Cecilia Warchol

My name is Cecilia Warchol and I am a native of a small town here in the state of Michigan. I am 22 years old and have always been an active person even as a child. I grew with three older brothers, no sisters, in a 'hockey family'; I played hockey along with my brothers for many years until I transitioned into other sports. In high school I practiced cross country for a short period as well as cheerleading and dance for a short period of time. Before graduating high school, I had already began the plans to move out of state to attend a community college in Colorado (where one of my brothers was living and where many aunts and uncles live). I left Michigan and lived in Colorado for a year and a half before returning back to Michigan. While in Colorado, I was introduced to Spinning and I loved everything about it; it was upbeat, fun, sweaty, and my instructor was amazing. Life circumstances brought me back to Michigan; I was still 18 at the time I moved back home; not in a good place mentally, physically, or spiritually. I was missing Colorado and not living in the present moment back home; so, I left home again to go to Northern Michigan University (about an 8 hour drive from home). This seemed like the 'west coast' and I thought I would be very happy here in Northern MI; I was still however living in the past. I took my first Hatha Yoga class at NMU and fell in love. At the time, a good friend of mine was attending her first yoga teacher training in California to teach Bikram yoga; she loved that I finally tried yoga and she encouraged me to try more styles (like the Bikram she practiced). The next time I went down state, I took my first Bikram Yoga class and this time, fell even more in love! I loved how I felt during and after class so much that I decided that I was going to leave NMU and come back home again. My plan was to focus on myself. To take care of ME; I knew that my thought processes and the 'living in the past' notion was not good for my overall well being. This Bikram yoga and the Hatha classes I took at school; helped me realize how lost I really was. I moved back home and began traveling twice a week, to the nearest Bikram studio (45 minutes away) to practice and take care of myself. I started a work/trade program there and loved everything about what was happening to me internally and externally. I felt lighter again and back on track. I knew I needed to keep going to school but I didn't want to attend a community college again, nor did I want to run off to another University; I wanted something involving everything YOGA! At this time, I didn't think I could do a Teacher Training, so I began my search for 'alternative and holistic' schooling. I found Irene's Myomassology Institute in Southfield, (an hour away from home). The moment I had my first tour of the school, I knew that was where I was meant to be at that very moment in time. I signed up and went to Myomassology school (myomassology is the study of muscular massage). Massage Therapy was never something I thought I would do, but this school had it all! The main course was Massage but my fellow classmates and I had the opportunity to take a wide range of electives (Energy healing, Thai massage, Aromatherapy, Yoga classes, Herbology, Hot stones, Canine Massage...etc.)! I went to school full time and the program was a year long. All the while I went to school, I was still doing some Bikram Yoga but I mainly practiced Ashtanga Yoga, because that was what was offered at school weekly. I still attended local Spin classes and still loved my cycling very much (always adament I could teach this some day!). When Massage Therapy school finished in February of 2012; I went to Miami for an interview with Steiner cruise lines to work as a therapist on board. I soon realized this wasn't for me; I was just fresh out of school and did not like the sounds of working so much and risking becoming worn out or injured from so much massage work. I came back home, and stopped in the local therapeutic massage and chiropractic office to see if they needed any help; sure enough the owner was there and we set up a day for me to come in and give her a massage and after that the rest was history! I began working immediately and loved my job there. Great environment, great clients and coworkers. -In August of 2012 I signed up for Spinning teacher training in Michigan and was super excited to add that to my resume. I completed my training and began practicing a lot more. Also in August, I received an email from a Spa in Colorado where I was once living, that they are in need of Massage Therapists and were asking if I was still interested in moving back out there. I took it as a sign that my time there was not over; so I said yes. I left Michigan in October 2012 and moved back to Colorado. I had two Massage Therapist jobs and worked 6 days a week during peak season. I was beat. Exhausted always and not taking care of myself like I was when I was back home in Michigan. I felt the sadness taking over my work and I knew this wasn't right; I got what I asked for though, which was to work and make money. I made money, but it wasn't in a manner that I enjoyed. I don't practice massage solely to make money; I do it because I love to help others. I was beginning to develop bad low back pain from working so much in Colorado; I knew this was not good especially at 22 years old! I was struggling to find a place to live other than with my family, so one night I messaged a friend of mine I met at the Synergy teacher training, who lives in California, and asked if he still needed a roommate. He said yes, come here whenever you are ready. Two weeks later, I was on my way to Northern California. My first days there, I already began looking for Massage Therapist jobs; I found them quickly. My first day on the job, I was about 45 minutes into the session when I moved my hips in a way that seemed always normal to me, and all of a sudden felt this extreme sharp pain go up my spine and briefly had me stuck in a slightly flexed position. I managed to finish the massage, in a huge amount of pain, and left work to go home and have a very sleepless night. It became apparent that my body was not ready to go back to work. I made enough money in Colorado that I could pay my bills in California and not have a job temporarily. I decided that I work practice Bikram yoga every day until I got my mind and body better. My friend that I was living with is a Bikram and Power yoga instructor; he brought me to the studio he works and practices at, and set me up with a work/trade job. I practiced yoga every day in California. This, was the first time I ever did Power Yoga; I loved it even more than Bikram. My instructors in CA were amazing; have all been practicing and teaching for a very long time. I got back into myself in CA, spent a lot of time in the yoga studio and in nature; meditating and coming to realize what I wanted in my life. I want to create hope and change in this world and in my lifetime. I want to inspire people and to teach them all these wonderful practices that have helped shape my life and the person that I am today. I was a small fish in a big pond in CA; so I thought, what better place to make a difference than in an area that I already know? Home, is the answer. I loved where I live here in MI; it's beautiful. It has the need for more health and wellness and it has the people who are interested in learning these practices. In March of 2013 I moved back home to Michigan and began back up at my Massage Therapy job 5 minutes down the road. I have also begun teaching Power Yoga here at the massage office because we have a yoga room attached and my boss has allowed me to teach after hearing and seeing the changes that I had made to my 'self'. I want to create my own small business one day; a business that incorporates everything that I do; Massage, Energy work, Spinning, Power Yoga, 'yoga for a cause' fundraising classes; and in the future, host my own retreats. I love everything about my life today, and appreciate all that I have learned and continue to learn; I love to travel and see the world and FitBodies was recommended to me during my Spin training; I hope this hasn't been too long of a BIO, but I feel like you must hear the story of how I got to this great place that I'm at today; and still only 22 years old! Looking forward to the future always! Thank you!