Meet Maggie Merkiel & Whitney Andrews | Yoga Instructors & Retreat Hosts

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maggie Merkiel & Whitney Andrews and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maggie & Whitney, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
We both became interested in yoga because of how it helped us heal in different ways. To us it’s more than a physical practice and that is what inspired us to to share it with others. Mental health awareness is on the rise and we’re all beginning to learn the importance of “unplugging” from our devices and distractions in the same regard. Our retreats hold space for our guests to do just that. They’re able to not only escape their busy lives for a few days but also to really disconnect in nature. We set out with the intention of sharing this practice and reminding people of the connection they’ve had with nature all along.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Yoga Elements offers retreats that connect you back with nature. We encourage guests to get out of their comfort zones and join us on an adventure. We offer many varieties of yoga, meditation, excursion add-ons, and most importantly, connection. We pride ourselves on keeping our retreats small so that bonds can be created and trust can be built.

We’re most proud of our reach out into the world and the gift we’ve been given that brings people from different places and different backgrounds together as one. There’s so much light that can be created when we recognize that we’re all just seeking love and acceptance.

Our business has gotten to where it is through our passion to serve others and be one with nature. We’ve definitely crossed some hurdles but it’s a lot less of a blow when your best friend is next to you to get through things. We’ve both been blessed with one another to help laugh off the fails- like forgetting supplies two hours away. But at the end of the day our vision to help is stronger than the moments of frustration. We try not to “sweat the small stuff” and keep our vision pointed towards how we can improve next time.

Every retreat or event that we have created has provided us with a whole new set of lessons, some bigger than others. The first lesson we learnt was to trust in ourselves and our abilities and realize that we have what it takes to start a successful yoga retreat company. We learnt the importance of making lists and documenting. There is so much that goes into planning and pulling off a successful retreat and without writing things down, we are bound to forget something. As close friends, we had to learn when to shift from ‘giddy schoolgirls’ to business partners and how to communicate clearly and effectively with each-other. We have also learnt the value of “working smarter, not harder”, as there is a lot of physical work that goes into what we do, finding ways to save time and work efficiently has definitely had a huge impact on our success.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
One of our favorite things to do is explore. If we are not running a retreat or teaching a yoga class, we are probably exploring some of what the Florida outdoors has to offer and finding our next retreat location. The possibilities are endless!

It gives us so much joy to introduce people to new experiences or offer them a new perspective on something they have done a hundred times. Whether it is visiting the crystal clear waters of one of the natural fresh water springs, going on a helicopter ride, taking a horseback trail ride through the woods, or practicing paddle board yoga on the beach, holding space for others to step out of their comfort zone and embrace the beautiful outdoors fills us up as much it does our guests.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
We received our Yoga teacher training from Gillian Taylor, owner of One Love Yoga Studio in Flagler Beach, and we are so grateful for the high level of wisdom and understanding that she shared with us which allowed us to gain the confidence in ourselves to embark on this business journey. We also are blessed with a wonderful support group of friends who we call our “Yoga Fam”, they have offered us encouragement and love along the way. Lastly, we would not be where we are today if it weren’t for our husbands. Each of whom has allowed us the space and time to explore the possibilities of our business while also offering us love and support along the way.

Website: https://www.yogaelementsretreats.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yogaelementsretreats/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YogaElementsRetreats/

Image Credits
Jordan Yost