We had the good fortune of connecting with Robert Bahedry and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Robert, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
When quarantine was announced mid-March of 2020, the two west Los Angeles yoga studios where I was teaching my 3 weekly Breathwork classes were forced to close their doors. Fortunately, both studios pivoted online right away. Within literally a few days of the lockdown order, I found myself facilitating TEN Breathwork classes per week! All via livestream on Zoom.
As the word slowly got out, more and more people would show up, mostly from the Los Angeles area at first. Then East Coast people started showing up and after a few weeks, I was getting people from all over the US and Europe joining in. At one point, I had people in my class all the way from South Korea to Israel – and all points in between – and all because the work itself was really helping people deal with the challenges – and most often, the anxiety – that lockdown brought with it. Job loss, fear of the unknown, lack of connection and community, and the feeling of being cooped-up inside to name a few reasons.
As this was going on, it dawned on me that I could actually share this amazing healing modality online and with a global audience! “How amazing would that be?” was my thinking! So, that’s when the seed was sown! That’s when the idea of starting my own ‘small business’ began, offering Breathwork online to anywhere there’s internet service in this world, and to anyone who had access to it – “have phone, will breathe” kind of thing!
What should our readers know about your business?
I am ‘Breathe With Robert LLC’! I am a coach and a certified Breathwork practitioner and my purpose in this lifetime is to share this incredible self-healing modality with as many people on this planet as humanly possible! This work is utterly transformative and it is my mission in life to introduce it to you and spread the love! There is literally ‘magic’ in our breath and discovering how powerful it is, is a total game-changer.
I’m very proud that despite the pandemic and how hopeless things seem at times, and while most people at my age are thinking of retirement, I took the risk to take my teachings online to a global audience. It was scary as hell but I took a leap of faith to start my own business and it has been one of the most rewarding and empowering experiences of my life.
What makes me different from anyone else is quite simple really … it’s my life experiences! When I work with a client, I bring into that space the lessons I’ve learned from my own healing journey and a very unique perspective. I believe that we are all here on this journey to be of service. Ram Dass said: “we are all here walking each other home.” So every time I am given the opportunity to share Breathwork with someone, I feel blessed and deeply grateful for the opportunity.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Without a doubt, there would be a lot of food involved – it’s one of my ‘lover languages’!
1. Chandni Vegetarian Indian Restaurant in Santa Monica on Wilshire Blvd. Amazing food!!
2. A rock concert (when that stuff starts again) at the Hollywood Bowl. In LA, that’s a ‘must.’
3. Sila Thai restaurant in the Robertson area.
4. A visit to Mann’s Chinese theatre, the Hollywood sign, and Griffith Observatory.
5. Sunin Lebanese restaurant in Westwood – for the chicken shawarma plate, hummus, kibbe, and baba ghannoush.
6. A sunset ride on PCH to smell the fresh, salty, ocean breeze + fish & chips at Neptune’s Net.
7. El Chollo Mexican restaurant (also on Wilshire in Santa Monica).
8. A Sunday afternoon hike up one of the Topanga Canyon trails, get to the top, and lookout over the south bay.
9. Cocktails on the deck at Moonshadows on PCH in Malibu.
10. Back to LAX for send off!Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Yes, absolutely … AR – my partner in life and my two daughters Lauren and Hanna for believing in me and my work.
Website: www.BreatheWithRobert.com
Instagram: @breathewithrobert
Facebook: Robert Bahedry
Image Credits
Photos by: Robert Bahedry Logo: Jeremy Lobdell