Devotion in Motion with Fern Olivia

Nothing breaks up a busy Wednesday better than a mid-week trip to Manhattan to see one of my favorite wellness warriors. I owe much of my wellness journey to the beautiful Fern Olivia and her incredible thyroid yoga. I first met Fern back in 2015, when I was invited to one of her retreats out in Montauk, New York—and I’ve been inspired by her ever since.

So, it’s no surprise that I would drop everything to see her when she comes to New York (she now lives in Nosara, Costa Rica!). And that’s just what I did when she told me she was holding a Devotion in Motion: Thyroid Yoga class at The Assemblage on John Street in New York City.

I had never been to The Assemblage before, but I was blown away when I arrived. The stunning hotel and co-working space is complete with an elixir bar, a meditation room, inspirational artwork lining the stairway walls, plenty of nooks to get work done, and, of course, an outdoor terrace, which is the perfect spot to do a little yoga.

After I arrived at The Assemblage and explored all that it had to offer, I made my way out to the terrace, greeted Fern, and laid down my yoga mat. Seeing Fern instantly made me forget about the hour-and-a-half schlep I had just made into the city after a long day in the office…and the lengthy walk from Penn Station to The Assemblage downtown. Plus, the terrace views were pretty hard to beat!

Once I got settled on my mat, the stress of the week seemed to just float away. As I laid on my mat waiting for the class to begin, I could see the clouds gently moving, watched the planes as they flew above, and felt the warmth of a June evening envelop me. It was truly the perfect setting for a yoga class.

As the class began, Fern’s friends Essie Jain and Patrick Glynn played relaxing music, as Fern’s voice guided us on our yoga journey. My body felt tight from a day at my desk—staring at a computer screen—but with each cat and cow, twist, and child’s pose, I could feel every limb, muscle, and ligament gently loosen. Fern came around and provided adjustments, when needed, and by the end of the class, I felt like a whole new person and soul.

What I love about Fern’s teaching is that I am always able to leave whatever bothered me or no longer serves me on my mat. I can walk in with the weight of the world on my shoulders, and leave a lighter being.

When the class wrapped up, I took one last view from the terrace, said my goodbyes to Fern, and stocked up on my favorite Ajai Grace essential oil, which Fern makes with 100 percent pure certified organic and wildcrafted therapeutic products. I have been using Fern’s oils for years now, and Grace is my favorite scent to apply daily.

Before I left The Assemblage, I had to try one of their elixirs, which sounded too good to pass up. My lack of sleep coupled with the long day, was starting to catch up with me—so when the Equilibrium Elixir was suggested, I felt like it had my name all over it. The elixir was considered a balancing adaptogen (an adaptogen is a natural substance that can help restore and protect the body—think ginseng!) and contained tulsi, schizandra berry, strawberry, ashwagandha, suma, astragalus, and bacopa. If you haven’t heard of half of these herbs (or are struggling to pronounce them), no worries.

I was pleasantly surprised by how delicious and refreshing this elixir was. If only The Assemblage was a little closer to home, I would be drinking one of these every single day. I’m not sure that I felt any different afterward, but hopefully my body enjoyed the influx of healing herbs.

As I made my way home, I felt incredibly fortunate to practice with Fern and to be able to enjoy such a serene setting. Despite being in the city, practicing yoga on the terrace made me feel like I was floating high above the city dwellers and sharing my space only with the others in the class. It’s amazing how a change of scenery can alter your entire perception of your surroundings.

Thank you, Fern, for a beautiful yoga practice and to The Assemblage for inviting us into your oasis!

Two quick things to note: First, I will be at LOFT on Main Street in Huntington, New York to host a New + Now in-store shopping event with exclusive discounts on Saturday, June 16th from 12-4 pm. I would love to meet you, if you’re on Long Island and can attend! And, second, I am over on Jessica Cording Nutrition with a guest post on the comparison game. Head over to her site to read the five tips that have helped me beat the game as a blogger.