Yoga unites the mind, body, and soul in a way that eases tension, reduces inflammation, and promotes health and well-being. Regular practice will help you reach, improve and perfect poses, correct posture and positioning, and improve your breathing and outlook on life.
Sweetwater Studios offers a variety of wellness options for everyone. Whether it's some form of exercise, or a class designed to ease anxiety or depression, or an opportunity to learn about natural ways of taking care of your health, we want to help you lean into the light and live the life you deserve.
Sweetwater Studios is nestled in the gently rolling hills of the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. Surrounded by the natural world, we offer a place of peace and tranquility. As landowners participating in Kingdom Trails, the studio is just a stone's throw from the White School trail and boasts an incredible view of Burke Mountain. We have been raising bees for about 8 years and continue to grow each year. Join us and experience the world in a way that is intended to refresh and restore.
Yoga is a complicated practice with so many valued components ~ the physical practice ~ meditation ~ pranayama ~ mindfulness ~ right living to mention a few. Part of taking care of the body we inhabit is by using all natural ingredients in the products we use on and around the body, as well as in what we consume.
Martha Tack is back and is offering a weekly class with a variety of simple meditation styles, in the Buddhist traditions, focusing on breathing, healing, opening the heart, and developing patience and compassion beginning with ourselves. All levels and abilities welcome.
Classes will be held on Saturdays from 9 - 10:15 AM
from October 7 through Spring 2024
Register HERE
Needle Felting is a fun and relaxing pastime with amazing rewards. You can create anything you want - the only limits are your imagination.
If you would like to learn this fiber arts craft, join me to create your own Needle Felted SNOW PERSON!
Whether your totally new to needle felting or have been at it for some time, you will fit in and enjoy creating your own little snowman to decorate your home or tree or to gift to a friend.
Saturday, December 9, 2023
10:30 AM - 1:00 PM
$30 per person
Register at www.vagaro.com/sweetwatertudios
Join Michelle for an opportunity to reflect, manifest and move!
The Visioning Workshop provides a chance for you to reflect and set intentions for the new year.
What are the visions that you would like to manifest in this coming new year?
What would you like to do more of or try new?
We will enjoy a yoga segment to start off the workshop with grounding, and empowering energy.
We then will take a bit of time to reflect on the previous year, and then begin the practice of illuminating clarity surrounding what it is that we desire.
The most powerful keys to manifesting anything in your life are to be clear about what you want, then write, envision or speak out loud your desires, and believe in the reality of the manifestation of your heart’s desires.
In support of inspired creativity, to ignite the energy of manifestation, we will then expand into the practice of Vision Boarding.
I will provide the basic supplies for this project, however, I do ask that you bring in anything that you believe you would like to include on your board; from stickers, objects that can be glued, magazines you like and wouldn’t mind cutting clippings from; quotes or images otherwise that you’d like to add.
Please dress comfortably, and bring a water bottle, snacks, etc.
There are mats in the studio, but if you wish to use your own, please bring it along.
The Visioning Workshop will be held at Sweetwater Studios on Sunday, January 14th, 1-4pm.
PLEASE SIGN-UP by Friday, January 12th to allow for proper preparation of supplies.
Feel free to contact Michelle at mberrytbh@gmail.com with any questions that you may have.
$60 investment per person
Register at www.vagaro.com/sweetwaterstudios
Did you know that Sweetwater Studios has funds available to assist with the cost of wellness classes?
It's true ~ donations from Chair Yoga and other "by donation" classes (or from donations of kind members of the community) is put aside to help those who are interested in taking classes at the studio, but find the cost is more than they can manage.
To access funds simply send Karen an email at 135.sweetwater@gmail.com explaining what classes you are interested in taking!
Karen has been a practitioner of yoga for many years, and in 2016 decided to go for her 200-hour certification through Heart Space Yoga under the guidance of Andrea Thibodeau. She then began teaching classes in her community regularly. In 2017 she traveled to Barcelona to become a certified Trapeze Yoga teacher through Yogabody. In 2020 she became a certified yoga coach. In 2021 Karen became a certified Aromatherapist and in 2022 earned her 300 RYT through the Kaivalya Yoga Method. She has taught classes in gentle yoga, chair yoga, all levels yoga, trapeze yoga, gravity coaching, and restorative yoga. She also teaches mindfulness classes and offers aromatherapy consultations. Her dream of owning her own studio became a reality when she opened Sweetwater Studios in East Burke in the fall of 2022.
