Founder of That Wild Wonder + Wellness Room Deep River

Nature immersion has been a foundational part of my life since early childhood. I grew up in a family that encouraged me to come home with earth under my finger nails. We’d spend our free time adventuring outside often with fun missions and contests. Which sibling will be brave enough to cross a river on a fallen tree limb? Who can collect the most acorns or salamanders? Hear that bird? The first to identify it, gets a dollar! I was often woken up at 2am on a school night to watch a meteor shower and count satellites. If I wanted to go to a friends house the question was never “is your homework done?” It was always, “you can go if you can identify that tree, those birds, these clouds and 2 flowers” An extra hour of play time if I knew the Latin name! We’d hike in the forest, stopping to feel the stream run through our fingers. We’d chew on birch twigs and crush leaves in our hands to smell their oils. We’d make whistles out of blades of grass and acorns. I’d poke wild scat with sticks to see what the animal was eating. My childhood in nature is every bit the reason I have a deep connection to this earth. I was taught to feel the wind and the energy of the sky to help predict the weather. I was taught to watch the leaves of deciduous trees and if they turn upright, it’s time to seek shelter. Thunderstorms were like parties in our household. It was a good day, if we had a good storm. As I was being taught to feel the energy of the earth, I was also subconsciously learning to feel the energies of humans. And then came Yoga.

My mom brought me to my first yoga class some 22 years ago as a young high school student with lots of headaches. I remember walking into my first class with her and the teacher came up to welcome me to the practice. He paused and asked kindly, “ Do you get a lot of headaches?”. I questionably and inquisitively said “yes”. He gently pushed my shoulders down away from my ears and explained that I heavily carry my shoulders up high. A typical stance for an insecure and/or stressed human. That was it - that was the beginning of understanding how physically healing the practice of yoga can be. I was hooked and my headaches disappeared.

Fast forward 20 years. My marriage of 10 years started falling apart, I was feeling lost and scared. Walks in the woods always made me feel like everything was going to be okay but yoga made me feel safe.  Yoga saved me from a world of intimidating changes and the loss of faith in humanity that followed.  With all the loss that comes from divorce I was sent into a tailspin but during that tailspin I gained a solid yoga practice.  Yoga became my safe place - the one place that feels like home and that never lets me down no matter how good or bad the practice is.  I found that by meditating or practicing Asana and meditation out in nature was my perfect solution to surviving. If we were to hold an intimate conversation I would tell you that yoga saved me.

I wanted to dive deeper, I was eager to fully immerse myself in this art, I wanted to learn and practice - I wanted to begin a new life with yoga on my side with new gained knowledge to show others that yoga can become your safe place too - I wanted to go somewhere where I wasn’t labeled the divorced girl - I wanted to be with like minded individuals whom would ultimately regain my faith in humanity so I ran away to Costa Rica.  It’s in Costa Rica where I gained my RYT200.  I studied for my 200 hour certification at Anamaya in Montezuma certified though LagoCPH in Copenhagen by Peter Kaaberbool.  

I have taken everything I know about the healing aspects of nature, sound, breath, movement and creating to combined a unique company that specializes in healing the mind, body and soul. I hope you come along.

RYT200, Reiki Master Teacher, Forest Bather, Sound Healer, Aspiring Herbalist, Ayurvedic Student, Creator, Seeker.

Instagram: @thatwildwonder

www.LaurenMahana.com

Lauren Mahana is an intuitive healer, tarot reader, birthworker, podcast host of Magic On The Patio and co-author of Labor Like A Goddess: A Fearless Guide to Preparing for the 7 Gates of Pregnancy and Birth.

When Lauren was 14 years old, she was gifted her first tarot deck; it was the start of a long, winding journey down her spiritual path. Through most of her late teens and 20s, Lauren was lost living in NYC; she started and ended many different paths, from multiple colleges, retail jobs, the restaurant world, and merchandising.She began to wonder why nothing seemed to stick. Lauren then decided to shift her mindset and find work that nourished her soul.

She began working at a local Brooklyn herb shop which reignited her spiritual path. While studying herbalism, Reiki, shamanic healing, flower essences, and psychic development; Lauren realized that her path was known all along—she was a healer. She first focused on a small herbal practice and then integrated her practice with Reiki and tarot. After becoming a mother, she found a calling to help guide other women during birth. Becoming a birth worker was the perfect cap on the direction of what has officially become her Intuitive Healing Practice.

