Meet two of our three founding team members, Melissa Jol & Chris Elliott. Here is a little bit about them and what led to the creation of Breathe in Life.
The name “Breathe in Life” came to Melissa in a dream. Her most cherished of all, her mother, uttered those 3 words then suddenly Melissa jolted awake and was overcome with the absolute realization that this idea will work and it will be life changing!
Melissa has a deep desire to help people, give tools to create more compassion and happiness, and show people what life has to offer; mentally, spiritually & physically. She is dedicated to the goal of breaking down the limitations in people’s minds and helping them to discover their full potential. She hopes people leave a Breathe in Life trip with a new appreciation for their life, a new love for themselves, less judgment and more acceptance, and most importantly a profound deepening of awareness and a commitment to not taking life too seriously.
She feels extreme gratitude for her time spent working with Free & Easy Traveler and for all her 10+ years of travel and adventure. Those experiences led her to think outside the box and to never give up on her passion for guiding people through the countries which she has grown to love with all her heart. With the support of an amazing team beside her she feels Breathe in Life is unstoppable!
“After first discovering my love for travel when visiting Thailand 10 years ago, I set out on a life path of exploration to further my development as an individual, while incorporating a passion for yoga and a fire for improving myself and the world I live in. This love for travel organically turned into a job opportunity as an international tour guide/ manager, which was well suited after completing school for tourism and business management. Getting to spend so much time overseas and being able to live and breathe in all the culture and experience has given me a deep appreciation for the beauty of life and love which I strive to share with as many people as I can. I feel truly blessed to have crossed paths with so many phenomenal teachers and friends and for my continuous travel adventures all over the world.
Recently, I have been fulfilling my dream to start up Breathe in Life with close friends and family. I wear many hats within the company and pour my heart and soul into everything and everyone that Breathe in Life comes into contact with. I look forward to a bright future in doing what I love and devoting more time on my yoga mat as it has always been a place to ground my thoughts in my incredible, ever changing lifestyle.”
And here is a little bit about beauty Chris Elliott and his gorgeous hair.
Back in 2011 Chris was given a life changing opportunity to begin working as a travel guide for Free & Easy Traveler. He had finished University and also completed school to become a fireman but his itch for travel was much too strong. He followed his heart and took the job as a tour guide. Soon after he started a relationship with Melissa and with their goals for a more health conscious travel lifestyle, Chris naturally fell into the role of getting #BreatheinLife off of the ground.
He wanted to help create something that not only provided unbelievable experiences through travel, but also gave traveler’s something to take home with them. Opening their minds to new ways of living, thinking, and focusing on the important things in life.
Growing up Chris always seemed to find himself working in a leadership role. Whether it was working as a snowboard instructor, camp counsellor or wakeboard instructor, the reward of passing new skills on to others was always something he thrived on. Sharing these life changing experiences on the road that changed him, along with so many others, is what keeps Chris ticking.
“Although health and wellness has always be an important part of my life, travel didn’t come into the picture until I finished university. After graduating from the University of Ottawa with a degree in Criminology and Seneca College with a degree in Firefighter Education, the path to a “normal” life and career seemed imminent. A trip to Thailand in 2008 created a new spark and from that point on I developed a love for travel. After returning to Thailand in 2011, I was hired as a tour guide for our friends at Free and Easy Traveler. I guided hundreds of guests on trips throughout Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Nicaragua, and the Philippines. As time progressed I moved on to become country manager in the Philippines and spent time in the Free and Easy headquarters involved in flight co-ordination and customer service. Throughout my time as a guide I discovered the difficulties of maintaining a balanced healthy lifestyle while guiding on the road.
When Breathe in Life came along, the concept of providing that same adventurous exploration of a country whilst supplementing it with yoga and a healthy lifestyle presented a perfect combination for the next steps in my life. I look forward to introducing you to the beautiful places our planet has to offer while creating calmness and clarity within yourself.”
Check out our website for more: http://www.breatheinlife.com/why-breathe-in-life/the-team
