Tag Archive for: portland yoga

Meet Maddie Adams

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  • How long have you been teaching with Urban Balance?
    Since October 2022.
  • What part of the country do you teach in?
    Portland, OR
  • What services do you offer?
    Currently teaching chair yoga and a blend of gentle yoga, yoga Nidra, and restorative yoga.
  • What do you love most about teaching in the corporate wellness sphere?
    I love helping to contribute to yoga and wellness that’s more inclusive and accessible. I love that my classes at Providence are also free to the general public! Yoga for everyone!
  • Name one fun or unexpected fact about you:
    I am passionate about permaculture and I currently have 3 Nigerian Dwarf Goats which I keep for milk and make my own cheese and yogurt as well.
  • What are some of your favorite pastimes/hobbies?
    In addition to permaculture and gardening, I love hiking, reading, and knitting, and I am a huge D&D fantasy nerd.
  • How would you describe yourself/your teaching style?
    Warm-hearted and gently welcoming, offering inclusive and adaptable practices with an emphasis on syncing breath and movement together. I enjoy making everyone feel at home, included, and radically welcome just as they are in my classes.

Head to our team page to learn more about Maddie and the rest of our team!

Meet Rebecca “Sunny” Sunshine

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  • How long have you been with Urban Balance?
    3 months
  • What part of the country do you teach/present from?
    Portland, Oregon
  • What services do you offer?
    With Urban Balance specifically, I offer Gentle Yoga, Chair Yoga, Restorative Yoga and Core Yoga.
    More generally, I offer Yoga, Dynamic Mindfulness, Meditation, Dance, and Foam rolling.
  • What do you love most about teaching in the corporate wellness sphere?
    I love having access to a diverse group of students at all different stages of life. As a teacher, I’m a forever student and thus gain so much knowledge from all of the people that show up to class. I value having access to people who may not always feel welcome or included in a traditional yoga studio setting. It brings me so much joy to share the Yoga practice with real people going through real things. As someone who started my career in the corporate world, I feel like I can truly empathize with others who have demanding jobs and are looking to find more harmony in their lives.
  • Name one fun or unexpected fact about you.
    I spent my 20s and early 30s living in Tel Aviv, Berlin, and Siem Reap, and traveling around to other amazing places.
  • What are some of your favorite pastimes/hobbies?
    My favorite pastimes include apple picking with my family, making up dances with my siblings, family road trips, working in the entertainment industry for a couple of years, and skydiving.
  • How would you describe yourself/your teaching style?
    My style is kinda like that saying “variety is the spice of life.” I lead with a “life less serious” approach and aim to help people lighten up in body, mind, and heart.
  • What’s one experience you’re hoping to have in 2023?
    Spending some quality time in Europe again – I already have my trip booked!

Head to our team page to learn more about Sunny.

Why You Should Go on a Wellness Retreat

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Since the onset of the pandemic, more people have begun to develop an appreciation for the role of health and wellbeing in their lives. And, as we move into this next phase of the experience, many are ready to travel, gather, and experience the world again.

It’s no secret: the past couple of years have taken a toll on just about everyone’s sense of wellbeing. For one, maintaining physical wellness has been a challenge for many — getting out into nature, moving your body, breathing well, and eating well, are a few of the keys to thriving in this dimension of wellbeing. It’s also very important to acknowledge how challenging it can be to keep our attention here while living under stressful circumstances.

Mental wellbeing is another dimension of wellbeing that has been hugely impacted. In a recent survey from American Express, 69 percent of respondents said they had experienced mental health impacts from the pandemic, while 76 percent of respondents said they wanted to spend more on travel that put wellbeing at the center of the experience.

Over the past 10-15 years, this trend of seeking out vacations that prioritize relaxation and self-care has led to the rise of an entire industry. Dubbed wellness tourism or wellness travel, this industry boasts a wide array of retreat-like experiences in locations around the world.

Benefits of Wellness Retreats

Some of the most impactful wellness retreats combine multiple dimensions of wellbeing that help to enrich our lives. Offerings might range from yoga and meditation sessions to fitness classes to massage and other spa services. Wellness retreats often give participants a taste of the local cuisine, as well as opportunities to learn about the local culture.

There is typically some space set aside for retreat-goers to step out of the main group to enjoy personal time in nature or take excursions to local attractions of their choice. Such elements help transform a simple trip into a holistic experience. If you’re ready for a reset, here’s why you should make a wellness retreat part of your plan.

Holistic wellness retreats help you:

Nurture your body inside and out
Holistic wellness retreats often include daily movement practices like yoga or Pilates, access to spa services like massage and skincare, and the opportunity to savor delicious local fare. Typically taking place in restful, relaxing environments, holistic wellness retreats support the release of tension and stress in the body and nervous system.

Care for your mind
Mental wellbeing has been a well-documented challenge throughout the pandemic. Reducing your stress level for a few days by participating in a refreshing experience like a wellness retreat can help to shift your outlook amidst the challenges of life, and even boost your optimism.

Eat well
Often, one of the best parts about wellness retreats is the food – especially when it’s locally produced, sustainably grown, and chef-prepared. It’s easy to feel well when eating nutritious, flavorful cuisine. All the more reason to leave the cooking to someone else for a few days!

Connect with others
Wellness retreats are a great place to make new connections and discover new interests as you step out of your daily responsibilities and into a fresh perspective. Show up solo and you might just come away with a new friend.

Step out of your routine

There’s something comforting about our daily routines. They can help us stay focused and steady to ensure we honor our commitments to ourselves and others. Consider setting your routines aside for a time. Doing so can help to widen your perspective and release the stress of your to-do list as you immerse yourself in the present moment experience. When you return home, you might just appreciate your “regular” life and the space your routines hold even more.

Looking for wellness retreats near you?

Googling “wellness retreats near me” will pop up some great options in your local area.

Urban Balance is proud to offer local and international wellness retreats. To see what we have coming up, visit the retreats section of our website. Next up is our Gather Wellness Retreat happening April 22nd-25th at Brasada Ranch near Bend, OR.

Looking for a virtual “getaway” for hybrid employees? We also offer virtual corporate retreats that employees can take part in from any location!

 

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Urban Balance is the premier provider of comprehensive on-site corporate wellness services including massage in the Portland, Oregon metro area and offers virtual workplace wellness programming worldwide. We deliver live and on-demand classes, webinars, and special events to the workplace environment for happier employees and a healthier bottom line.


Browse our catalog of virtual wellness services with offerings including yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, Zumba, HIIT, Barre Sculpt, meditation, nutrition, learning opportunities, and more.