Winter is the ideal time to reflect on the past year. It’s also when I actually kinda sorta have time to do so since it’s our off-season.

To plan where you need to go, it’s important to know where you’ve been and where you are now. I’m the Type (A) who tends to check something off the list and move on to the next 5,000 things I need to do without stopping to appreciate my accomplishments. (Who else can relate?!)

At the time, I’m just doing what needs to be done. But then looking back on a whole year, I’m kinda like “Whaaaat? Really?! We did all that?” I say we, because I certainly couldn’t have accomplished all this without all the people who believed in my business this year; my team, my business coach(es) and of course all of our lovely and diverse guests that joined us for yoga hikes.

I wanted to share a few quick stats from this year - technically only our second full season - which I like to call Namaste in Numbers.

137 Yoga Hikes

Wow! This is nearly triple the amount of yoga hikes we led last year! Not to mention, we added a few new locations this year.

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581 Trees Donated

We planted tons of trees all over the world including India, the Amazon and the US this year via onetreeplanted.org . This brings our lifetime total to 865 trees. That is soaking up some serious carbon emissions and will continue to do so for many years!

$762 Donated

The thing I look most forward to with future growth is being able to donate more money to conservation organizations. This year we donated a significant amount of dollars to 501c-3 non-profits including One Tree Planted, Conserving Carolina, the Carolina Mountain Club, Friends of Dupont Forest and the Dogwood Alliance.

334 Miles Hiked

Check out this blog post for more on the health benefits of hiking, yoga and meditation. Can’t think of a more beautiful place to log these miles than the ancient Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina!

13 Jobs Created

In addition to my own job as owner (which is really like 10 jobs in one, lol), I also had about 10 guides this year as well as some part time administrative assistance and freelance digital media help. Even though they are contract/part-time, I still make sure the hourly rate is above NC state minimum wage and the Buncombe County Living Wage.

Of course I want to give our guests and incredible experience but I also want our guides to enjoy it just as much if not more! Here are a few snippets from my team that gave me warm fuzzies this year!

“Today marks about a month of leading weekend yoga hikes up to these beautiful falls as part of @namaste_in_nature . Getting a chance to share these woods & yoga with so many beautiful souls is truly incomparable, and I keep wondering how I could ever be so fortunate. “ - Abigail

“Nothing makes me appreciate the outdoors more than providing an outlet and opportunity for others to appreciate, understand, and observe it. After watching this inchworm for several minutes she said, "this makes me feel like a kid again". Don't we all wanna remember that feeling?” - Rebecca

“Leading outdoor yoga is a dream of mine and @namaste_in_nature gave me the opportunity in Asheville. I can't thank Miranda enough for letting me be a part of this beautiful company she started.” - Jessica

“"I lead a group of beautiful, strong, inspiring women to the top of a mountain to practice yoga and meditation overlooking a seemingly sea of clouds. It’s the days like these that remind me why I took a leap to move to the mountains just six months ago. The beauty, the freedom, the expansiveness, the space this move has provided is one of the greatest gifts and adventures life has offered yet. When the universe speaks, I vow to continue to trust and listen. It’s not always clear to see through clouds of confusion and overthinking of the future but it is grounding to sit and enjoy the view from the most beautiful focal point of the present moment.“ - Erin

“Its been such an amazing season, anxiously awaiting to see all that holds the future! Thanks for everything you do Miranda, you're an amazing gal and I'm lucky to know you!” - Ceiara

Get to know all of our current guides on our team page.

Awards

Namaste in Nature was voted a Best of the Blue Ridge company by Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine. (The jury is still out for 2020 but we were nominated in 3 categories!) I was beyond honored to be nominated for a 2019 WomanUp Award sponsored by the Asheville Chamber of Commerce. The Rising Star Award was sponsored by Western Carolina University and recognizes a young woman under the age of 35 who has distinguished herself as a leader and role model to other young women.

Media Wins

With all the effort I put into social media and PR, it’s nice to be noticed sometimes!

Forbes Magazine
• Capital at Play Magazine Video (below) & Multi-Page Feature in Om Outdoors Issue
• Personal Essay published in Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine
• Mention in the Adventure Issue of Mountain Xpress
• Arival Travel Conference decided we are one of 9 Tour Brands Who Are Killing It On Social Media
• Podcast episode on Tourpreneur, a podcast that deep dives into the journey of the tour business owner hosted by Shane Whaley to inspire, empower, educate and connect tour operators around the world.

70 Reviews

This is nearly double the amount we got last year! (You can read all of our reviews from solo travelers, couples and groups here.) We are so honored to be a part of so many people’s special occasions and celebrations in Asheville. Here are a few of my favorites:

SHEILA H. • NOVEMBER 2019 • ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

“This was my favorite activity of our Asheville get-away. The trail was gorgeous!
Abigail was so kind and attentive. Yoga in that beautiful setting on a brisk fall morning was just what we needed! And the meditation by the waterfall was meaningful for two beginners in the practice of meditation. I was with my best friend of 30 years...I’ll treasure this weekend! We are two women running in different stages of our lives but really trying to make an effort to carve out special time together! This filled that bill perfectly!”

