Though dark and rainy, downtown Essex was bright with energized yogis on October 22. This was the day of the third annual Up North Yoga Conference, organized by Lake Champlain Yoga & Wellness. Studio owner, Michelle Maron, worked to assemble a wide-ranging schedule of sessions taught by passionate and skilled instructors from across the region, and beyond. Over 70 Yogi’s traveled from up and down state, Vermont, Massachusetts and New Hampshire!

Held in the airy conference space at the College for Every Student, the line-up included Julie Bell of Lake Placid, Justin Wolfer of Saratoga, Nixa DeBellis and Michael Fergot of New York City and Melissa Light and Kim LeClaire of Plattsburgh. Topics ranged from a morning Sun Salutation-inspired Yoga practice to breath work, alignment detail, aromatherapy, advanced focus, and restorative. A nourishing lunch created around local ingredients was provided by the Essex Inn.

This was the first year that the post-lunch session included a choice of two classes offered in different locations, an option that Maron is excited to build upon for future conferences. Growth in this event was also evident in how quickly spaces filled, causing attendance to be at capacity weeks beforehand. Maron and fellow LCY&W instructors Susan Cerny, Karin DeMuro, Michael Fergot, Robin Gucker, and Kate Ritter see this gathering as beneficial not only to the immediate area, but also to the North Country on a larger scale as people of all levels and backgrounds embrace the wellness and community-building aspects of yoga.

An enormous thank you goes to all UNYC attendees, presenters, the entire Adirondack and Champlain Valley communities, our sponsors especially College For Every Student, The Essex Inn, PrAna, Erin C. Hall Studio, Hall Design Group & Champlain Area Trails. And, a very special thank you to Ken Hughes.

With only a short time of recuperation, the studio’s focus now shifts to hosting Ashaya Yoga founder, Todd Norian, for Yoga Wellness Weekend 2017 during March 25 through 26. For details on this and the wonderful variety of weekly yoga classes at the LCY&W studio, visit www.lakechamplainyogaandwellness.com.

Written by Kate Ritter, LCY&W