Two phenomenal events, brought to you by Lonewolf District (Blaire).
Yoga Brunch
On Sunday, July 31st, 2022, a large group of Maryland medical patients met at the Overhills Mansion in Catonsville for a morning of yoga, reiki, and brunch. When we arrived, we were greeted by Blaire and Devin. I was actually one of the first few people to sign up for the event, so I was given a free Feel Collection yoga mat! The food and venue were sponsored by Maryland Cannabis Physicians and the yoga session was sponsored by Rythm! This was scheduled from 10AM-1PM.
In the main room, there were a few tables set up before the area where the yoga would take place. Margi from Cloudy Views and Ashley from Natural Selection Wellness had tables so they could share their gifts with us. The main yoga space filled up quickly. It is so cool to watch back the time lapse that Cierra from Maryland Cannabis Physicians took and see the flow that we got into, all thanks to Melanie at Maryland Medicinal Yoga.
Before and after the flow, we were able to medicate in a designated space. This greatly increased all of the vibes as you could see everyone begin to relax and let go of any stress or negative energy. The group reiki session aided in this as well, having a moment to listen to our minds and bodies with no distractions, other than a big reminder that “we are family”.
Check out the photos and videos below if you’re curious!
All photos by Diarra Roberts
New Moon Mini Retreat
On Saturday, August 27th, 2022, an intimate group of Maryland medical patients met at Nourishing Journey in Columbia, MD for a night of “restorative yoga flow, group Reiki, guided meditation, sound therapy, an intention setting ceremony, a collective Tarot reading, and a cute lil plant to take home!” The event took place from 6pm-10pm. I will post a photo of the flyer below – Lonewolf District is an incredibly creative and inspiring soul that put this all together, with the help of the sponsor, Maryland Cannabis Physicians.
It was so lovely to be around such kind and relatable human beings. When we arrived, we were happily greeted by Blaire and Devin, who then introduced us to the space at Nourishing Journey. As soon as I walked through the door, I knew this place would bring me peace. We walked down a long hallway that led to an open room, where yoga mats had started to form a circle. The lights were dim as we set up our mats and headed to the café.
I did not realize at the time, but Nourishing Journey has a lot of options including keto and allergen-friendly smoothies, sandwiches, coffee, bowls, toasts, bagels, and more. I honestly can’t wait to go back to try one of the “Bliss Bowls”. I liked the cooler options which included quick pre-made lunch boxes. I grabbed an egg salad box that came with cucumbers and tomatoes, as well as a blended coffee with chocolate. I loved all of it and the staff were so nice, helpful and involved in the festivities of the night!
After a day at work, it was nice to be able to come to a place with friendly faces, good intentions, and no judgement. Being able to consume my medicine in a designated space was a big part of the power I began to feel from this evening. I loved seeing friends from previous events and meeting new people that I have seen in passing. It was incredible to go from strangers to friendly comfortableness and vulnerability with these humans. We were able to hang out, eat and drink from the café, and get some body alignment done by Mack.
After snacking and medicating, we moved into the yoga space. Melanie from Maryland Medicinal Yoga led us through a low key, refreshing yoga session. For someone that is actively battling an ovarian cyst and a kidney stone, I greatly appreciated the reminder to listen to our bodies and modify where needed. The yoga session was exactly what I needed to stretch my body without pushing it past its breaking point. Following the yoga session, Blaire and Devin transitioned us into a group Reiki and sound therapy session, which is exactly what I needed for my soul. Within the peace, I was able to find clarity and direction.
The final part of the evening was an intention setting ceremony under the moon. We chose an intention, planted it in soil, and watered our intentions next to a waterfall. We got to take these plants home with us as a reminder to speak our intentions daily. We could choose to go as simple or as deep as we wanted to go with this. I chose “I am going to prioritize my mental and physical well-being.” This is something I struggle with on a daily basis and know I deserve more for myself. We shared our intentions with the group, watered our plants, and headed back inside for a group Tarot reading. Blaire is a phenomenal person to get a reading from because she is honest, focused, and knows how to encourage and uplift you through these readings. She never fails to make everyone around her feel like a badass, just like her.
Both of these events really sparked my interest for getting into a routine of daily meditation and gratitude work. It is my goal to start identifying at least three things a day I am grateful for, as well as start meditating for at least 5 minutes a day. My mind felt more clear than it has been in a while, being someone who struggles with daily migraines and chronic pain.
I want to give another big shoutout to Blaire for everything she does. These events bring the community together in such a beautiful way. I am blessed and grateful to have met her and to experience everything she brings to life. I am constantly in awe at her power, grace, and dedication. Shoutout to Devin for being a big part in all of this as well. Thank you for speaking your heart and encouraging us all to do the same. You guys both made this and the previous events I absolutely did not want to leave! I cannot wait until the next one.
If you went to the New Moon Mini Retreat, how is your plant doing? Let me know how you enjoyed the evening and what your favorite part was. If you were not able to attend, would you consider going to the next one? What are some types of events that you would like to see presented to the community?
As always, thank you for reading! Check out @joscannaco on Instagram for pictures and videos from all events, as soon as they happen! There is also a podcast version of this blog “Jo’s Medical Journey” – find me on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Wisdom and anywhere else you may listen to your pods. Can’t find me? Let me know what other platforms I need to get on!
Bluntly Bookish in Baltimore 