Monday, April 22nd was Earth Day. ☀️🌱🪺 Environmental stewardship, yoga, and energy healing often go hand-in-hand. Here are just a few of the ways your wellness practices and your connection to nature influence one another.

• Ahimsa - Non-Violence: Patanjali's first yama, or restraint, instructs us to do no harm. In addition to protecting the people directly around us from harm, we can expand our understanding of non-violence to include all life on this planet! Practicing ahimsa toward the planet could include not littering, choosing to walk or use public transit, eschewing overconsumption, or avoiding letting food go to waste.
  
• How can you practice ahimsa today? Consider simple actions like not littering, opting for walks or public transit, reducing consumption, and avoiding food waste. Each small choice contributes to a larger impact. What will your choice be today?

• Pranayama - Breath of Life: Plants take in CO2 and emit oxygen. Encouraging the growth of plants in your space can make the air feel cleaner, leading to more delicious and satisfying breath work.
  
• How will you encourage plant growth in your space this week?

• Asana -Inspired by Nature: Feeding your body clean fuel, breathing clean air, and absorbing enriching vitamin D can all make your body feel more energized and stronger. A connection to nature can make you feel more confident in your asana practice! Plus, so many of the shapes of asanas are inspired by flora and fauna. Next time you practice the tree pose or waterfall pose, I encourage you to do so outdoors, drawing direct inspiration from the environment.
  
• How does connecting with nature change your experience of these poses?

• Meditation - Simplicity and Focus: Get rid of complications and distractions! Focusing on a flower, a body of water, ripples in sand, or other natural phenomena has been a meditation technique for thousands of years. Even if you don't focus on one particular object in nature, just being outdoors can make you feel more centered and more in tune with pure awareness.
  
• Have you ever focused on a single flower, a body of water, or the patterns of sand during meditation? If not, try this ancient technique and observe how it affects your state of mind. Can you dedicate a few moments this week to meditate outdoors?

• Healing - Nature's Embrace: Studies have shown that being in nature is one way to combat depression. Nurturing another life, whether it's a plant or a pet, has also been proven to heal a grieving heart. Nurturing the growth of something may help you to see and acknowledge your own growth. Energy cleansing, yoga, and nature all promote your physical, mental, and emotional healing.
  
• This week, consider nurturing a plant or spending time with a pet. How does taking care of another life form help you recognize and celebrate your own growth?

Your connection to the Earth is powerful. This week, I challenge you to choose one or more of these practices to deepen your environmental stewardship. Share your experiences with us! What actions did you take, and how did they make you feel? Let's inspire each other by sharing stories of how we're making a difference, both in our inner and outer worlds.

Elevate Your Practice

Dive deeper and elevate your practice with our latest studio offerings. This month, we're excited to introduce SUP Yoga, our upcoming Women's Retreat, and Pet Reiki, designed to enhance your connection with nature and your furry friends. Discover how these unique sessions can bring new dimensions to your wellness routine.

As the weather is getting warmer, it's a perfect time to bring your practice outside. If you want to practice connecting to nature while you practice yoga, check out Stand-up Paddleboard Yoga. Jessica teaches individual private sessions (1 hour) and private group sessions (2 hours).

• We are also currently working on putting together a plan and schedule for group classes for the summer - your input on days/times for these classes would be extremely helpful! Please reply with input: are you interested in SUP Yoga classes? Would you prefer traveling to Stone Mountain, Lake Lanier, Lake Allatoona, or Lake Acworth for these sessions? What days/times work the best? Would you be interested in a 1-day retreat at a local (GA/SC/TN) lake filled with paddleboard and yoga sessions?

We are thrilled to announce our annual Women's Summer Serenity Retreat in the picturesque setting of Big Canoe, Georgia, from August 15th to 18th. This retreat is a heartfelt invitation to women seeking a profound connection with nature, themselves, and a community of like-minded individuals. Last year's retreat was a resounding success, and we're excited to bring even more enriching experiences your way this summer. You truly deserve this rejuvenating escape!

Here's what one attendee shared about her experience last year:

"I absolutely loved my yoga retreat in the mountains! It was a truly magical experience that transformed my life. The closing ceremony opened my eyes—I didn't know I needed to hear those words or form those incredible connections. Thank you, Jessica, for your powerful guidance, compassionate teaching, and inspiring presence. I can't wait for the next retreat to renew old friendships and make new ones. Thank you again for everything!"

Join us for an unforgettable few days of tranquility, self-discovery, and joy. Remember, you are worth this amazing experience!

Speaking of sharing yoga with some amazing women...be on the lookout for a wonderful Mother's Day workshop! More details to come soon.

Lastly, our pets need healing just as we do. To encourage your pet's wellbeing, try a Pawsitive Energy Reiki Session for your cat or dog. Introduce your beloved animal to the calming energy of Reiki. In this gentle and soothing 20-minute session, your pet will bask in the nurturing flow of universal life force energy, promoting their overall well-being and harmony.

Each of these offerings is designed to enhance your spiritual and physical well-being while connecting you deeper with the elements around you. Sign up today and transform your practice with us!

In love and light 💗,

Jo-Jo