Dayton Wellness Collective

“I was thinking about sage and its effect on sore throats and snotty noses (midwest mom of three here). I was visualizing its healing properties nourishing my family, a ritual I learned from my Mother (who’s favorite love language is undoubtedly cooking). And reflected on how deeply the yearning to learn more about plants, their medicine, and their spirit has switched on in me. Realizing that there could be a much more soulful connection to what I cook or ingest beyond a list of flavors or ingredients. That bringing my awareness to this connection could transform herbs from items I buy at my local grocer to extraordinary gifts bestowed from Mother Earth.

The Gaia theory postulates that the Earth is its own conscious living organism, one who provides a purposefully optimal environment for its biological inhabitants. I wondered if my ancestors knew this to be true, just like how they knew the sun would rise in the morning. That the land, sky, and water had a form of consciousness that communicated in subtle ways if we knew how to listen. Perhaps that is why they celebrated the change of the seasons together, marking cycles with gratitude to their planet. The land was not a place to pillage and poison, but rather a generous spirit to receive from and give back to.

But, pillaging, poisoning, and profiting slowly spread and became normalized. And although we are indeed part of this beautiful intricate organism, over time we have been systematically severed from her, and her many gifts.”

{excerpt from the latest blog post: The Herbalism Approach to a deeper Eartheral Connection}



Join us for our next workshop featuring materia medicas, herbalism, and herbal gardening this Saturday March 21st 11a-130p!!

If an has been something you’ve been wanting to create but you’re not quite sure where to start (or if you’ve started and you’re ready to expand) we have a PERFECT afternoon planned for you 💚

Join us on the Equinox 11a-1:30p for our Spring Workshop: The Healing Garden with special guests

Lauren with
&
Christine with

☕️ circle up with tea
🪴 explore the herbal properties of 6 common Midwest herbs
🪏 learn how to grow them (from a certified professional )
📖 Start your first with a woodburning
art from
🥣 Enjoy some homemade vibrant Spring soup while chatting about garden plans with other plant loving folx

$45 (two scholarships available)

11 tickets remaining- sign ups in bio!
We hope you see you there!! 💚💚

The steam rose from my mug in wispy swirls, an enchanting dance of water, fire, & air. I studied it longer than normal– an impromptu meditation that put me in a welcomed trance. Slowly, scents of clove and cinnamon filled my dining room as candle flames flickered and popped. The morning sky bounced orange light through my window and streamed through the spiraling smoke still rising from a match stick. I sat back and took in the view, one that has undoubtedly graced generations of humankind. How long, I mused, have people sat in a room, gazing at a sunrise, with a hot cup of tea? And why does this process feel so deeply fulfilling and grounding compared to other parts of my day?

When thinking about a grounding practice such as preparing an herbal infusion, there are three lenses we can apply to our approach so as to deepen our experience (we are all fairly short on time, may as well use the most of it). The lens of mindfulness allows us to focus and be fully mentally present. The lens of ritual can assign meaning and purpose to an otherwise mundane task. And the lens of connecting to our ancestral heritage naturally brings us back to the Earth and her cycles (as that is how humans have lived for millions of years). And if one practice could encompass all three? If it could be mindful, ritualized, and rooted? That’s a jackpot, babe.

(Continued in recent blog article in b!0)

Herbal Infusion (tea) Workshop featuring Thursday Feb 26th 6p-8p
We would LOVE for you to join us for this lovely cozy herbal evening! ☕️ 🫶🏻

More and more folx seem to be drawn to our lunar Momma, tracking her cycles, & resonating with her rhythms. Approaching time as a cyclical experience rather than a linear march feels authentic, just as studying our past can not just inform but *positively impact* our future

(As within, so without)

If moons are your vibe (and an evening of yoga and tarot and sound baths and cozy drinks and community sounds like a really wonderful way to recharge) we would love to have you!

✨Moon Swoon Friday the 13th @6:30p✨ with our fav yoga instructor special guests providing a sound bath before and tarot chats after a lovely gentle yoga flow

Proceeds going to

Details in bi0!

I was contemplating my recent conversation with Charles (a somatic therapy coach) while walking my dog a few days ago. We were discussing Somatic transformation, something that has recently caught my attention. The idea being - we (as a society) are overwhelmingly in our mindspace which has, over time, disconnected us from our bodies. This disconnect can be felt in a myriad of ways; physically, mentally, and emotionally. But through somatic awareness and somatic practice, we can start to unpack years, decades, or even generations of stuck energy from our body and body tissues. And through this unpacking, we can experience an energetic release followed by a transformation into a more aligned version of ourselves (I mean, having just experienced the absolute chaos of 2025, this all sounds rather enticing, no?)

“How do you recommend starting a somatic journey?” I asked, excited to get the opinion from someone who has dedicated so much time and energy into this field. The answer seemed surprisingly straightforward; just notice (and therefore be present in) your body.

At first, I must admit, it seemed a little too simple. All I have to do is notice sensations in my body? That’s all? But soon I realized that, although it was a relatively easy practice, it definitely felt novel. I’m constantly immersed in work, thinking about the future, planning the next thing, showing up for my loved ones, making lists, meeting deadlines, problem solving, disassociating via screens…I don’t give much thought to my body as my attention is always elsewhere. Taking the time and space to delve into the present moment and sit with my body- to notice sensations or decipher how my body feels when I’m experiencing an emotion for example- that actually didn’t feel simple at all. That felt like I was standing at the precipice of foggy terrain.

Interesting.