MICHELLE & FRIENDS • OCTOBER 2019 • ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

“This is life changing. We came back in such a peaceful state and in such awe of nature we couldn't recommend it enough. Amy was our guide. We weren't rushed. We were fully supported. The meditation was led with a concept I hadn't heard before. The waterfall was beautiful and we deeply enjoyed the yoga. The colors were that much brighter when we were done and it was a moving experience.”

JOSEPH W. • OCTOBER 2019 • ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

“I booked this adventure for my wife and I to celebrate our seventh wedding anniversary. Yoga and meditation is something that my wife is very enthusiastic about, so getting this experience right was important to me. Our guide, Ceiara was personable, knowledgeable, friendly, and approachable. The tour of the falls was fantastic, and our group got there early enough to be able to enjoy some level of privacy and peace, which helped dramatically with the meditation experience. I would absolutely recommend this experience to anyone that is interested in Yoga, meditation, and enjoying the benefits that nature has to offer.”

KIMBERLY W. • AUGUST 2019 • ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

“We had an amazing experience. It was such a refreshing time. Miranda, our guide was amazing and so nice. This Waterfall yoga hike added 5 years to my life. We definitely recommend this as a must if you're in the area-local or tourist.”

CASSIE S. • MAY 2019 • ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

“We were in Asheville for a bachelorette party and went on the hike/yoga class with Miranda. After our trip was over, every girl said their highlight of the trip was the hike/yoga class. Miranda was very knowledgeable and was very easy to talk to. Our group had some experienced and some unexperienced girls, and Miranda made all of us feel comfortable during her yoga class. We did the hike on top of the mountain and it was beautifully breathtaking! When we go back to Asheville we will definitely be booking Miranda again to do the second option of the waterfall yoga hike!”

ERIN W. • MAY 2019 • ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

“I had a great time with my guide Rebecca. She was down to earth and fun! The hike, yoga, and meditation was amazing. I’ve done each of these activities separately, but to bring them all together and be in a natural setting was truly a unique experience. I definitely recommend giving this a try!”

JULIE • MARCH 2019 • ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

“As a single person on vacation it felt nice to do a hike and yoga with others. The hike was easy and the yoga was doable for everyone which I thought was important. I got to chat with people from all over the country and explore new wilderness without any worries. A perfect outing! Would recommend for sure!”

Business Growth & Coaching

And I especially have to thank my incredible yoga business coach, Mado Hesselink, host of the Yoga Teacher Resource podcast, on which I’ve been featured. She’s really helped me focus, set & achieve goals and is often that voice of reason when I am dealing with anxiety and uncertainty. If you are a yoga teacher or even just thinking about it, you need to subscribe to this podcast. Do it right meow.

What To Look Forward To In 2020

YouTube

We’re not your typical tour company. We want your experience to last before, after and beyond Asheville. You’re not just a guest on our yoga hike, you are a member of our community! Or- #treeposetribe to be exact. This is why I’m putting a lot more effort into our YouTube channel next year. Subscribe to our channel for more FREE mindful content and instructional yoga videos! I need your help to reach 1,000 subscribers by my birthday on 02/02/2020 so YouTube will finally start paying me for the hundreds of hours I am investing in my channel.

Retreats

Our first Women’s Reflect & ReNew Year Yoga Retreat will happen at Lake Logan January 3-5. I am so excited and honored to be co-hosting this retreat with Rosie Mulford, an exceptional lady who has been teaching yoga longer than I’ve been alive! Between us, we have a wealth of experience and advice to share for all kinds of women on motherhood, marriage, yoga, purpose, career, entrepreneurship, relationships and mental health. If you can’t make it in January, keep your fingers crossed because if this goes well, I hope to host seasonal retreats in the Spring, Summer and Fall!

Full Moon Yoga Hikes

I know I’m a bit biased for morning yoga hikes since I’m a total early bird, but we’ve got good news for all you night owls! We’re adding select dates for Full Moon Yoga Hikes in 2020! Enjoy a sunset hike to a mountain top and flow through a freeing yoga practice to help you let go of ideas, thoughts, emotions and relationships that no longer serve you. It really is a treat to connect with that feminine, lunar energy whenever you get a chance!

"Difficult Roads Often Lead to Beautiful Destinations.”

Just wanted to leave y’all with my business mantra. ;) Hope y’all have happy, healthy, merry all-the-holidays and are looking forward to a new year as much as I am!

Namaste & Have A Great Day!

Miranda