In 2012, I peeked out from the edge of the top floor of a parking garage in Miami Beach and debated whether I should jump, and I knew it was time to make a big change in my life.
(Spoiler alert: I didn’t.)
At the time, I was in a toxic gaslighting relationship with a boyfriend who was depressed and unemployed while working long hours for a Fortune 500 company.
It took several months after that serenely ominous night for me to officially end our relationship. He refused to leave the house for several more months, but we finally broke up the following year.
Although I believed in the company I worked for, the work was mentally and physically draining and I felt like I wasn’t really valued by the regional leadership. During the long hours of driving around Florida for work, I listened to a lot of biographies, motivational and self-help books and finally mustered the courage to (amicably) quit my job in 2015.
I started practicing yoga a few times a week at a studio in Fort Lauderdale and began to feel much better about my body, mind, emotions, my past, and what I wanted for the future. My lease was about to expire, so I sold most of my possessions and decided to travel the world.
Three weeks before leaving the US, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune disease in which the immune system seeks out and destroys the thyroid gland. I had just turned 30, so I’m sure the trigger was personal and professional stress.
I backpacked solo for an extended period of time between 2015 and 2016, which put me way out of my comfort zone. My parents were horrified and told me they were worried about my mental state. I understand why, as I never traveled very far from home or spent much time outdoors as a child.
During my self-imposed sabbatical, I completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training course in Southern India, cared for injured sea turtles in Sri Lanka, fed, bathed and scooped dung on rescued elephants in Thailand, meditated with Buddhist monks in Myanmar, hiked the Annapurna Circuit in the Himalayas of Nepal, hiked multiple regions in the Swiss Alps and got incredibly lost in Calanques National Park in France, improved my Spanish, taught yoga, hiked throughout Colombia and then trekked and camped in the Ausangate region of the Andes in Peru.
I really enjoyed these adventures because I didn’t have any particular expectations about the destination, I just enjoyed the journey. I realized that I shouldn’t stress too much about how many steps I have in front of me or behind me, literally and figuratively. There is always just one more step to go, especially at this very moment. Hiking and traveling taught me how to live in the moment and embrace my true self.
In 2017, I trusted my instincts and moved to Asheville, North Carolina with no plan other than figuring out what I loved to do and how I could make money from it.
A friend planted the idea in my mind to lead yoga hikes and it grew into my business: Namaste in Nature, which combines hiking, yoga and meditation here in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina.
I started by hosting a few meetups on select Saturdays to test the concept, and after the initial success, I obtained the necessary permits and insurance, and utilized my 10 years of design and marketing skills to develop my brand, website, and social media.
By 2018, tree-loving yoga enthusiasts were reaching out to me and asking to be a part of this brand I was building. I hired an amazing business coach to help me stay focused and keep growing. I couldn’t be happier to host all types of women, from wedding-to-be and single women, to recently divorced women, to birthdays, career changes, and women finishing up raising children, all of whom are craving self-care to cope with or celebrate major life transitions.
I accidentally discovered a new way to make yoga, meditation and hiking more accessible. I had many guests who were scared to join a class at the gym or yoga studio or go hiking alone. They didn’t want to be the only one who didn’t know the poses, the least flexible student, get immersed in the spiritual aspects of yoga, or get lost or injured.
Being out in nature, away from everyday life, makes you feel less self-conscious and more willing to try new things. This experience rekindles the innate connection we all have to nature and raises awareness of protecting the environment.
I am fascinated by the science and research on the potential health benefits of practicing yoga and meditation in nature, including stronger immunity, lower blood pressure, reduced stress, weight loss, increased self-confidence, reduced depression and anxiety, improved memory and concentration, and improved sleep.
In 2019, I am living my best life after contemplating ending it 7 years ago, and I am grateful to work with 8 other yoga hiking guides to share my favorite trails near Asheville with a variety of guests.
I hope my story inspires you to make a positive change in your life and enjoy the journey of pursuing your passions and curiosity. My story led to the creation of this transformative brand and experience that employs and empowers women in a still relatively male-dominated outdoor industry, while encouraging self-care and protecting the environment.
Miranda Peterson is the founder of Namaste in Nature, winner of “Favorite Yoga Studio/Class” in the 2019 Best of the Blue Ridge Awards.
