Imagine a serene beach setting where the gentle sound of waves harmonizes with your breath, the sun’s warm embrace rejuvenates your spirit, and every yoga pose and grain of sand beneath your toes connects you deeper with nature. This is exactly what we experienced at my “The Retreat into Wellness” beach yoga event with Serenity Tree Yoga at the scenic Tides Folly Beach.

I have dreaming up this event for years since my last beach yoga event with Melora of Serenity Tree in 2018. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and Memorial Day falls in May so it was an obvious choice to partner up with Warrior Surf Foundation. They are a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the mental and physical well-being of Veterans, active duty service members, and their families through the therapeutic benefits of surfing and yoga. Founded by Veterans for Veterans, the foundation offers surf therapy, wellness coaching, and community support, helping participants to heal, grow, and thrive.

I partnered up with Martini & Rossi , Grey Goose, and Patron to provide cool refreshing drinks for our guests. The welcome drinks were mocktails by Martini & Rossi which included their Vibrante Spritz, a blend of natural botanicals and vibrant flavors, and a sparkling Martini & Rossi Floreale, perfect for toasting to a day of wellness.

Thank you to Lululemon for dressing me in this summery set. Whether I’m doing or yoga or high intensity workouts, their clothing provides the perfect amount of stretch and comfort while looking stylish. You can shop my look here. I also love my new Flex-n-Fly convertible belt bag. I needed a hands free option so I could carry my drinks and food.

Rheos Gear, a local sunglass brand, spoiled us with a sunglass bar where guests got to try on and keep their stylish frames. Crafted to float on water and provide superior sun protection, Rheos sunglasses are the perfect accessory for a beachside yoga retreat.

Rheos Gear makes it easy to protect your eyes with premium polarized lenses that offer 100% UV protection. We all enjoyed the sunny yoga session without straining our eyes or compromising on style.

Music has the incredible power to enhance our moods, elevate our spirits, and deepen our mindfulness practices. At this year’s Retreat into Wellness event, my friend Greg Thompson aka DJ Nor Way brought his unique blend of energizing and soothing beats to create an immersive soundscape that complemented the natural beauty of our beachside setting. Greg has an effortless ability to seamlessly blend different genres and create unique soundscapes that resonate with diverse audiences. His passion for music and mindfulness made him the perfect addition to our wellness retreat. Whether he’s spinning hip hop, deep house, chillout, or soulful beats, Greg’s mixes are always designed to elevate the experience and connect people to the present moment.

I’ve known Melora Morgan the founder of Serenity Tree Yoga for almost 2 decades. I took classes when I was pregnant with both of my boys and love the calming, centeredness it brings me. Serenity Tree Yoga is renowned for its inclusive and transformative approach to yoga. Their mission is to create a supportive and nurturing environment where individuals can explore the benefits of yoga, mindfulness, and holistic health. With a team of experienced and passionate instructors, Serenity Tree Yoga is dedicated to helping people connect with their inner peace and enhance their overall well-being. Whether you are a seasoned yogi or new to the practice, Serenity Tree Yoga ensures that everyone feels comfortable and supported. The sessions are designed to accommodate all levels, allowing each participant to move at their own pace and enjoy the benefits of yoga.

The gentle warmth of the late afternoon sun, breathing in the fresh ocean air, and letting the sound of the waves guide us through a series of rejuvenating poses awakened our body and mind. In addition to physical postures, Serenity Tree Yoga incorporates mindfulness and meditation practices into their sessions. These techniques help cultivate a deeper sense of awareness, reduce stress, and promote mental clarity. Ending the day with a magical sunset yoga session was the perfect time to release any tension, set intentions, and connect with the serene energy of the beach.

Melora always ends her sessions with a cool lavender towel that she places over everyone’s eyes. This simple ritual deepens the shavasana state of mind and releases you into full relaxation mode.

My dear friend Edie Allen is a celebrated life coach and manifestation expert known for her empowering and insightful approach to personal development. With years of experience in guiding individuals to achieve their goals and transform their lives, Edie combines practical techniques with deep spiritual wisdom. Her engaging and supportive style has helped countless people unlock their potential and manifest their dreams including me!

Edie had us pair up with a manifestation buddy and we shared all of the things that we were grateful for in the future. Manifestation is more than just wishful thinking; it’s about aligning your thoughts, feelings, and actions with your goals. By consciously directing your focus and energy, you can attract the people, opportunities, and experiences that resonate with your desired outcomes. Edie Allen’s expertise provided everyone with the tools and insights to make manifestation a practical and transformative part of our lives.

