Meet Robin | Yoga Instructor, Health and Wellness Coach, Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Robin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Robin, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
In addition to owning my own health and wellness business, I am also an educator in Denver Public Schools. In both endeavors, risk-taking is bubbling up as a prominent theme right now. I am reading Hidden Potential by Adam Grant and have this quote posted in my classroom and in my home office. “Becoming a creature of discomfort can unlock hidden potential in many different types of learning. Summoning the nerve to face discomfort is a character skill—an especially important form of determination. It takes three kinds of courage: to abandon your tried-and-true methods, to put yourself in the ring before you feel ready, and to make more mistakes than others make attempts. The best way to accelerate growth is to embrace, seek, and amplify discomfort.” – Adam Grant, Hidden Potential.

To me this quote is all about the importance of the willingness to take risks and to expand one’s comfort zone. I believe that unless you are willing to push yourself outside of your comfort zone and make the mistakes, miscalculations, and embrace the challenges that come with attempting something new, you won’t get the chance to embark on something big, wonderful – magical even.

I think I have always been something of a risk-taker. I have never been afraid to try to make meaningful connections and make something blossom from those connections. This was something I watched my father do growing up and something he continues to do into his 70s.

I have a couple recent examples of creating a little magic in life by being willing to take risks. In early May, for the second year in a row, I hosted critically acclaimed songwriter and musician, Paul Hoffman, of Greensky Bluegrass, at my school, Swigert International School, to lead a group of creative writers through a songwriting workshop. He then came to Polaris Elementary School last week to give a concert to the entire school and then led a small group of students through a songwriting workshop. Years ago this would’ve seemed like an impossible dream.

It all came about from a rumination. After the 2023 Strings and Sol Festival, co-hosted by Greensky Bluegrass and other bands, I thought to myself, “how can I get Paul to Swigert?” I felt his lyric writing, creativity and performance abilities, and reflective nature could be an asset for my school community. I ruminated for a bit then realized that pairing him with my writing mentorship could be really cool. I DMed him to see if he was interested and it turned out he was very interested in giving back to the community and was excited I had asked. It has been awesome to watch this songwriting collaboration grow over the past year and a half and I’m excited to see where it will go from here.

I another opportunity that feels a little magical to me is collaborating with Andy Hall, the dobro player from the Grammy winning band, the Infamous Stringdusters, to lead a yoga/live music collaboration here in Central Park in Denver on June 28th at the Conservatory Green at 10:00am. I could have just thought – that would be awesome to work with Paul or Andy, (and did think that!) but I also summoned up the nerve to craft a vision, foster a connection, and see the idea through.

With opportunity comes risk and if you aren’t willing to take risks you will miss the opportunities. The Adam Grant quote above generated some of the best conversations I have had with my students in a long time. Something I have been instilling in my students and my children is that life is full of failure, challenges, and rejection. You lose more than you win. But that is ok because the opportunity for growth is so much bigger when you lose and when you are in the middle of the muck. One more book I would mention on the topic that I heard about years ago but has been resurfacing is “Rejection Proof: How I beat Fear and Became Invincible Through 100 Days of Rejection.”

What should our readers know about your business?
The vision of Joyful Journeys Holistic is to support people in making small, joyful, sustainable changes that help them reach their goals and maximize their potential. I offer health coaching, yoga and fitness classes, holistic health programs, and other programming. I am working with Molly Robinson to offer Awakening Wisdom Workshop at the Denver Village in July which I am excited about. I am also taking on summer clients so please reach out if you are interested!

The biggest challenge is attempting to balance working as an educator, growing my business, being a good partner to my husband and mom to my kids, staying fit and healthy, having a few hobbies that relieve stress and keep my cup full, AND staying on top housework and chores. It seems like an impossible balancing act that many modern day working parents face. I love all of these aspects of my life (aside from cleaning the house though I’m trying to find joy there too) and have so much gratitude and appreciation which makes it all somewhat attainable. Mindset is so important and seeing things through the lens of abundance rather than lack is key for me.

