YOGA Garden

11/07/2025

//\\// MAKE TIME FOR SELF CARE / SOUND BATH - Sunday, November 9th - 7:00-8:00PM

For those of you new to a sound bath, all you have to do is show up, there is literally zero exertion required. You'll lie on a yoga mat for the hour and soak up all the healthy, healing good vibrations you need to recharge.

Wear comfortable clothes and bring a pillow, eye mask and whatever you need to settle in. YOGA Garden has blankets, bolsters and blocks you are welcome to use too.

Sunday, November 9th
6:30PM / Doors
7:00PM / Meditation w Laurel Van Matre
7:10PM / Sound Bath w Carrie Nelson

*No pre-registration necessary, just show up & we'll set you up.

*This event is donation-based. You can pay via cash or Venmo once you get to the studio if you'd like...$25 suggested.

YOGA Garden
(in the Northrup King Building)
1450 Jackson St. NE #314
Minneapolis, MN 55413

*Enter at the Van Buren St. entrance, look for the
GREEN AWNING.

www.yogagardenmpls.com

10/23/2025

/// YOUR YEAR in a WORD Class - Thursday, October 30th

The real secret of magic is that the world is made of words,
and that if you know the words that the world is made of,
you can make of it whatever you wish.
-Terence McKenna

What’s in there…In the dark?

This is the time of year where the days get shorter and the nights get longer. Where we find ourselves at the beginning and the end. My cut flowers are showing off their last blooms of the season and the succulent/cactus garden is happily planted back in the studio for the winter. The earth is not quite done with the cycle of this growing season, but close.

I LOVE this time of year. This is the time of year we start asking ourselves what we want as we make our way toward a new year and reflect on what we wanted for the current year and how it went. How did we do this trip around the sun? What do we want for the coming year? It’s an ambiguous and inspiring space full of potential for the future and the same time an opportunity to reflect and be grateful for what we learned from the current year as it comes to a close.

I started this project, YOUR YEAR IN A WORD, for myself several years ago. The idea was to pick a word that would keep me focused as winter approached. I would make a ‘flag’ of my word and put it on my nightstand so it would be the first thing I saw in the morning and the last thing I saw at night. It would always kind of be out there to guide me like my own personal North Star when I got lost or off track.

In the yoga world we call this puja. Puja literally means ‘to place in front of you what it is you want to become’. How beautiful is that?! We set up a puja, or altar, in our yoga studios to recognize this for ourselves and each other. To recognize we have a place to go where we get to do our work individually but together as a group. More overlapping cycles of growth, change, and opportunity to design the lives we want and be thankful for the work we’ve done so far and recognize that in each other.

So, what is your work in the dark? What do you want to move toward as we make our way through the end to a new beginning?

I would love to see you all at the annual YOUR YEAR IN A WORD class. I will start with a brief discussion on the 5 Elements and each season they represent and then take the class through a brief meditation and all levels yoga class where you have an opportunity to start thinking about your word for 2026.


YOUR YEAR in a WORD
Thursday, October 30th
6:30-7:30PM
All Levels Welcome
Regular Class Rates Apply

> > > > > www.yogagardenmpls.com

10/22/2025

✨ Cosmic Opposites: Understanding the Zodiac’s Dual Nature
📍
🗓 Tuesday, November 19th at 6:30pm // $25

Astrology was built on a foundation of duality- light and dark, self and other, love and war- each zodiac sign existing in relationship to its opposite. By exploring the six zodiacal axes, Aries and Libra, Ta**us and Scorpio, and beyond, we’ll reflect and discuss how each of these cosmic pairings mirror the dualities within us.

Astrology offers us a way to see that wholeness isn’t about choosing one side — but learning to hold both. ♊️♐️♋️♑️

No experience needed — just curiosity and an open heart. 💫 Sign up here! https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule/ee5486f9

10/20/2025

/// YOGA & Recovery Class...starts Tuesday, October 21st!

YOGA & Recovery Class
Starts October 21st
Tuesdays, 6:30-7:30 PM
Regular Class Rates Apply

YOGA & Recovery is an all levels, trauma-informed class for those on the path of recovery from substance misuse, disordered eating, trauma, or anyone cultivating grounded and adaptive wellness practices. Through alignment based vinyasa yoga, we link breath, movement, and community to build skills for living a balanced life off the mat. Friends and allies welcome!