A yogi since childhood, Madeleine began the formal study of yoga in 1999 and began teaching in 2004.
Madeleine has been engaged in the healing dimensions of the spiritual world from a young age, attending large outdoor mediation retreats as a child and participating in a solo wilderness vision quest at age 17.
Madeleine’s primary teacher is Shiva Rae, founder of Prana Vinyasa Yoga.
Prana Vinyasa Yoga draws on the wisdom of the Shakti (feminine) lineages that focus on the subtle body and energetic alignment. Prana Vinyasa classes are themed with the elements of nature and offer the full spectrum of yogic arts, engaging your body, breath, heart and mind.
Madeleine is also a Rostered Psychotherapist in the State of Vermont and Registered with the Yoga Alliance as E-RYT 200 (teaching 1000+ class hours) and RYT 500 after recently completing a 300 TT and Soulful Wellness Certification.
Classes may include Tantra-Hatha based mindful breathing, movement mediation, one-breath one-flow movement patterns, dance and kriya. Some workshops may also include journaling and life navigation or rituals to honor the seasonal transitions, such as the lunar cycle. Madeleine’s teaching empowers students to learn practices they can do at home to cultivate their own wellbeing.
Morgan first discovered her love for yoga and meditation through nature. Whether it was sitting on top of a mountain taking in the view or taking a walk on a cold winters morning, deep breathing and stretching seemed to come naturally. The two go hand in hand to achieve the ultimate mind-body connection. So when she began a mindfulness meditation group with Karen in 2020, she instantly fell in love with the peaceful art of yoga! After 3 years of practicing trapeze yoga on her own and taking Karen’s classes, she finally grasped the opportunity and became a certified trapeze instructor through Yogabody in January 2023. She is so excited to meet new people and teach the thrilling venture of trapeze yoga!
Sorrel is a firm believer that yoga is for everyone, no matter what their age, fitness level, flexibility, gender or background, and ensures that her classes are designed with this in mind. Yoga has always been a safe haven for Sorrel and this nurturing element is something that runs through each of her classes. Expect flowing sequences that offer the chance to reconnect with yourself, whilst enjoying some great music and a welcoming atmosphere.
An English woman based in Vermont, she completed her initial 250 hour teacher training in 2017 under Keren Cooksey of Falmouth Yoga Space in the UK, but is on a continuous journey to learn more about the practice of yoga and the many ways of teaching it.
Michelle found her way to the practice of yoga during her college years, when she discovered how supportive the physical practice was to her passion for riding horses. Her connection to the practice quickly grew as she discovered the array of ways that it supported her being transcended far beyond the physical, and led to a more wholesome, empowered manner of showing up in the world.
After a number of years of practice under the guidance of an Ashtanga instructor, Michelle attended her first 200 hr teacher training in Ashtanga Yoga through Yoga Vermont in 2015.
For Michelle, yoga isn’t only found when you show up on your mat. It is a way of being in the world that enriches your experience, encourages you to grow, connect to yourself more deeply, live present, have increased awareness of your surroundings and develop a deeper connection with others and the natural world.
In a pursuit to delve deeper into her own authenticity and creativity, in 2023 Michelle enrolled in “Authentic Movements” 200hr yoga teacher training in Hatha Vinyasa; a training that invites creative expression and freedom of movement to bring enrichment to life and the practice.
Michelle’s passions extend beyond yoga with a delight for being in nature whether that means being with or riding her horses, hiking mountains, swimming in rivers and lakes, or sitting and enjoying a sunset.
She is the dedicated and compassionate manager of the “Mountain View Farm Animal Sanctuary” for over 10 years, representing and supporting the world of animal rescue.
She also holds a certification as an Equine Gestlatist in which her business, “Journey Within Equine Healing”, is motivated to guide individuals on their personal journey of healing and empowerment, with the powerful guidance of the horse as a co-active coaching partner.
