History

Before Breathe in Life Health & Wellness Travel existed, founder Melissa Jol spent years immersed in the world of adventure travel as a tour guide and trip manager with Free & Easy Traveler—Breathe in Life’s sister company. Guiding and managing journeys throughout Southeast Asia, Melissa witnessed firsthand the profound impact travel can have on personal growth, connection, and perspective.

Over time, a deeper calling emerged. Alongside her love for exploration and cultural immersion, Melissa felt drawn toward yoga, wellness, and a more intentional style of travel—one that nourished the body, grounded the mind, and honoured the spirit. She envisioned journeys that blended adventure with presence, movement with meaning, and travel with transformation.

In 2014, with the support of Free & Easy Traveler founder Curtis Smith and the FnE team, Breathe in Life was born.

Since then, Breathe in Life has led transformative journeys to Nepal, Thailand, the Philippines, Bali, Sri Lanka, India, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Peru, Croatia, Iceland, and Italy. While each trip is unique, they all share the same core values: venturing off the beaten path, working directly with local families and communities, respecting Mother Nature, and creating deeply personal, unforgettable experiences.

Yoga and movement have always been woven naturally into these journeys. Practices have taken place on rooftops, beaches, gardens, mountain-view fields, epic balconies, and even atop mountains themselves. Our intention has always been to show that movement and mindfulness are accessible anywhere—woven into daily life and travel, not confined to a traditional studio.

Like so many small, heart-led businesses, Breathe in Life experienced a natural pause during the pandemic. Around the same time, Melissa stepped fully into motherhood, welcoming her first child just before 2020 and later her second. This season brought a shift in focus. While full-time motherhood is nothing short of magical, it also required Breathe in Life to scale back.

Today, Breathe in Life offers a limited number of trips each year, intentionally and with care. Looking ahead, the vision remains alive—to slowly rebuild momentum and continue creating meaningful journeys that invite people to breathe deeply, move freely, and truly experience life.