On Saturday, May 11th, in honor of Lyme Disease Awareness Month and in partnership with Colorado Tick-Borne Disease Awareness Association (COTBDAA) and Full Circle Yoga Longmont, we gathered with members of the Lyme disease community and supporters for a gentle healing yoga class. Participants from Northern Colorado joined us in person at the Full Circle Yoga studio and, the class was live-streamed for participants in other parts of the country, or who were unable to drive due to illness, mobility, or transportation issues.

Milena Pastore, Founder & Owner of Soul Tribe Yoga Collective guided the yoga class. She began by recognizing advocates working to create positive impacts in the lives of Lyme disease patients and stop the spread of tick-borne diseases. After thanking attendees and donors for their support, she transitioned into leading participants through a very gentle yoga flow she designed to meet the needs of individuals with heightened symptoms and highly sensitive bodies. The class included Lyme patients, advocates, friends, family, and members of the general community who wanted to learn more and support the cause.

The class was composed of a grounding asana flow featuring a slow pace and subtle postures. Each sequence took place entirely on the mat through variations of postures done while seated in easy pose (sukhasana), in tabletop (bharmanasana), or while lying down (supta).

With Milena's insightful instruction and while following the guidance of their bodies, participants opened their minds, deepened their breath, and gently softened into each posture. The physical movements and positions were supplemented with breathwork and visualization techniques that further supported participants in regulating their nervous systems and achieving groundedness and peace.

Monica White, Founder & President of COTBDAA, who helped organize the event, participated in the class and provided information and resources to participants such as prevention bags and door prizes with items such as tick repellents (Sawyer products), permethrin-treated scarves (Insect Shield), and COTBDAA tick removal kits (kits with all necessary materials for the safe and effective removal of attached ticks). Following the class, participants gathered for tea, snacks, and discussion.

John Espinosa, Owner of Full Circle Yoga, who also helped organize the event, participated in the yoga class and interacted with guests afterward. Several yoga teachers and students from the Full Circle Yoga community attended the event and donated funds to support the cause.

Overall it turned out to be an enlightening, healing, and uplifting event. Each of the participants benefited from the positive outcome whether they had personal experience with tick-borne disease or were interested in learning more about the issue.

Proceeds from all donations directly benefit the Soul Tribe Yoga Scholarship Fund specifically for students with tick-borne diseases undergoing significant financial hardship, so they can access healing and community through yoga.

Soul Tribe Yoga Collective sincerely thanks everyone who supported this special event, whether it was by attending, donating, spreading the word, or simply wishing us well. We look forward to doing it again next year!

Click here to take a look at the remainder of our Lyme Disease Awareness Month activities including our Weekly Community Meditatios and Malas for Lyme Disease Awareness!

Read coverage of the event featured on longmontleader.com.

Learn more about Colorado Tick-Borne Disease Awareness Association.

Learn more about Full Cirlce Yoga.