By: Kristina Kuphaupt, Customer Experience Manager
As the New Year is upon us we have the opportunity to reevaluate our patterns to see if they still serve us. It is also a time to consider trying something new to help achieve our holistic wellness goals. Your Co-op is known in our community to be dedicated to bringing you high-nutrition wellness options, but we are also here for other aspects of wellness too.
Many of you may have already tried some of our fun and educational cooking classes both in our Willy West Community Room, in addition to our new Eastside community space, Aubergine; however, did you know of our wellness-based classes? They provide some great information and practices to consider—from Linda Conroy’s classes on how to use herbs for holistic wellness, Kirsten Landsverk’s classes on how to make syrups, oils, salves, and fire cider to Katy Wallace’s free virtual lectures on how to help reduce many body ailments naturally, and Rounding Edges meditation class to promote stress reduction. In addition to these offerings, we offer yoga classes taught by Mourning Dove. If you have not taken a yoga class in some time, I would recommend you try out this series. Personally, I am not well-versed in yoga stretches and have felt not part of the group when I did try more traditional yoga classes in past years. However, when I saw and experienced Mourning Dove’s classes my view was forever changed! Her approach is very inclusive and for all body types and abilities. It is a wonderful way to relax from a tough day and let your pressures take a pause for a bit of time. If you are intrigued, please check out Mourning Dove’s spotlight below in addition to her instructor video at www.willystreet.coop/class-instructors to get to know her better. It is a great way to reconnect and realign your physical and mental wellness throughout the year. Her next class on February 17 features a Full Moon Self-Love Meditation Circle, and March 24th highlights both Safe(r) & Sound Self-Care Circle and Self-Care Circle with Gentle Yoga. For this and other class information, please visit: https://willystreet.coop/events
Finally, if you are looking to kick- start your cooking at home, always feel free to check out our Recipe section on our website (https://www.willystreet.coop/recipes) where you can sort recipes by certain dietary restrictions. This could help kick-start your grocery list in the new year with foods that maybe you have not tried yet. Let the wellness adventure begin!
Questions with Mourning Dove
Kristina: What is your connection to Willy Street Co-op?
Mourning Dove: I am grateful for all of the roles I’ve had at Willy Street Co-op—customer, Owner, cashier, front end supervisor, steward, union financial secretary, employee council member, customer service rep, and class instructor. I value the abundance of beautiful local organic produce, the community outreach, and of course, all of the people. The Co-op has a special place in my heart now and always.
K: What inspired you to teach wellness classes?
MD: I used to struggle with powerful emotions, trauma responses, and navigating my place in the world until I realized that everything I was searching for externally to fill what I thought was missing or fix what I thought was broken was already waiting for me inside. Prioritizing self-care and deepening that inner relationship radically changed how I navigate the intensities of life, take care of myself, and show up for others. And the more I love/understand/accept myself, the more I am able to love/understand/accept everyone. From very early on, I have felt a powerful call to share and hold space for others to do the same. I know what it’s like to feel uncomfortable, unsupported, or unsafe in class settings, and I strive to give others a better experience. As I continue to traverse my own journey, I feel blessed to connect with others on theirs.
K: How do your classes differ from many yoga and wellness classes available to our community?
MD: There are so many wonderful teachers and classes in the community! My offerings all revolve around fostering a kind relationship with yourself, and in every class, I emphasize taking only what resonates. It’s important for each person to know that it’s THEIR practice, and I’m only here to be a guide. I customize each session to the individuals who attend, and the energy of the group that day. I encourage exploration and agency for folks to honor their own body, unique mind, energy, and feelings in any given moment. We don’t all have to be doing the same thing in the same way—and we really shouldn’t be. I provide seating options, props, bolsters, and designate some of my classes as masks-required to include our immunocompromised community members and those who feel more comfortable in that environment. I even have a stash of notebooks and comfort items just in case they’re needed.
K: There has been a positive societal shift to prioritize mental wellness in the past several years. How do you feel wellness classes impact other areas of our wellbeing, including nutrition?
MD: Prioritizing self-care, dedicating time to go inward, and tending to the parts of us that need our attention brings us in a more heart-centered and balanced state. From that place, there is more clarity and internal support for making choices in other areas of our lives. It also leads to more grace and self-compassion around the choices we did make, so we can release unproductive mindsets that cause feelings of shame or create unrealistic expectations. There is nothing quite like feeling internally supported.
K: If someone is new to yoga and wellness classes, what tips would you give them to feel comfortable in that environment and consider trying your classes in 2025?
MD: I think the most important thing to remember is that it is YOUR practice. All teachers and facilitators have beautiful things to share with you from their own experiences, but you are unique, and your inner journey gets to reflect that! We all have our own needs, lived experiences, pains, values, relationships to our bodies, triggers, abilities, words we resonate with, and things that make us feel safe and comfortable. When we honor those differences in ourselves and integrate them into our practices, our self-care journey unfolds in a whole new way.
Use all the props, take up space, don’t force anything, trust your experience, and be curious. You’re getting to know yourself on a new and deeper level. Believe in what is possible.
If you’d like to attend one of my classes, I genuinely would love to have you. There is space when you register to share your preferences and needs, and I will put effort into making you feel welcome and comfortable. I hope to share space with you soon.
