Oconee Outfitters and Soul Rebellion Yoga are teaming up to offer Morning Energy yoga classes.
Oconee Outfitters is owned and operated by Adam Heagy. The business is known for kayak rentals, bicycle repair centers, and kayak excursions. Soul Rebellion Yoga is owned by Elizabeth Havey and is a private yoga business that also does a few public classes. Wishing to support his wife’s business and to offer his customers another service, the couple’s businesses are partnering to start Morning Energy.
“I wanted to support my wife and looking at the space at Oconee Outfitters, we could accommodate a small yoga class,” said Heagy. “Yoga ties into what we promote as a business, and this is an opportunity to structure something between our businesses and broaden the enjoyment of Oconee Outfitters’ customer base.”
Oconee Outfitters and Soul Rebellion Yoga both promote healthy and active lifestyles. Adam hopes that the yoga class can give his customers the opportunity to enhance their overall self-awareness, flexibility and energy levels.
“Yoga focuses on body movement which can help people identify and isolate specific movements in other aspects of their active lifestyle,” said Heagy. “Yoga will allow attendees to take a step back and realize how contracted their bodies can become from their daily activitie and it will lead them to feel more open, loose and better overall.”
For instructor Elizabeth Havey, yoga has been a significant part of her life since she was a teenager. In 2014, she got her instructor certification through an organization based in Athens. With this certification, she began to work with private clients to create a yoga practice that is attuned to their specific needs, goals and challenges.
“I primarily work with private clients, but I want to have a broader reach,” said Elizabeth Havey. “So, my husband and I decided to create a class specifically targeted for his customers and clients that will provide some core strength, hip opening shoulder opening and more.”
The class will help those who have active lifestyles, especially those that ride bikes or paddle. The structure of the class aims to improve performance on and off the mat, increase flexibility, improve strength and stamina, and improve focus and mental clarity.
“For me, yoga is a personal exploration. I am constantly learning about my body and the way inputs of different variables impact my body,” said Elizabeth Havey. “The more I do yoga, the more I learn about myself and the more I learn about emotional control as well.”
According to the instructor, yoga and meditation are both beneficial resources for growing minds, stress, and emotional regulation. Beyond the physical benefits, the practice of yoga can improve memory, concentration, focus and mental capacity related to anxiety, stress or emotions.
“I want to be able to reach more of the community who may not be aware of these benefits,” said Elizabeth Havey. “One of the most exciting things about yoga is how much more connected we become with ourselves and the world through its practice. So, for an avid outdoors enthusiast, connecting your body to nature is huge and very beneficial.”
Elizabeth hopes in the next few years that she can create a larger program to help individuals practice meditation and yoga to dissociate themselves from their bodies and undergo that personal transformation that reconnects them to their body both physically and mentally and extends beyond themselves into the world.
“This class will be catered to those who pursue athletic endeavors, whether new to yoga or not. I am prepared to lead beginners to those who know the deeper interpretations of the practice,” said Elizabeth Havey. “This is a larger step for my transition of giving back to the world in a different way and to share my passion.”
Morning Energy yoga classes will take place every Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Classes are $15 through pre-payment to Soul Rebellion Yoga to reserve a space. To get payment details and reserve a spot, message Soul Rebellion Yoga on their social media.