to introduce you to Suzanne Borgioli.
Suzanne, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I remember my journey in Service beginning around age 5. Inviting dance and mindfulness into my practices and spiritual awareness thru religious practices as a young girl growing up in a traditional, Jewish home.
Sitting between my mother and father in Shull while sleepily braiding my father’s tallit I would listen to the cantor sing and I felt peace. Conversations with my Grandmother about my new Tzadakah box that I had made in Hebrew school and which charity I would collect and save for. I remember planting trees in Israel. I remember the way that these things made me feel a sense of pride and belonging.
Music and movement thru dance was always what I considered to be my meditation and where I felt that I could get lost in a state of freedom and fluid expression.
I found myself to be inspired by other dancers from every style, lineage and expression. I still am. Dance is what moves me. I also enjoyed learning about my Jewish heritage and the ways other people lived which completely explains my wander lust at an early age.
After high school, I began a 20+ year career in Hospitality. I began Bartending at age 18 in Boston, Ma where I worked in nightclubs, five Star restaurants and Hotels all over the world. I eventually became a Department Manager and then worked exclusively in Event Management until birthing my children in 2005.
I feel that my extensive travel and specific establishments allowed for me to see people and places for their true beauty and encouraged me to dive deeply into learning culture, language and human connection.
This career in Service prepared me for the next and thoroughly shaped my heart & my soul to be open to what may be, embrace change and to practice compassion for mankind.
While living in NYC and during my first pregnancy, I cultivated an intentional yoga practice to see me thru my labor & delivery. Then I had a beautiful baby girl and a passion for yoga and the way that it was serving me.
I continued with a balanced yoga practice, enjoying both the therapeutic aspect & the strength that it provided both my mind & my body.
I relocated back to MA from NYC in 2007, shortly after; I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy.
While acclimating to my new home base, I grew thirsty for connection so I went back to bartending and I decided to embark upon a 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training Program.
I had no intention of teaching yoga, only to nurture these desires as a mom of two and carve out some time for self-care doing what I love.
The training gave me everything that I needed and more.
When I least expected it, a friend from my training invited me to teach. It wasn’t a gentle invitation! It was one to guide me out of my comfort zone and to show me that this is what I have been called to do. To teach yoga.
I fell in love with teaching.
I embraced the dance & a true sense of belonging in the classroom.
I enjoy my students tremendously and feel gratitude to bear witness to their ah ha moments on the mat while they fall deeply in love with their own practice.
I began teaching vinyasa & hot yoga, which then shifted to a mindful slow flow, yin & restorative.
Today, I enjoy teaching the richness and essentials of a grounding foundational practice coupled by breath work and the time to explore & discover our energy system.
I have been teaching yoga for a little over 10 years now. I own a yoga and wellness Center in Haverhill, Ma and will expand the love and intention this fall with a brand new location and our first Teacher Training Program called Golden Bridge Yoga School. Golden Bridge is a direct extension of my heart, a way to give back thru Karma Yoga & Community. A way to share yoga authentically, with accessibility and as a lifestyle.
I feel grateful to be able to support in people finding comfort in their bodies and acceptance for where they are in space & time. I believe that all people have “practiced” yoga at one time or another, they just might not be aware of this. Yoga means Union of mind & body with breath awareness and living peacefully within.
This ancient practice is our birth right and what an honor it is to be a part of my student’s journey back to this place. Their center, their inner dance. What a sweet privilege to share & to gently guide people onto their unique path & to see them joyfully living their yoga, this is my intention and my dreams come true.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No, not at all.
At times in my life, there was an internal with Confidence, Self-Acceptance and Worthiness. These feelings showed up in my late teenage years in the way of occasional social anxiety which then became more & more profound over the years. If I was to have “all eyes on me”, either walking into a room full of people or delivering a speech to a crowd, the fear would slowly wander in, I’d freeze and sometimes blackout the entire experience.
This manifestation eventually brought me to question whether I was practiced enough or learned enough to do a lot, especially to teach yoga.
I was in such awe of my teachers. I saw them as light filled wisdom keepers. I suppose even “Perfection”. I compared myself with them and what I thought their journey looked like. My perceptions and interpretations kept me humble for sure, however, didn’t allow for me to rise up and really see my truth.
Please tell us about Giving Tree Yoga & Wellness.
Giving Tree Yoga & Wellness is a true collaboration of love and effort to bring yoga, education and a variety of healing arts to the community.
We specialize in creating a comfortable and inviting environment for people of any level of practice to integrate with ease and support.
The one thing that I am most proud of is the strength of our community. We are genuinely an amazing group of people who are caring for & about each other.
I feel what sets us apart from other yoga studios is that I offer each new student a complimentary wellness consultation which covers studio etiquette, questions or concerns about studio culture, packaging and potential discussion about class placement and wellness goals.
In addition, students tend to really like that our group class sizes are always under 10 students unless we are hosting a special event or workshop. This allows the teacher and student to create meaningful bonds and for the teacher to be available to instruct to the individual within a group setting while continuing to honor a safe & skillful practice for each level and student need.
Giving Tree also allows the student to embrace yoga as a holistic approach for their health & wellness and is encouraged to enjoy Yoga as a lifestyle. We make yoga accessible for everyone!
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Work smarter, not harder!
I think that when I return to my heart and allow myself to be lead from there, it’s typically when everything makes sense and falls right into place.
I’ve learned to trust my intuition and be more in the natural rhythm & Flow!
Oh wow! There are many!
Sylvia & Ann, for training me and challenging me in the exact way that I needed to be
Thank you Rose for guiding with a strong hand and with the discipline that it took to ground, teach and show me the way in the wild world of hospitality. Thank you for trusting me and giving me multiple chances to prove myself and my loyalty while I was figuring out all of the hard stuff. You are my foundation in business and my rock in more ways than you know.
I’d like to thank Laurie Goldstein for being my teacher, my mirror and my dear friend. For guiding me thru the muck without judgement or despair, for always holding a light and for being there.
For Shiva Rea and her teachings. These powerful lessons ignite the flow within and show me day in and day out what my natural rhythms are and how to dance in my yoga. For Barbara Benaugh for showing me how to let go, heal big wounds and to embrace a beginners mind.
My family, so much to say so simply I am Blessed. Their constant in the ebb & flow and the restore and Renew that I always return home for, and for my Jimi for pushing me just enough and reminding me that I AM.
For all of the elders who have lived many lives before me, for their story telling and their gracious practices, rituals & ceremonies. Thank you for sharing them with pride and with dignity.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.givingtreeyogaandwellness.com
- Phone: 917-232-2426
- Email: suzanneborgioli@gmail.com
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
