community spotlight: June
June joined Ritual before it officially opened, summoning all the courage she could muster to attend a class the day after the grand opening.
After taking just ten classes, she submitted a Google review that included, “I am in my 70s, and I agree with their website that says yoga is for all peoples and all bodies and that all are welcome.”
One of the reasons June loves Ritual is because it welcomes all bodies and people. She feels less self-conscious when there are other beginners in class, and she appreciates having experienced yogis practicing near her.
“I enjoy the beauty of their practices, and I get hints about what it is that I am attempting,” she says.
When she first joined, June noted on her membership form that she wanted to improve her balance. Over time, she’s seen great progress. “My balance has definitely improved! I still wobble and often use my toes to keep from falling over, but it’s been months since I used the wall to stay upright.” She’s also noticed increased flexibility, but the biggest change has been in her mental focus. “Now I am often ‘just practicing yoga’ rather than thinking of the to-do list, the what-to-fear list, or how I’ve messed up in my life,” she shares.
Her favorite classes have also shifted. “I still enjoy power flow yoga—my first favorite—but now I prefer gentler, softer classes,” says June. She now enjoys the noon All-Level Flow classes, as well as Slow Flow & Restore offerings. “Leaving my first Slow Flow & Restore class, my thoughts were, ‘That was a little slice of heaven for my body and mind,’” she recalls.
June’s yoga journey has been more than physical—it has been an emotional support system, especially after the loss of her oldest son in April 2024. “Ritual—the instructors and students—provided a safe place to feel, and early in my grief, something other than pain to focus on,” she says. “I guarantee that it is impossible for me to attempt any balancing pose while thinking of anything other than my body and that spot on the floor.”
Now, almost a year later, Ritual remains a place of both physical and emotional healing. “Ritual is a safe community space for yoga, and for me, it is a safe place to grieve,” June shares.
In closing, June offers a heartfelt message to the community: “To all the teachers, to Tawney, and the Ritual yogis—you add goodness to my life.”