As part of my commitment to creating a holistic and enriching experience, every guest received a thoughtfully curated goodie bag filled with luxurious items designed to enhance their well-being long after the event is over. I carefully selected these brands not only for their exceptional products but also for their alignment with my values of sustainability, quality, and holistic well-being.

Charleston based brand The Loomia provided their gorgeous Turkish towels for the guests to do beach yoga on and keep afterwards. The luxurious softness of their towels offer high absorbency and quick-drying properties are perfect for beach yoga sessions and beyond.

Hand-poured candles from Candlefish can transform any space into a sanctuary of calm. Infused with soothing scents, these candles are crafted to enhance your meditation practice or simply to create a relaxing ambiance at home.

Island Haus Co provided beautifully designed notebooks to capture thoughts, inspirations, and words of gratitude. Whether you’re journaling about your yoga experience, jotting down mindful reflections, or planning your next wellness retreat, these notebooks are the perfect companions for your creative expressions.

Margerite & Motte donated jewelry and reminded us about self love with thoughtful messaging on the packaging. The designer Laura Reed is a veteran who served as an officer in the Navy, so it was very important for me to incorporate her brand in the goodie bag. Each piece is designed with elegance and simplicity, adding a touch of sophistication to any look. These unique pieces serve as a reminder of our commitment to wellness and self-love.

All Good Body Care donated organic lip balm to keep our lips nourished and protected. Made with natural ingredients, this lip balm provides lasting hydration and a soothing effect, making it an essential item for your beach bag and daily self-care routine.

Good Molecules provided their Sheer Mineral Sunscreen with SPF 30 with Hyaluronic Acid. It’s also Reef-Safe and the lightweight, non-greasy formula provides effective sun protection while being gentle on the skin.

Blu Beach Bar and Grill at Tides Folly Beach is giving back to Warrior Surf Foundation with their signature Grey Goose cocktail from our event. From now until June 8, $1 from every Watermelon Breeze cocktail sold will be donated to Warrior Surf Foundation. The refreshing cocktail is made up of Grey Goose Essences Strawberry and Basil, coconut water, lime juice, agave nectar, watermelon puree and muddled jalapeno. 

Blu Beach Bar and Grill provided fresh and healthy eats for the guests which included a grilled veggie platter, cheese & fruit platter, grouper sliders, pickled shrimp sliders and many more delicious bites.

It’s always important for me to introduce the people who make these events happen. It takes a village and everyone’s creative role is vital to making it a success. I’m incredibly grateful that I get to work with extremely talented individuals who help bring a collective vision to life. Thank you to Casey Liston of Bacardi who has been very supportive of each of our events. I’m thankful that we get to plan so many fun activations throughout the year.

Sydney Ferrera is the Marketing Director of Rheos Gear and a true ambassador of outdoor living. Rheos is not just a sunglass line, it’s a lifestyle that promotes getting in the water and immersing yourself in nature.

Madison Garrett of J PR, the PR company that supports Avocet Hospitality, worked tirelessly to make Retreat into Wellness a successful event. I couldn’t have done this without her support and the Tides team. They were so easy to work with and so gracious.

We had the incredible honor of having veteran Cody of Warrior Surf Foundation share his story. The program helped him out of a very dark place in his life and now he is a shining example of what surf therapy and a supportive community can do for veterans.

Hezzie Green is an incredibly talented videographer that I’ve had the pleasure of working with on various commercial productions. He is still in active duty in the Army and recently came back from serving a tour in Africa for 10 months. He filmed and edited the beautiful video below that really captured the essence of the event. Big props also to our photographers and veterans Nicole and Deno Mickle of N.Mickle Photography who shot these striking photos. They were both photographers serving in the Air Force and now shoot editorial style weddings, and commercial shoots. The selflessness of these veterans are beyond commendable. This Memorial Day I will be more mindful and intentional about acknowledging the service men and women who’ve sacrificed so much to protect our freedom.

One of the most beautiful aspects of what I do with my events is the opportunity to bring people together. It’s about using my platform to build awareness and foster community because I am incredibly lucky to live in a city where we value connection and support. Purpose driven events are my speciality because at the core we all want to feel valued, included, and give back authentically.