(((Read the rest in the latest blog post)))

The last week of the calendar year has found me in a reflective state of mind (and inspired me to reminisce on how the DWC began 🫶🏻) For those of you who are interested in our origin story, below is an excerpt from the most recent blog post: The Story of Us

>>A lot of beautiful things happen at brunches. The magical feeling of reconnecting with friends. Savory crispy potatoes paired with bright citrus tinged bubbles. And for us, one lovely October Saturday afternoon, the first spark of an idea that eventually became the Dayton Wellness Collective.

It was Fall of 2023 and we were packed into an oversized booth chatting, cackling, and reveling in each other’s company. After everyone’s updates, the conversation drifted to a more existential question (as it tends to do in our circle of friends) : What do we think is our soul’s purpose here on Earth? It was a deeply reflective question, and the energy of the table shifted to a sacred safe space. Ashley shared that her deep love for Ayurveda felt like her calling; to be able to pass along the wealth of knowledge that she’s accumulated over the years. Emily reflected on how her life-changing yoga retreat in Peru had inspired her to host workshops abroad - lighting the fire of passion and curiosity in others that would transcend them into a higher version of themselves. I had mentioned my dream of creating several wellness centers- starting local and then eventually branching out (my last 20 years as a hospital RN illuminated how desperately that is needed here and beyond) The rest of the group shared their aspirations to a circle of excited, encouraging faces and then we concluded with a toast to the manifestation of these beautiful dreams. But as the conversation moved on, my thoughts lingered. I sipped the rest of my bubbles as my mind started turning. What if the three of us teamed up to lay the groundwork required to bring these dreams into reality? And if not now, when?

Love gifting around this time of year but late stage capitalism gives you the ick? Join us for a cozy crafternoon (with a sprinkle of activism) where you can learn a craft that you can make for your friends and loved ones this year!

Your choice of one of our 45 min Workshop Offerings:

🧵Try your hand at with and make some adorably UNHINGED (in the best possible way) messages for your favorite activists

🌻Learn from how to turn grandmamas old handkerchief into a botanical masterpiece as she explains the beautiful process of with plants/flowers

🌿 Discover the ancient tradition of the with the as they explain different herbs and combinations to use (as well as the energetics behind them)

Afterwards mix and mingle with these fabulous artisans while sipping on some cozy beverages & browsing their small pop up shops

And because we LOVE community activism (and being the change we hope to see in the world) meet and chat with some of the DWC’s sheros ( / / ) to learn how you can roll up your sleeves and help your community!

$15 workshop + cozy beverage

Sign ups in bio (or comment below for link)
Limit to 30 attendees (14 tickets remaining as of right now)
Hope to see you there!!!!

Every project starts with a vision. Every vision needs space to expand, contract, and morph before it takes root. And every root needs the warmth & light of consciousness while being watered with love (& perhaps some morning coffee / evening bourbon)

The DWC has been such a beautiful transformative project. And I love how it’s growth has transpired at local Daytonian gems

What is your relationship with your aging body? Are you flowing with age or do you feel nostalgic for the yesteryears? Society has told us that beauty belongs to youth and capitalism has convinced us to spend 14.05 BILLION dollars in America in 2024 on anti aging products

If you feel ready to stop fighting the aging process and instead embrace it, we have a lovely 2 hour workshop for you! Sat Oct 25 1230-230p

Start the day with gentle Pilates and learn how to move your body in ways that feel nourishing and revitalizing. Then listen to Neuro-health coach Kate talk about mindset shifts and pattern recognition to transition from stuck to f.l.o.w.i.n.g

This is a diversion based event with proceeds going to the Artemis center

Registration required (in bi0 🔗) We’d love to have you!

Hey it’s that time of year again! We have a free more weeks of lovely weather before we need to start thinking of how to prep our garden beds this autumn/winter to set us up for happy soil next spring

Join us Saturday Sept 20 to listen to expert share tips on how to put your garden to sleep with plenty of time for questions! (We’ll also chat about fermentation and herbal infusions while sipping on some autumnal soups)

A perfect way to kick off autumn! 🍂 Details in bio!

I recently had the HONOR of doing some branding photography with , expert and purveyor of all things joyful. I arrived at her 1 acre homestead having just seen a rainbow appear out of the humid August mist, seemingly pouring whimsical colors right above her home (I raced out of the car to capture this magic, but alas it had dissipated by then) She walked around her wonderland as I followed behind, completely captivated by this otherworldly space, wrapped in the privacy of the cultivated flora. As we were talking, she mentioned a neighborhood homesteading project she is piloting in the district. The more I learned about this project, the more enticed I became. Bringing neighbors together for a thoughtful collective project where each household contributed an element to the overall goal is exactly the energy we need right now. And so I followed her to her preliminary meeting 1 week later.

Neighbors gathered on the back porch of a gorgeously old house, some meeting each other for the first time, energetically introducing themselves as well as what they are hoping to contribute. Some had signed up for composting, others for growing. A couple families were interested in chickens, while others were hoping to help out with logistics. Children played in the backyard together as their parents listened attentively to the project outline - eager to do their part to not only grow and share food, but also grow and share in community. It was beautifully touching and I left the meeting feeling so….heartened

If you think that your neighborhood could benefit from this upleveling of community and partnership - PLEASE reach out to this darling lady. She is making such inspiring waves in our little Dayton, OH

And if you want to join us for our Autumn Workshop HARVEST TABLE and listen to Lauren outline steps to put your garden to sleep (permaculture style) and how to ferment your harvested veggies, come join us Saturday Sept 20 10-1230! More info in bio!