We recently connected with Marci Hedderson-Carroll and have shared our conversation below.

Marci, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

We invite you to “Come for the thrill, stay for the chill”

Geode Nature Dome is a one-of-a-kind outdoor event space nestled at the foothills of the Appalacians in Chillicothe, Ohio. Designed to create epic outdoor experiences immersed in nature’s elements, our space is perfect for groups, teams, wellness getaways, and adventure-seekers of all kinds. Our unique geodesic domes and glamping sites offer you and your community a rare experience in the heart of nature surrounded by its rich elements.

Escape the daily grind and tap into your divine adventurous spirit. We offer a series of exhilarating outdoor experiences that allow you to connect with the earth. Be inspired by the open fresh air, trees, mountains and seek the adventure that awaits you.
However you wish to connect to nature, we provide you a range of experiences that match your energy level. Embrace your bold spirit and take on adventures like zip-lining, mountain biking, hiking, and kayaking. Or take a deep breath and find something a little more tranquil like yoga, massage, meditation, foraging, or a nature walk.
We want to share the magical space that Geode Nature Dome is while showing gratitude for our natural habitat. It is our mission to leave our space better than we found it.

Adventure therapy is calling.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

For 30 years, I dedicated my career to serving the State Government. However, I encountered various health issues as a result of burn out, excessive weight training, and constantly over-committing myself. Recognizing the urgency to simplify my life and find peace, I turned to yoga, a practice I had been engaged in since the age of 15 but only truly embraced in the past decade. Due to the injuries caused by weightlifting and being diagnosed with an autoimmune condition, I decided to deepen my yoga practice by enrolling in Yoga Teacher Training. My goal was to discover a more calming yet stimulating approach that could effectively reduce inflammation in my body. Initially, I had no intention of teaching yoga; my focus was solely on self-healing. However, as I successfully cured my back pain, I felt compelled to share my journey. Consequently, I began offering yoga classes at various studios in different cities, despite my tendency to over-commit. The positive response from my students during a retreat I organized motivated me to pursue my vision further. I wanted to create a space where I could introduce more individuals to this healing modality and support those suffering from burn out, pain, mobility issues, and type “A” personalities characterized by overthinking and overcommitment. My objective was to provide them with tools to calm their nervous systems, bodies, and minds. Inspired by my fascination with sacred geometry, I transformed my vision into reality with the establishment of Geode Nature Dome Retreats, a haven where people could reconnect with nature’s healing power, step out of their comfort zones, and find true tranquility.

Geode Nature Dome Offerings:
Restoration Through Nature
We nurture our space and show our guests how to do the same. Every activity is powered by our protocol to maintain consistency and keep our space free from being unkempt or in disarray. We embody and practice what we preach.
Adventurous Spirit
Our guests will be immersed in adventure as soon as they enter our space. Our domes represent the unexpected and wondrous experience they will begin to embark upon.
Concierge Service
We provide our guests with the utmost level of courtesy and respect. Whether they bring a small or large group to our space, we are responsible for providing them with a transformational, epic, and restorative experience.
Transformation
Our guests come here to escape. They don’t have to worry about planning every detail when it comes to the experiences we offer. We lead them to epic adventures of transformation and thrill, or help them to soothe and relax their minds as they chill.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Achieving success is not something everyone supports. I was disenchanted to discover that my friends and some family members were not there to support me and be my cheerleaders in my endeavors. I have also learned that depending on people can be arduous since I never had anyone model asking for help. I have always been an independent individual, always determined to do things myself and prove that I can handle everything. However, I have come to realize that it is impossible to do everything alone. You need a team of people who share your vision of success. I have had to distance myself from negativity and narrow down my circle of friends. This has been the most significant challenge in my life – peering beyond people’s surface-level appearances and tapping into my intuition. If mastered, trusting my gut instincts can be extremely powerful. I have also had to learn to say no and listen to my body when I am unable to meet certain expectations. While this may disappoint some, it is necessary to accept how others perceive you.

The competitiveness of the yoga industry was something I could never have imagined in my wildest dreams. To my surprise, this issue isn’t limited to small towns like mine; even larger cities face the same challenges. Considering yogis are typically seen as spiritual individuals who have walked away from the corporate world, I expected things to be vastly different. However, it turns out that this assumption is inaccurate. It seems that every industry is characterized by intense competition. While I found myself getting caught up in this mindset for some time, I eventually recognized the need to seek self-help tools that would help me manage this competitiveness both in my business and my mindset. I have now come to understand that competition is what drives improvement in our craft, and it’s important to support and encourage others who are pursuing similar paths because there is enough room for success for everyone. When we uplift and cheer one another on, we all thrive together.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Small businesses, particularly those in the health industry, experienced significant changes due to Covid. In the Fall of 2019, we opened through pop up events and classes. However, as soon as we started operating at full capacity, Covid struck our nation, resulting in the closure of all health and fitness establishments. Unfortunately, I couldn’t access any government assistance since my business was relatively new and had no employees. Consequently, I was unable to keep my doors open with any financial support. It was only through resilience, fortitude, grace, and hope that I managed to stay strong amidst the challenges. Funding everything from my retirement income, the fear and anxiety that affected everyone due to the pandemic also impacted me. However, I refused to let this situation affect me personally or lead to my defeat.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://geodenaturedome.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geode.yoga.fitness/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/geodedome/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marci-hedderson-carroll-7a41722a1/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@geodedome1472

Image Credits
Logan Detty Photography Gunner Barnes Photography Cassidy Dawn Photography Prest0n Perich Photography Nate Swanson Photography