Shelly Watts is a passionate individual who has recently embarked on a new journey to become a trapeze yoga instructor.
She is an experienced professional with a background in cosmetic sales spanning over 20 years. Throughout her career, she has developed strong communication skills, enabling her to effectively connect with others and create a fun and enjoyable atmosphere.
In June 2023, she became a certified trapeze yoga instructor through Yogabody, solidifying her expertise in this unique form of yoga. Shelly is also an outdoor enthusiast, enjoying activities like hiking and biking, which align with her healthy lifestyle.
Shelly's return to Vermont three years ago has been a fulfilling experience, particularly in the vibrant community of Burke. She has found a sense of belonging and camaraderie within the community and at Sweetwater Studios, where she feels inspired to grow and share her knowledge of trapeze yoga.
Nicole can't tell us how she felt about her first yoga experience but does recall sitting in the corner of her mom's class playing with toy horses for the entire hour. She grea up resistant to the idea of yoga (so she gets you, man!) and although she practiced growing up, she didn't catch the "yoga bug" until she left for college.
The Baptiste practices changed her right before her very eyes. She still finds it challenging to look back and recall that part of her adolescence before she began exploring her practice.
In 2019 she traveled to Thailand to participate in Baron's first training in Asia. It was there she became a certified level 1 Baptiste instructor. In 202 she took a second Baptiste Teacher course with Leandra at Lumi Power yoga in London. In the spring of 2022, she had the honor of studying under Brandon Sommers, who led her through an inspirational 200-hour yoga teacher training.
Beginner Yoga is for people with no previous yoga experience or for experienced yogis who like to step back into the beginner's mindset from time to time.
Themed classes are designed to help you become familiar with all aspects of yoga practice, while building strength, flexibility, and balance.
Geared to the beginning practitioner, participants will be introduced to the principals of alignment. Working from a seated position or standing with the chair as a support, the class focuses on creating increased flexibility, balance and strength.
Yoga for men is designed for the unique needs of men, from targeted mobility training using passive stretching over time to help open the hips, hamstrings, and back (among other things.)
By holding specific poses for up to 5 minutes and relaxing to let gravity do the work, students can affect change and feel lasting benefits.
Prana Vinyasa Yoga guides participants into one breath, one movement yoga patterns of flow, with a focus on Movement Meditation. In this class, you will get your body moving, your breath flowing and learn ways to calm the mind. This is designed to be accessible to multiple levels of fitness ability, with both foundational practices for strength as well as options to deepen the challenge, mental or physical. Prana Vinyasa Yoga is a practice that invites the cultivation of inner transformational space. Offerings include breath work to both upregulate and down regular the nervous system, sacred body training to deepen core activation, energetic alignment principles for optimal inner experience of body strength and softening, dance and free form movement. We will focus on cultivating a sense of courage, strength, peace, inner balance, and ultimately the ability to self generate positive feelings of love and connection.
After a long day at work or on the trails a Restorative Yoga class will allow your body to completely rest through simple movement, props for support, and guided meditations. The stillness of this peaceful class will allow you to regain a calm balance and soothe tired muscles.
Contact Sweetwater Studios to book this class.
Trapeze Yoga offers a unique way of building upper body and core strength. In addition, the trapeze allows for certain poses to be passive, so you can assume deeper backbends and stretching in a way that lets you hold poses safely and for longer periods of time. Inversion therapy is known to have significant benefits including instant traction on the spine, relief of back pain, increased range of motion and more. Take a swing on the trapeze!
A highly dynamic and energizing class, Vinyasa Flow focuses on moving and strengthening the whole body from the roots up. Each class incorporates asana (yoga poses) and pranayama (breath practice), and meditation in a sequence that will enhance your mind, your body, and will lift your mood. This class welcomes beginners as well as seasoned yogis.
This is an inspiring blend of Hatha and Vinyasa which invites you into a space of peace, creativity and honoring of the self. the class is designed to be accessible for multiple levels of experience and physical ability with options that support personal exploration and expansion in a number of ways. slow down and invite balance to your being with a delightful blend of breathwork, movement, guided meditation and theming that invites a sense of calm, stirs inspiration, and fuels empowerment.
