A Bachelorette Yoga Experience on The Lake in Athens, NY
A few weekends ago I had the kind of morning that reminds me exactly why I do this work.
I drove out to Athens, NY to meet a group of ten women celebrating their bride at a lakeside Airbnb. The house was beautiful, the energy was already warm when I arrived, and the weather was one of those perfect Catskills mornings. We set up on the deck overlooking the lake and practiced outside, which always adds something special to the session.
The practice
I set up early, got the mats arranged, connected to their speaker, and by the time everyone gathered on the deck we were ready to drop in. With a group of ten, I always pay close attention to the range of experience in the room. Some people are regular practitioners, some haven't been on a mat in years, some have never tried. The goal is to create something that challenges without intimidating, that moves without overwhelming.
The headstand
One of my specialties is inversions, specifically helping people find their first headstand safely and confidently. It's one of those milestone moments in a yoga practice that people remember. The bride had never done one before. By the end of our session together, she was up.
That moment of watching someone discover something in their body they didn't know was possible is one of my favorite parts of teaching Yoga.
Savasana on the deck
We closed with a long savasana, lying on the deck with the lake in front of us and the morning sun coming through.
The girls headed off to their next activities after, and I drove home feeling happy and content.
Here's what the bride had to say:
"Gabby was so professional and had the BEST energy. All the girls commented on how much they enjoyed the experience and how Gabby's calm and positive energy made the experience relaxing and restorative. She arrived on time, came prepared with mats, connected to our speaker, and led a very elevated and professional yoga class. She also talked me through my first headstand. Can't recommend this experience enough — it was a highlight of the trip."
If you're planning a bachelorette weekend in the Catskills or Hudson Valley and want to add something that actually means something, I'd love to be part of it.