Kalamazoo Backyard Yogis LLC

01/25/2026

hello friends,

tomorrow, 6:30pm at city hall in kalamazoo, there will be a peaceful protest led by the SWMI Democratic Socialists of America. i want to name this clearly and directly because what we are facing touches our nation, our local community, and the wider world we are part of. if you are able, i believe it is worth showing up.

there is a lot we are holding right now. grief, fear, anger, exhaustion, love. it can be tempting to tell ourselves that one evening, one body, one voice doesn’t really change anything. but protests are not inconsequential. history shows that sustained public protest has played a real role in policy change, labor protections, civil rights legislation, and shifts in public awareness. collective presence changes what becomes visible, and what leaders are forced to respond to.

Yoga comes from South Asia, from philosophical and ethical traditions that were never meant to be confined to personal comfort. the practice asks us to live with discernment and responsibility. the yamas, especially ahimsa (non-harm) and satya (truthfulness), call us to reduce suffering and to tell the truth with our bodies as well as our words. when we are able, showing up peacefully, grounded, and informed is one way we live the heart of the practice.

if you plan to attend, please take a few minutes to review protest safety and know-your-rights guidance from the American Civil Liberties Union. knowing your rights is part of caring for yourself and others.

ACLU protester safety guidelines
https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/protesters-rights

we will also be sending an email soon with an opportunity to be in community and to fundraise in solidarity with minnesota, with the intention of directing immediate support where it is needed most.

however you choose to move through this moment, you belong here. and if you are able to stand with others tomorrow evening, know that your presence is not small.

with care,
shelby
kalamazoo backyard yogis

01/25/2026

peace. peace. peace. justice. justice. justice.

01/20/2026

Join us for Grounded Action, a three part series exploring tools to discover how to ground and integrate, breathe and listen, and to strengthen and act. 25% of each purchased ticket supports a monetary donation to HEAL Palestine. Lead by yoga instructor and community organizer Andy Bachman at Kalamazoo Backyard Yogis.

Tickets are sliding scale $20-50. Learn more and sign up on our website kalamazoobackyardyogis.com/event

🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸

01/05/2026

i tried. lost my train of thought halfway through. comment to tell us what you’re most excited for. 💛🇵🇸

01/02/2026

It’s every lovers favorite workshop - join us for the Partner Workshop on Feb 14 or 15! Connect, move, and reflect together. Begin with a warm-up, explore partner yoga poses, and end with a mindfulness practice to honor authentic relationships and reflect on the ways you love each other. Enjoy a drink or snack and create a valentine for your partner. $45 per couple. 21+

Saturday, February 14th 6-7pm or
Sunday, February 15th 7-8pm

Kalamazoo Backyard Yogis
1501 Fulford St, Suite 2, Kalamazoo. Located inside

Tickets are $45 (purchase 1 ticket for 2 people). Register in the app or on our website kalamazoobackyardyogis.com

12/31/2025

The KBY Mural is complete! Thank you so much to Cora Joy Wright. We love it so much 💖

12/30/2025

Join us for an evening practice to begin the year slowly. This 90-minute candlelight flow will move at an unhurried pace, supported by instrumental music (no lyrics), with space for quiet reflection, gentle movement, and moments of connection with one another. This is not about setting goals or reinventing yourself—it’s about arriving as you are and letting the year begin from a steadier place.

Tea will be offered, and you’re invited to bring a mug from home if you’d like. We’ll move, pause, rest, and share space in a way that feels grounded and human.
this class is a fundraiser to support Ash, with all proceeds going directly to them.

Candlelight + Transition (New Year Flow for Ash)
January 1st at 7:30pm

12/24/2025

hi everyone! (shelby here). PLEASE join me in the comments in wishing our social media manager/operations manager a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! does so much for Backyard Yogis. Margot makes sure you all know what’s going on and makes sure you stay connected when you’re away from the space and helps bring our mission to life every day. thank you, Margot!!!! We love you so much.

12/13/2025

Hi everyone!

Did you know FDSF was one of the first organizations we supported together? Here are some opportunities to volunteer in February and March!

We are going to be fitting shoes at all 47 elementary schools in Kalamazoo County in February - March (ordering for shoes will open in Late-Jan). We anticipate providing 7,000+ pairs of shoes and will need LOTS of help packing up the shoes!

We have packing shifts at our warehouse on Meredith Street on:
Sunday 15th Feb 1:30-3:30pm
Monday 16th Feb 9:30-11:30am
Tuesday 17th Feb 9:30-11:30am and 12:30-2:30pm
Wednesday 18th Feb 9:30- 11:30am and 12:30-2:30pm
Thursday 19th Feb 9:30-11:30am and 12:30-2:30pm

Volunteers will be choosing shoes according to the caregivers order - you need to be able to bend, stretch and read small labels (so bring your "readers" if you need them!). No children under 16 due to confidentiality.

https://firstdayshoefund.charityproud.org/VolunteerRegistration/Calendar

12/09/2025

Join us for an immersive solstice experience combining slow, intentional movement with live meditative music by Aurora & Antheia. Sip warm, spiced wassail, connect in community, and honor the turning of the season—benefiting Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes. Winter Solstice Benefit: Live Sound ft. Aurora & Antheia + Slow Flow for Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes

In collaboration with The Clover Room and The Harmony Room Elixir House, join us for a slow, immersive, live-sound yoga experience honoring the winter solstice and supporting Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes. We’ll move through 90 minutes of slow, accessible practice accompanied by live meditative music performed in the studio by Aurora & Antheia, a trio devoted to exploring the beauty of melodic and rhythmic sound, texture, and in-the-moment improvisation. Their music creates immersive soundscapes that foster peace, self-reflection, and connection.

Aurora & Antheia features violinist Cori Beth Somers, cellist and multi-instrumentalist Laurie A. Jarski, and percussionist Carolyn Koebel. Together, they bring over a century of collective experience and have spent decades studying and performing diverse styles—including folk, jazz, classical, rock, and global traditions from Eastern Europe, Asia, India, and Africa. Their work draws on centuries of wisdom surrounding vibration, resonance, and frequency—recognizing music’s ability to restore balance, open emotional landscapes, and create shared presence.

SIGN UP FOR ONE OF TWO SESSIONS:
Saturday, December 20th
☀️6 PM session led by Quinn Laird *Sold Out*
☀️8 PM session led by Salina Johnson
Tickets are Sliding Scale $25-$45
Kalamazoobackyardyogis.com/event

Held at Kalamazoo Backyard Yogis inside Jerico, in partnership with The Clover Room and The Harmony Room. Doors open five minutes before each session.

The Clover Room and The Harmony Room will also be open before and after the classes for tea and connection. Guests attending the 8 PM session are invited to arrive early to enjoy tea and explore before practice begins. Guests from the 6 PM session are welcome to stay after class to linger, commune, and experience the space.