Brian
Strahine
BRIAN STRAHINE
MY STORY
Life is about walking each other home to who we really are.
I grew up in a single-family home with a Mom who worked her ass off to support my sister and me. I am a product of blue-collar middle class American culture and I did everything that it told me to do. On the outside, I was the poster child for “success.” I worked hard in school and went to an Ivy League university. I eventually ended up as a public school educator. I got married and had all the material things that money could buy and were supposed to make me happy including a new home and car. And yet, on the inside, I felt empty and alone. Something was missing.
A series of acute panic attacks that lasted for several years sent me on a downward spiral. The sensations that arose in my body were unfamiliar and uncomfortable. This led me on a journey of deep self-exploration. Throughout the last 15 years I have ventured beyond the limits of my comfort and confronted parts of my being that had been ignored. These discovered parts of myself revealed an inner-landscape that was worth exploring. With the guidance of many teachers, mentors, and spiritual guides, I eventually started to find my way home.
Home is an embodied presence that requires you to turn inward. This is a courageous act because there will be moments when fear or doubt arise and you want to stop. The commitment to stay on the path, even when you know that intense emotions will arise, is what will lead to a life of incredible wholeness. I am here to serve others on the path to cultivating an embodied presence that is confident, clear, creative, and heart-centered. To serve in this role is an honor and I have such deep gratitude for those who trust me to walk with them.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
I have served children and families for 20 years in several different capacities including teacher, school counselor, and coach. I joined the Peace Corps after college and worked at a public high school in northern Romania as an English teacher and boys’ basketball coach. This experience dramatically impacted my worldview and opened my eyes to so much about the human experience. When my panic attacks started, I was introduced to the practice of mindfulness. For the first time in my adult life, I became aware of my body. I was invited to pay attention to my breath, something I had never done before, and it was intense. It also provided a sense of comfort and I wanted more. This eventually led me to India where I completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training. I continued to explore other practices that invited me to live from the inside-out in order to bring my physical state back into balance. These practices include breathwork, sound healing, and somatic movement. Throughout my professional journey, I have learned how to incorporate these modalities into my work with others so that they can experience the fullness of being alive.