Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Whitney Andrews. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Whitney, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?

I hope that through Yoga Elements & Retreats that I am able to leave a legacy of community, connection, and inspiration. Both the studio and the retreats at the very base level are rooted in community with people supporting and uplifting one another, acts that are often lost in a “dog eat dog” world.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

In 2020, as the world was facing the pandemic,I was beginning my yoga teacher training with One Love Yoga Studio in Palm Coast, FL. At the time, I had been practicing for a few years and was interested in learning more of what was originally just an exercise regimen. In those early years, it was a way for me to get a good workout in to relieve the stress that comes from being a stay at home mom of 2 under 2 and I’m forever grateful for my husband Kelley pushing me out of the house and onto my mat.

What I found instead though was a way to use to physical practice to not only improve muscle tone and relieve tightness in my back, but also a way to ease my mind of anxiety. In teacher training I was surrounded by a group of new friends who supported me in many ways without judgement or jealousy or hidden agendas. I found community. Of that community was Maggie Merkiel, who would later become my business partner and co-creator of a yoga retreat company.

In 2022, Yoga Elements Retreats was born. Maggie and I worked tirelessly to build retreats that focused on not only yoga through nature, but connection and friendship. With no experience of running retreats prior to this, we set out with the focus of creating a retreat that we would have liked to go on ourselves. As a Florida Native, it was always a joy to tour my Irish counterpart around “Old Florida,” telling her about different plants, animals, and eco-systems. Going with what we knew and loved most, our idea of a yoga retreat immediately evolved into that of yoga and camping. Offering guests the chance to step out of their comfort zone and ground through Mother Nature.

By the end of the first retreat, we were calling this our dharma, the way in which God (or the universe as some call Him) has put us here to help the greater good. The connection and the space held during these retreats have been undeniable. The overflowing of love and support brings so much healing to our guests and even us as we fulfill our mission in this life.

What started as a pipe dream, bloomed into us hosting seven retreats in our first year, connecting us with over 70 guests. With a full heart, Maggie stepped away from Yoga Elements Retreats as her family moved far away. With that, Yoga Elements & Retreats was born and the equally amazing Erin McNaughton, YTT 500 has joined as a co-host.

These days, when not on retreat or planning for the next one, we are working on opening a brand new yoga studio. Just as the focus of our retreats has always been connection and community, the studio will carry that theme.

Yoga Elements & Retreats studio is being crafted into a newly renovated historical home in the sleepy town of Bunnell, FL. As a small scale studio we will focus on the intimacy of true connections full of love, inspiration, and support for students and instructors alike. Our classes will flow from vinyasas and then perhaps downstairs to the coffee shop or one of the many other women ran businesses in this space.

With many retreats on the horizon and the anticipated opening of our studio, I hope you will follow along and join us soon!

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Each and every day, I just focus on living in my own truth- being exactly who I am. There are a ton of yoga instructors that I admire and many of them carry so much talent and wisdom on and off of their mats. I’m the beginning, I dealt with a lot of imposter syndrome. I thought because I didn’t quote The Yoga Sutras of Pantanjali or carry an essence of ancient wisdom that I wasn’t good enough. Now though, through this community which ultimately built me up, I’ve realized that who I am is enough. Who each of us is, is enough. In knowing that, in living that, I believe I’ve built a reputation of being someone who lifts ip others and encourages them to be who God created them to be, on or off the mat.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

Well first, my hobby became my side hustle and now my side hustle has become my career. It’s funny to think back because after I finished my teacher training, I wasn’t even sure if I would teach. I didn’t have the confidence to start and I remember my husband being completely baffled that I had spent so much time and so many resources to get my licensing, to not use it. Slowly, I began subbing classes and that led to teaching private or semi-privates from my house. Now to today with too many retreats to count under my belt and a studio opening in the coming months!

Contact Info:

• Website: Yogaelementsretreats.com
• Instagram: @yogaelementsretreats
• Facebook: Yoga Elements & Retreats

Image Credits
Mackenzie Lane Photography