Rise and Shine is a calm and rejuvenating hour of movement to ease you into the week ahead. This vinyasa class welcomes all bodies, all abilities and will leave you feeling refreshed and energized.
In this challenging world it can be difficult to stay calm and healthy. Whether your are experiencing anxiety or perhaps even physical symptoms from life's difficulties, maybe I can help.
Contact me to schedule a personal session and together we will review your wellness and happiness needs so that I can personalize a blend that is just right for you.
Using natural ingredients and essential oils that nature has blessed us with we can enhance your well-being and joy in life.
Our goal is to offer regular wellness workshops each month - mainly on Saturdays, but they may be scheduled on other days as well. To learn about upcoming workshops, watch below for detailed information.
If you have a group that would like to plan your own special event with us, our team is happy to work with you. Whether for a new family experience on the trapezes, a mellow class for the bridal party before your special day, or a relaxing restorative class after a group ride on the trails, let us know what you're looking for and we'll do our best to plan the perfect yoga retreat for you!
Sweetwater Studios is collaborating with community partners to offer opportunities for others to come together during open studio times throughout the week. These sessions are intended to assist you in your journey of well-being by giving you time to delve more deeply into your own beauty, compassion, healing, and transformation through a mindful practice.
Ben, Karen and Martha will be present to hold space for you, get you started, and facilitate a quiet space for each person’s own self-inquiry. Each 60-minute session will end with a brief talk.
There is no cost, though you are welcome to offer a donation if you feel you are able. Donations will be used to offer free or discounted classes at the studio to those in need.
Open Studio days and times:
Sundays 7-8:00 AM with Ben Tipton
In 2008, Ben began exploring the role of mind/body medicine, mindfulness and the neurobiology of change in helping people with lifestyle choices. He is a qualified teacher of MBSR through the UCSD Mindfulness-based Professional Training Institute and has been teaching MBSR since 2016. Ben was the founder/creator of the Mindfulness Program at Mid Coast Health Care in Brunswick, Maine.
Ben’s experiences have taught him that curiosity, attention, awareness, self-inquiry, compassion, and connection are the foundations of sustainable change and making healthy lifestyle choices (also helps with staying upright on a mountain bike).
Karen has been an avid yoga practitioner for many years and has earned her 200-hour and 300-hour RYS. She has been teaching yoga and mindfulness since 2016. Karen enjoys an ongoing practice of self-inquiry in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.
Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.
Since opening the studio in October 2022, it has been a whirlwind of excitement. I am humbled by the overwhelming response from the community and bow in gratitude to each and every person who has visited.
I am very much opened to feedback so if there is something you would like to share, or an offering you would like to see us support, please do not hesitate to reach out and let us know!
आनन्द अगद्यति
The Sweetwater bees have been very successful this year. Honey provides a number of essential health benefits including strengthening the immune system, relieving symptoms from allergies, nourishing the skin, wound healing, and so much more!
Reach out if you are interested in purchasing some.
We sell in one and two pound jars ~ $10 per pound!
Room or linen sprays, soaps, bath salts, sugar scrubs, diffuser blends, soothing body lotions and balms, solid or roll-on scents. . .
I've been mixing these and more using natural ingredients and essential oils.
I am available to work with you individually to determine what you need for a healthier more natural lifestyle.
If you're interested in learning more or would like to book a session with me to meet your unique needs, please reach out to me using the contact information at the bottom of the page.
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Sweetwater Studios was established in 2016 by Karen Zaun Kennedy. Karen was an educator for 35 years and had long dreamed of teaching yoga.
She received her 200 RYS certification in 2016 through Heart Space Yoga Studios, and in 2017 earned her 50 YACEP certification to teach Trapeze Yoga through YogaBody in Barcelona. In 2020 Karen became certified in Gravity Yoga through YogaBody. In 2021 Karen became a certified Aromatherapist and she recently received an additional 300-hour yoga certification in the Alaina Kaivalya Yoga Method.
Karen currently offers yoga and wellness classes in the beautiful Northeast Kingdom of Vermont in her recently built studio!
Feel free to contact us with any questions or inquiries, or to learn more about our class schedules.
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