In addition to being a health and wellness nerd, I am passionate about the arts. I offer private art lessons and camps and do commissioned art pieces. I am also very passionate about music (seeing live music in particular). Something exciting going on currently is a live music collaboration with Andy Hall, the dobro player from the Grammy Winning Infamous Stringdusters. I hope to start a Creativity, Music and Movement Fund and bring in other artists like Gregory Alan Isakov, Nathaniel Rateliff, LVDY as part of a live music/yoga series. I would also like to build on the songwriting collaboration and possibly pursue other unique collaborations for students and community members. I feel like at this point in my life I know so many amazing artists, musicians, yoga teachers, health coaches, writers and leaders and would love put the pieces together to organize retreats and workshops where people can connect, learn, grow, create, move, and heal.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Day One: The day would start at Glissade Coffee Shop at 25th and Galena Street. This coffee shop has a warm and inviting ambience and their service and coffee is the best! Then we would stroll a few blocks West to the Stanley Marketplace for a yoga class at Rise Yoga Colorado. I teach at Rise on Wednesdays and absolutely love the community and teachers! After yoga we would grab brunch at one of the many great restaurants in the Marketplace – Maybe the Denver Biscuit Co depending on what my friend was in the mood for. After brunch we would pop into some of the Stanley shops but linger at True – my favorite clothing store in the Denver area. The have the cutest clothing and new things in each week. We might then take a long leisurely walk on the Greenway that runs just north of the Marketplace. Dinner would be at Esther’s in the Oneida Park Center on 22nd and Oneida. If you love good food, great cocktails and beer/wine selection, good music, and sports – this is your place! The owner of Ester’s Paul Sullivan, is a big live music fan. All the pizzas are named after Phish songs and they have a couple Greensky Bluegrass along with other concert posters adorning the walls. They also have a lot of TVs and are big supporters of Denver sports. Who knows, maybe saunter over to Dang for ice cream afterwards!

Day Two: A trip out of Denver for a hike in the Boulder or Golden area. Bear Peak, Mt. Sanitas, whatever the friend might be up for. Then we would gear up for some live music at Red Rocks amphitheater!

Day Three: A day trip to the River North Arts district to wander the streets, take the mural art, check out some ma and pop shops and grab a bite to eat. I like Work and Class but there are a lot of great spots!

Day Four: A morning run at Bluff Lake. Sipping a beer on the patio at Vine Street Cafe in the afternoon followed by live music at the Mission Ballroom.

Day Five: A trip to the Botanic Gardens or the Art Museum.

Day Six: A day trip to Fort Collins! We would hike Grey Rock up the Poudre Canyon then catch live music at the Mishawaka amphitheater. This is one of my favorite venues ever! It is right along the Poudre Canyon – you can hear the river in the background. We would spend the night in old town then wake up on…

Day Seven: And have brunch at the Rainbow Cafe. I worked here in college and love the family who runs the restaurant. Their food is made with so much love and is delicious!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to give a special shoutout to Ralph Bozella, my father. There is much to say about Ralph, but today I’ll focus on one aspect of his character. Ralph has a drive that is fierce and unrelenting. Central to this drive is the desire to uplift himself and others. His father was a custodian and his mother a school cafeteria worker. Though no one in his family had gone to college, when he had a vision to achieve a goal he saw it through. When he told his parents he wanted to attend college, he was met with, “What would you want to do that for? Go work on the railroad…” Without support, he figured out a way to get himself and his younger brother through college. Shortly after college, in the summer of 1970, he signed a teaching contract at a school in Pennsylvania. He got his draft notice for the Vietnam War days later. Several months after what he described as “the madness” of active infantry combat he figured out a way to elude combat altogether and instead offer his services at an adult education center helping soldiers get their GEDs. He was an educator for many years but has also been an active member of the American Legion at the city, state, and national level over many decades. He has served, as president, for the United
Veterans Committee of Colorado, Chairman for the Colorado Board of Veterans Affairs, Chairman for the Colorado Veterans Nursing Home Commission and State Commander for The American Legion’s Department of Colorado. He has received recognition and awards for his service to veteran advocacy.

I regularly encourage him to spend these later years of his life relaxing to no avail. He continues to serve and support so many in many ways. These days when we spend time together it is not uncommon that we are interrupted by a phone call from someone seeking his support or to give a word of thanks – a homeless veteran, a political leader, a family or community member. He has taught me that if you have vision and drive you can create opportunities – you don’t have to wait for someone else to create an opportunity for you. You can make it for yourself and those you seek to uplift. I don’t think he could do it without the support of my mom. Their 50th wedding anniversary is coming up in September which seems mind-boggling. Her support and love for him and the family is unwavering.

I would be remiss not to shout out my husband and kids. My love for music started with my dad but has continued to grow through my husband, Jordan, who seeks out, shares, and appreciates good music. He introduced me to Greensky and the Infamous Stringdusters many years ago along with many other great artists. I also have serious respect for his commitment to serving others. He is a dedicated and engaging high school teacher at a time when secondary teachers are competing with TikTok, Snapchat, and other dopamine rich apps for students’ attention. I taught high school years ago but can’t imagine that world with the advent of the smart phone and no top down regulations on smart phone usage in schools. My daughter inspires me daily with her determination, drive, and curiosity. She thinks outside of the box, dreams big, and doesn’t often allow artificial constructs things to limit her. My son inspires me with his creativity, art, big heart, and keeps us laughing with his wit and sense of humor. He is an aspiring actor and a natural entertainer which is fun to have in the family! He is dreamer and a visionary and believes in his ability to manifest cool and interesting things in life through his art, writing, and humor. I feel really grateful for them and the joy they bring.

Website: https://www.joyfuljourneysholistic.com

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Facebook: Robin Bozella Bresnahan

Image Credits
Dave Vann