Today we’d like to introduce you to Bethany Forest
Hi Bethany, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m a Yogi, traveler and nature junkie. My journey to yoga began in college, where I discovered that fitness could be so much more than movement, and my love of yoga was cemented there amidst fighting major depressive disorder due to unresolved trauma.
I received my 200hr certification in 2010, and completed my 500RYT in 2018 during the worst year of my life – a traumatic surgery left me without a functional bladder, and my sister passed away all within 30 days… to say it was an upheaval would be an understatement. While trying to figure out my new “normal”, I threw myself into my yoga practice and advanced teacher training, focusing on deepening my knowledge of Vinyasa, Astanga, Power, Yin, Yoga Nidra, Thai Yoga Massage and Ayurveda. Since then, I have also received certification in trauma informed yoga practices, and I’m currently working in somatic training. In November of 2018 I opened HEAL Yoga Studio in Ogden Utah, which unfortunately had to close during Covid and never reopened.
It was during that time that I pivoted and began organizing locally held retreats in the gorgeous state of Utah and felt really called to do this work. I’ve since built a fabulous team and we’ve hosted an average of 3 retreats per year since 2021. My goal has always been to create affordable, approachable retreats in a remote desert or mountain setting that highlights what Utah has to offer, as well as create a casual, comfortable environment to explore HEALing modalities. HEAL Yoga has always believed that “In order to HEAL the world, we must first HEAL ourselves.
No stranger to the challenges of life, I truly enjoy getting to know our retreat participants and empowering true HEALing from within. I truly enjoy cultivating HEALing experiences through Yoga, Nature, Ayurveda and HEALing meals, and continue to feel called to empower others on their HEALing journeys through shared experiences, open discussion, and by providing tools for individuals to explore HEALing in their own way.
When I’m not hosting, you can find me playing in the great outdoors with my husband Taylor, my two pups, Paiya and Vajra, and truly trying to embrace life to the fullest as I understand deeply that my time here is limited. I also run a photography business and capture real estate photography in my small tourist town, and enjoy creating art through portraiture. True HEALing is rarely a comfortable path, and I honor those willing to step onto it with me – this is my life’s work and purpose, and I hope to leave a legacy of connection, empowerment, and JOY.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oops, I kind of laid it all out on the previous question. But I’m happy to dive a little deeper.
Back in 2018 when I opened the HEAL Yoga Studio, I was actively trying to outrun my traumatic experiences. It’s always been easier for me to focus on my work and helping others on their journey. Right as we started gaining momentum as a new studio, the pandemic forced us to close our doors. Not to be outdone, I pivoted immediately to online classes, and developed an Outdoor Yoga strategy designed to let us come together to practice outdoors at a safe distance from each other. Unfortunately, it wasn’t very successful, and our little studio didn’t quite make it through the pandemic.
Not one to accept failure, I pivoted again, and hosted a yoga retreat locally. It was considered a success, but we didn’t really know what we were doing, and we didn’t make enough money to pay ourselves for all the incredibly hard work that goes into it. We didn’t care though, we were SO excited and uplifted by the experience and we knew we had to keep going.
It was during this time (and perhaps in part because of the yoga retreat) that I experienced an upheaval in my personal life. After the loss of my sister and my bladder, I fell into a deep depression. If I wasn’t working, I couldn’t get out of bed. I didn’t want to die, but some days I just wished I didn’t have to wake up. I wanted to sleep through my grief and come out whole on the other side. I missed my sister terribly, and learning to navigate self-catheterization and all of the challenged that came with it was so, so hard. My work was literally the only thing that I had to look forward to. Not even Yoga was able to save me like it had previously. I decided to work with a psychologist to process my grief, and uncovered a LOT of buried trauma along the way. I’ve since learned that HEALing is an ongoing process, and what I’ve learned in my own personal recovery is that it’s a beautiful process, even if it’s incredibly painful.
I’ve delved much deeper into different HEALing modalities since, and I truly believe that what we have to offer to our retreat participants is truly life changing if they’re open to it. We have curated a beautiful experience, and have become experts in holding space for HEALing. True HEALing is a choice you make on your own. No one can do it for you. The real courage, and the true warrior chooses the path, and we are here to help others explore that path through Yoga practice, journaling, and workshops designed to help our Yogis look deeper within.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
At HEAL, we believe that in order to HEAL the world, we must first HEAL ourselves.
At HEAL, we host several curated Yoga retreats throughout the state of Utah amidst the gorgeous desertscapes, red rocks, teal lakes, and mountains that Utah is known for. At our retreats, we have a tiered approach for yogis to experience:
MIND: We hold space for you to look inward, to examine the pieces you want to HEAL.
BODY: Thoughtfully curated with your needs in mind, we offer your body clean, wholesome fuel for HEALing.
SPIRIT: Explore a new and exciting adventure that brings your spirit to a whole new level of HEALing, and connect with like minded Yogis.
We focus on outdoor yoga practices, from silent hike meditations to sunset yin on a mountain top, an active Vinyasa among hoodoos, to an invigorating SUP yoga practice on a teal colored glacial lake. Our instructors have been thoroughly vetted and trained to meet our standards of Yoga Professionalism, and our studio is trauma-informed, providing you a safe space to explore HEALing.
Our attendees are typically strangers who leave as friends, bonding through shared experiences and passion for life and adventure. Many attendees are seeking a place to put down the stress of their fast-paced world for a while, and are looking for true connection with like-minded people. They come from all over the US, and we enjoy watching the bonding experience over and over again through our retreats.
We pride ourselves on offering a tailored brand experience that’s approachable, fun, and casual, but we’re not afraid to have the serious conversations. We want our yogis to have fun and learn new things while exploring deeper meaning in their personal lives or practices.
From one of our retreat attendees: “Wow! What a top shelf retreat you created for all of us! I’m amazed at how you made us each feel so welcomed and included…. thank you for holding a space of non-judgment that we could all embrace.”
THIS is always our goal. We absolutely love this work and feel called to do it. We are always looking to better our offerings with each subsequent retreat, and we are passionate about Yoga Retreats and HEALing!
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I think that most people who attend our retreats are surprised about how open I am about my traumatic life experiences. I am always happy to share when asked, and find that sharing my experiences are quite relatable to others on their journeys. That being said, my workshops and offerings are not a “Bethany shares all” type experience, as I want our Yogis to focus on their own HEALing, but I will always share when asked.
I am a very fun, outgoing, not-so-stereotypical Yogi, and that may surprise people – but it also makes me highly approachable and puts people at ease. I enjoy empowering women especially to explore their comfort zones… with the outdoors, within their yoga practice, and on their HEALing journeys.
Pricing:
- Most of our retreats are right around 800-1500 depending on the length, and we include all lodging, meals, and activities.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.healyogastudio.com
- Instagram: @HEALYogaStudio
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/healyogastudio
