Leo Ouellette - MA English-Columbia Teachers College // YTT - 200 hour // Adult Literacy Specialist
Brooklyn, New York
I am an education and non-profit management specialist with 20+ years in education settings (e.g., NYC public high school classrooms, adult basic literacy, dual-generation ESOL, minority homeowner education, adult financial literacy, financial reform policy, public education policy, and non-profit leadership training).
I first started using Breath-Body-Mind practices for my personal self-care in order to manage increasing levels of anxiety and stress. After a year of self-taught coherent breathing, I attended an introductory workshop on BBM led by Dr. Brown and Dr. Gerbarg, and 18 months later I completed the Level 1 Certification. I completed my Level 2 certification in 2025.
I now offer BBM online (via zoom) and in-person in New York; I continue to incorporate BBM into all of my education, non-profit management, and leadership services.
In my personal life, my daily practice consists of a 60-minute morning routine that includes coherent breathing, QiGong, mindful journaling, open-awareness meditation, and yoga. As a certified yoga instructor, I practice a very gentle and restorative style of Hatha yoga, and I study Foundation Training for functional movement; I also cycle several times a week on a stationary bike at home. I am an advocate for whole foods, self-care, and saunas for overall health; in recent years I have prioritized sleep hygiene, which means I shut down digital devices in the evenings and read before bed. It brings me enormous joy to share BBM sessions and to support the wellness journey of others.