MELISSA KELLER (she/her) has been practicing yoga since 2004 and teaching since 2020. Her classes infuse yoga philosophy, alignment based vinyasa, and nervous system regulation skills to create an environment for students to gain a felt-sense of safety, strength, connection, and acceptance of the present moment. Melissa is passionate about the healing potential of movement and creativity on and off the mat. Her own healing journey serves as a foundation to support others on their paths. She loves music, camping, water, and gardening with her family.
She is also the founder and owner of Awaken Heart Somatics, a somatic therapy practice offering teletherapy in Minnesota and Arizona.

> > > > > > > www.yogagardenmpls.com

10/14/2025

Introduction to Astrology Series - Starting October 29th!

✨ Curious about astrology but not sure where to begin—or how it might apply to your life? This class offers a beginner friendly introduction to astrology through the lens of the ancient Hellenistic tradition. We’ll touch on the origins of astrology, why it has been practiced for thousands of years, and how it can offer meaning and perspective today. Together, we’ll explore the three foundational aspects of a birth chart, giving you a grounded starting point to understand your own chart and the symbolic wisdom this practice can offer.

✨ In this beginner-friendly class, we’ll explore the three foundational building blocks of astrology that bring a chart to life. You’ll learn how these key pieces work together to offer clarity, insight, and perspective—whether you’re just curious about astrology or ready to dive deeper into your own chart.

No prior experience needed—just bring your curiosity and perhaps a notebook!

Wednesday, October 29th
6:30pm-7:30pm
at YOGA Garden
Follow this link to sign up: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule/ee5486f9/?appointmentTypeIds%5B%5D=84134834

DR. ERIN MCFERSON – For over 10 years, I’ve guided people toward physical alignment through my chiropractic practice. As an astrologer, I now help people reflect on the many other ways they can AlignWell in their lives. I’ve always had a curious mind (hello, Gemini Moon!) and a drive to create balance and alignment in my life (thank you, Ta**us Sun on the Ascendant).I see your birth chart as a personalized divinatory map—one that can deepen your understanding of past events and patterns, root you in the present, and offer guidance as you navigate the future. Through natal chart readings and teaching, my aim is to help the symbols speak so you can gain perspective, clarity, and self-acceptance from this ancient practice.

I studied Biology at the University of Missouri–Columbia, earned my doctorate in chiropractic at Northwestern Health Sciences University, and completed my training in ancient Hellenistic astrology with Adam Elenbaas through Nightlight Astrology. I’m the owner of McFerson Chiropractic- Structural Corrective Care and AlignWell Astrology, and I live in Northeast Minneapolis with my partner, our two children, a cat, a dog, and a very large garden. My favorite days are spent listening to music, being outdoors, sewing clothing, or hosting delicious dinner parties with friends and family.

10/08/2025

The Desert Garden is In....Hey YOGA Gardeners,

The cactus garden is in and the tropicals and succulents are on deck.

The cooler temps this week mean it's time to bring the outside in. And since YOGA Garden's gardens got kind of huge this year, we'll have a couple different sections to keep us company: desert plants, tropicals and succulents. A couple of geraniums as a shout out to the midwest. I may give tours.

I haven't decided how I'm going to lay out a design yet, it's a work in progress but there will be no shortage of earthiness as the days get shorter and we move inside.

I love having the garden in the studio in the winter months. It's so nice to have dirt to play in and plants to care for when the ground outside is frozen. The earthy smell that fills the studio after watering is so welcome on a cold day.

Speaking of bringing the outside in, the annual YOUR YEAR in a WORD class will be on Thursday, October 30th. We'll talk more about planting seeds for the future at that class too. I'll send out more info on that in the coming weeks.

Love,
Laurel

P.S. for the plant nerds out there, I bring everything in once the temps dip below 40*. I'll tarp down to 35* for a couple days while I'm bringing everything in if I have to.

> > > > > > > www.yogagardenmpls.com

10/03/2025

///\\\/// Next SOUND BATH - Friday, October 17th!

6:30PM / Doors
7:00PM / Meditation w Laurel Van Matre
7:10PM / Sound Bath w Carrie Nelson

*No pre-registration necessary, just show up and we'll set you up.

*This event is donation-based. You can pay via cash or Venmo once you get to the studio if you'd like / $25 suggested.

YOGA Garden
(in the Northrup King Building)
1450 Jackson St. NE #314
Minneapolis, MN 55413

*Enter at the Van Buren St. entrance, look for the
GREEN AWNING.
www.yogagardenmpls.com

10/01/2025

/// YOGA & Recovery Class...starts October 21st!

Hey YOGA Gardeners,

We are thrilled to introduce Melissa Keller!