In 2018, Lauren won a publishing deal through Hayhouse Publishing. Over the last few months of pregnancy and early postpartum Lauren co-authored Labor Like A Goddess. The experience shifted Lauren again towards a path of creating work that could help heal the collective. This lead to starting Magic On The Patio, a podcast that holds space for conversation about the betwixt and between of the mundane world.

For the past 20 years, Lauren has been exploring, studying, and practicing to be a well-rounded healer. Her passion comes from her drive to help heal the wounds of the spirit so the collective can be transformed.

Lauren's current projects include; individual client work through tarot, guidance and mentoring. Creating workshops and magical events through a new partnership with River Witch Co. and Art & Intuition. Recording multiple episodes a month of MOTP and possibly writing a new book!

Location: Chester, CT

Services: Intuitive Guidance, Tarot, Shamanic Reiki, Birth Work, Workshops & Mentorships

Contact: LaurenMahana@gmail.com

Website: www.LaurenMahana.com

Social Media: Instagram @laurenmahana TikTok @lauren_mahana

Podcast: Magic On The Patio -- available on all major streaming platforms links for Apple & Spotify & Google Podcast

Founder of Shoreline CT Yoga

Erin Schuster is a compassionate Kripalu yoga teacher that delivers safe and transformational classes, workshops and corporate wellness programs. She is a Certified Life Coach, Certified Kripalu Outdoor Guide, and Certified Reiki Master. Erin is dedicated to empowering others in living their lives to its fullest potential.

Meet Edward, our owl prowl guide, fly fishing extrodinear and creative workshop instructor. He’s incredibly observant and has a very special way of knowing exactly what one is thinking. We like to thank this trait from a lightening strike that threw him down some 5 years ago.

Edward grew up in North Haven, Connecticut where he spent his time riding his bike to hard to reach fishing spots, painting beautiful images and learning how to observe nature. To be able to observe nature and earth provides you with many secrets. He’s a perfect addition to our group as his ability to communicate with nature and notice things others may overlook. He’s often the first to hear and see something worth noting.

You can find some of his art work for sale in our online store.

Founder Miss Adventures Travel + Co-Owner of The Wayfinder Society

Hi there, I’m Shelby! I’d like to share with you a favorite story of mine – stick with me, I promise this relates to what we’re talking about here:

The Buddha went into the jungle and meditated for a really long time. (Some say that it was for weeks. Some say that it was for years. Regardless, it was a long time. As a side note: There are days that I struggle to meditate for 10 minutes, so way to go Siddhartha!) Once he emerged, he was asked what he learned and he replied, “Everything is impermanent.” 

Everything is impermanent! Wow!! We’ve got a westernized version of this for when times are tough to offer comfort (this too shall pass!) but I most love the lesson of this story when applied to good times, for those are also impermanent. So often I’ve found myself in the midst of really enjoying myself but thinking in the back of my mind that I need to get home, need to clean my house, need to get work done, need to…you get the idea. But the thought that the good in life is only temporary is such a sweet thing – it emphasizes the importance of truly and wholly experiencing happiness!  

Of course, it can be just as hard to accept the good times without letting the to-do lists creep in as it can be to weather the more difficult times we all experience. Here is where yoga fits in for me! Yoga has taught me how to sit with discomfort when times are tough and allows me to be present in joy when times are good. In addition to asanas (yoga poses) I incorporate pranayama (breathing) and meditation into each practice because ultimately, yoga is all about the mind/body/spirit connection…that unity is the really juicy, really sweet part of yoga!  

When I’m not at home in Connecticut practicing yoga or tromping through the woods with my little dog Tikka, I can be found leading adventure retreats for women in Nepal with my company MissAdventures. My favorite food is dal bhat. My favorite city is Amsterdam. My favorite movie is The Royal Tenenbaums. I love to read and have far too many favorite books.  

500 Main Street Suite 5, Deep River - Located at SoMA

Offering Reiki, Reiki Certifications, Private Yoga + Sound Healing

Wellness Room Deep River

500 Main Street Suite 5, Deep River

Dance studio offering dance and yoga. We host Full Sound Baths here.

River Valley Dance Studio

Clinton: 36 Nod Road, Clinton

Guilford: 647 Boston Post Road, Guilford

CENTER is a place, an action, a feeling and a purpose. It is our goal to ignite the power of possibility within you. It is our mission to create a feeling of calm around you. It is our responsibility to offer you an experience of strength and ease in the body. It is our honor to grow a rich and supportive community. 

Center Yoga + Wellness