The Full Journey: From Corporate Consultant to Mindfulness Guide
The Early Years: Building a Foundation
My story begins in Sofia, Bulgaria, where I was born and raised. From an early age, I was curious about the world, drawn to understanding different cultures, systems, and ways of being. This curiosity led me to pursue Master’s degrees in Economics and International Management, and launched me into a corporate consulting career that would take me across Europe.
Vienna. St. Gallen. Barcelona. Geneva. London. Each city taught me something new, expanded my perspective, and deepened my understanding of human behavior in different contexts.
The Turning Point: Discovering Mindfulness
While my career was thriving, something within me was searching for more. Over 15 years ago, while living in Austria, I discovered Tai Chi. Those slow, deliberate movements opened a door I didn’t know existed—a door to inner exploration, to presence, to a different way of being in the world.
I continued practicing throughout my time in Switzerland and the UK, adding breath work and meditation to my daily routine. But it wasn’t until I moved to New York City in 2010 that everything changed.
Finding My Teacher, Finding My Path
In New York, I was blessed to meet Adrian Molina, a yoga teacher who would become my mentor and guide. Under his guidance, I deepened my practice and began to understand that yoga wasn’t just exercise—it was a complete philosophy for living.
By 2015, I had graduated from a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Program and became a certified Warrior Flow® Yoga Teacher. The following year, I completed Kids’ and Teen’s yoga training at Pure Yoga in collaboration with Yogi Beans, and began teaching children’s classes at neighborhood schools.
Teaching yoga showed me something profound: people weren’t just looking for physical fitness. They were searching for connection—to themselves, to others, to something larger than their daily struggles.
The Parent Journey: My Greatest Teacher
Then came my most important role: becoming a parent in New York City.
Suddenly, I wasn’t just a teacher or coach—I was living the challenges I would later help other parents navigate. The nursery school application process. The anxiety of “getting it right.” The sleepless nights wondering if I was making the right decisions. The isolation that comes from feeling like you’re the only one struggling.
I remember sitting at my kitchen table at 2 AM, trying to write the perfect “parent statement” for a school application, wondering: Why is this so hard? Why does it feel like so much is riding on getting my 3-year-old into the “right” school?
But I also discovered something beautiful: when I approached these challenges with the same mindfulness I brought to my yoga practice—when I paused, breathed, and connected with what truly mattered—everything shifted.
Creating the Academy for Parents
This realization led me to create the Academy for Parents—a comprehensive program that combines psychology, mindfulness, and real-world parenting experience.
I wanted to create something I wish I’d had: a space where parents could:
- Understand themselves first, before trying to “fix” their children
- Learn that parenting struggles aren’t signs of failure—they’re opportunities for growth
- Connect with other parents and realize they’re not alone
- Navigate the practical challenges (like school applications) without losing sight of what matters most
Today: Holding Space for Transformation
Today, I work with parents and individuals from my home in Carnegie Hill, Manhattan, and virtually with families around the world. I teach yoga, coach parents through their biggest challenges, and guide people toward deeper self-understanding.
Every day, I witness transformation—not the dramatic, overnight kind, but the steady, sustainable growth that comes from showing up, being present, and doing the inner work.
My Promise to You
I’m not here to promise you perfection. I’m here to walk beside you as you navigate the messy, beautiful, challenging journey of parenting and self-discovery.
I’m here to remind you that you’re enough. That your struggles don’t make you a failure—they make you human. That the answers you’re seeking aren’t in another parenting book or app—they’re already within you, waiting to be uncovered.
I look forward to connecting with you and supporting you on this journey.
With light and love,
Vanessa Pojarliev