If you think yoga with goats is wild, you’ll probably find this new retreat larger than life.
Once only a dream, Yoga for the Wild recently embarked on its first summer escapes to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. At the helm: Greenville-based teacher and activist Laura Messer of Zen Mission Yoga, who sought something bigger than the typical weekend yoga retreat spent sipping tea over wash-and-repeat self-reflections.
“Growing up, my parents were both scientists, so we always had to go on ‘educational vacations’ instead of to Disneyland,” Messer laughs. “I’d always had a passion for elephants and rhinos, and seeing them in the wild was a dream of mine.”
Burnt out in her sales career, Messer decided to make it official with her twenty years of practicing yoga, enrolling in a teacher-training program. “In the last month of that intense process, I had a clear vision: combining my love of wildlife conservation with my love of yoga, and finding a way to bring that experience to others. That’s when Zen Mission Yoga was born.”
The birth of Zen Mission Yoga
The two conservation groups Messer has focused on thus far rescue, rehabilitate, and provide sanctuary to elephants and rhinos that are victims of poaching, severe drought, and other circumstances. Zen Mission began with donation-based yoga classes in Greenville that raised funds for these organizations. “They were so well-received, that we kept the in-person classes going virtually during COVID,” says Messer.
For those virtual Yoga for the Wild classes, Messer collaborated with friend and U.K.-based yoga teacher Kat MacLeod, who grew up in Africa and also harbored a passion for elephants and rhinos. “We chose to support the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, where the last two northern white rhinos live. It’s an incredible community of people who live and work on the land. During classes, we were joined live by two of the rangers, who answered questions, and we raised a good bit of money for the group.” It was such an affirming experience that Messer knew she and MacLeod had to expand on the dream—and they started planning a series of summer retreats.
“We have people joining us on these retreats from Africa, Europe, and all over the United States. It’s a fun, diverse group,” says Messer. In addition to multiple daily yoga sessions on a scenic deck, the groups will go out on game (safari) drives for intimate viewings and interactions with the rangers and the rhinos. “It’s a 90-acre property at the base of Mount Kenya, and the animals are free to come and go as they please, so you never know what to expect,” smiles Messer. “You could be halfway through a sunrise session, and a family of giraffes will walk through. Or be out in the wild, and suddenly spot lions enjoying lunch. It’s thrilling.”
Messer is also quick to acknowledge that this isn’t your typical carefree beach vacay and can present challenging new perspectives. “I think that when you go on a big overseas trip like this, the experience of just being there can be overwhelming,” reflects Messer, “and seeing these incredible animals up close and in the wild, knowing the harsh realities they face, is breathtaking. So the retreat itineraries are intended to be a balance of meditative, grounding moments and more exciting ones.”
It’s clear that travelers will find a beautiful duality in the setting and the stretches they’re presented with: leaving your comfort zone while in the hands of experts. “As a yoga instructor, it’s like guiding a client who never thought they could do a handstand or headstand—but when they’re ready for it, it’s so cool to see them trust me and themselves and accomplish it,” Messer says. “When you have an opportunity to go see a place in the world that isn’t easy to get to or requires work, I think it’s similar to what happens with a challenging yoga pose or session. It pushes you and feels scary, but it leaves you feeling exhilarated. That’s how we grow as individuals.”
If you’re not quite ready to take your mat abroad, Zen Mission Yoga also offers private lessons and group sessions. Inquire at zenmissionyoga.com
DOWNWARD DOG FOR A CAUSE
A few ways that funds raised help the Ol Pejeta Conservancy:
- Northern white rhinos | Surrogacy and in vitro processes help ensure the continuation of the species
- Feeding the K-9 Unit | Food, veterinary care, and supplies for the service dogs
- Protecting the rangers | Those guarding against poachers always need new boots and weaponry supplies
Photography by Laura Messer