She found YG through a shared yoga community in Tucson, Arizona where we both used to train with an awesome group of yogis with an awesome group of friends. So, naturally Melissa fits right in at YOGA Garden with the same love of community, alignment and humor. She taught a Yoga & Recovery class in Tucson for many years that was well received and has offered to add that class to the YG schedule starting in just a couple weeks. Check it out and please feel free to reach out with questions:


YOGA & Recovery Class

Starts October 21st
Tuesdays, 6:30-7:30 PM
Regular Class Rates Apply

YOGA & Recovery is an all levels, trauma-informed class for those on the path of recovery from substance misuse, disordered eating, trauma, or anyone cultivating grounded and adaptive wellness practices. Through alignment based vinyasa yoga, we link breath, movement, and community to build skills for living a balanced life off the mat. Friends and allies welcome!



MELISSA KELLER (she/her) has been practicing yoga since 2004 and teaching since 2020. Her classes infuse yoga philosophy, alignment based vinyasa, and nervous system regulation skills to create an environment for students to gain a felt-sense of safety, strength, connection, and acceptance of the present moment. Melissa is passionate about the healing potential of movement and creativity on and off the mat. Her own healing journey serves as a foundation to support others on their paths. She loves music, camping, water, and gardening with her family.

She is also the founder and owner of Awaken Heart Somatics, a somatic therapy practice offering teletherapy in Minnesota and Arizona.

> > > > > > > www.yogagardenmpls.com

09/16/2025

SOOOOOO excited about our favorite chiropractor, Dr. Erin's new venture! We cannot recommend her enough! McFerson Chiropractic- Structural Corrective Care

I recently combined my two worlds—McFerson Chiropractic + AlignWell Astrology—on one scheduling page. ✨
Chiropractic has taught me so much about physical misalignment, and astrology has opened me to the emotional, mental, and spiritual layers that shape our lives too. Both practices are different lenses for the same goal: helping us AlignWell.

Curious about astrology? I’d love to share a reading with you. And if it’s not your thing, that’s wonderful too—I’m just grateful for this connection. 🌙

09/12/2025

///\\\/// SOUND BATH Tonight @ 7:00...!

Friday, September 12th // 7:00PM w Carrie Nelson

YOGA Garden
(in the Northrup King Building)
1450 Jackson St. NE #314
Minneapolis, MN 55413
*Enter at the Van Buren St. entrance, look for the
GREEN AWNING.

*No pre-registration necessary, just show up and we'll set you up.

*This event is donation-based. You can pay via cash or Venmo once you get to the studio if you'd like / $25 suggested.

www.yogagardenmpls.com

09/10/2025

///\\\/// SOUND BATHS Are Back! Starting this Friday Night...

Alright YOGA Gardeners,

We're excited to welcome Carrie Nelson and her good vibes back into the studio this Friday night:

Friday, September 12th

6:30PM / Doors
7:00PM / Meditation w Laurel Van Matre
7:10PM / Sound Bath w Carrie Nelson

*No pre-registration necessary, just show up and we'll set you up.

*This event is donation-based. You can pay via cash or Venmo once you get to the studio if you'd like / $25 suggested.

YOGA Garden
(in the Northrup King Building)
1450 Jackson St. NE #314
Minneapolis, MN 55413

*Enter at the Van Buren St. entrance, look for the
GREEN AWNING.

www.yogagardenmpls.com

08/27/2025

///\\\/// MAKE TIME FOR SELF CARE - SOUND BATH - Friday, September 12th

Alright YOGA Gardeners,

It's time.

My garden is exploding with flowers and herbs. Paul and I are enjoying evenings in the backyard with friends and family. You can feel a season's change is in the air. Nights are a little cooler, perfect for a campfire and the fire light is lovely as the sun sets sooner.

A change in season is the perfect time to make room for self care. Our sound baths with cool-cat Carrie Nelson will kick off for fall on a Friday night in September. Please see details below.

For those of you new to a sound bath, all you have to do is show up, there is literally zero exertion required. You'll lie on a yoga mat for the hour and soak up all the healthy, healing good vibrations you need to recharge.

Wear comfortable clothes and bring a pillow, eye mask and whatever you need to settle in. YOGA Garden has blankets, bolsters and blocks you are welcome to use too.

Friday, September 12th

6:30PM / Doors
7:00PM / Meditation w Laurel Van Matre
7:10PM / Sound Bath w Carrie Nelson

*No pre-registration necessary, just show up and we'll set you up.

*This event is donation-based. You can pay via cash or Venmo once you get to the studio if you'd like...$25 suggested.

YOGA Garden
(in the Northrup King Building)
1450 Jackson St. NE #314
Minneapolis, MN 55413

*Enter at the Van Buren St. entrance, look for the
GREEN AWNING.

www.yogagardenmpls.com