Yoga in the Wild
A rescued bear grazing beneath the elevated walkway at The Wild Animal Sanctuary

Thank you for joining us

Yoga in the Wild

A Practice with Purpose

On Saturday, September 26, 2026, the Longmont-area community came together at The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colorado, to practice yoga in the wild, meet the animals, and support lifelong care for hundreds of rescued wild animals. Thank you to everyone who practiced, taught, volunteered, donated, and sponsored — you made the first-ever Yoga in the Wild a success!

Photos and the final fundraising total are on the way. Check back soon.

Held September 26, 2026 Keenesburg, CO 4 classes · 2 studios
Make a Donation Learn About the Sanctuary

Presented by our sponsor studios

This first-ever event was hosted by two Longmont-area yoga studios. Thank you for making it possible.

Additional support provided by Soul 19 Fitness and The Longmont Climbing Collective.

When

Saturday, September 26, 2026

A full day of yoga and time with the animals.

Where

The Wild Animal Sanctuary

Keenesburg, Colorado.

Classes

Four 60-minute classes

Led by six teachers from E8 Yoga and Yoga Pod.

Presentations

Two special talks

On the world's captive wildlife crisis.

Raffle

Over $3,000 in prizes

Donated by local businesses and our partner studios.

Fundraising Goal

$10,000

For rescued wild animals. Final total coming soon.

About the event

A day of community, conservation, compassion, and well-being

Yoga in the Wild was a collaborative one-day fundraiser that brought together Longmont-area yoga studios and the Longmont-area community in support of the critical work of The Wild Animal Sanctuary. Participants had a unique opportunity to see many of The Sanctuary's 950+ rehabilitated animals up close, learn their stories, and make a positive impact on their lives — all while practicing yoga in the wild alongside fellow Longmont-area residents.

Each registration included one yoga class and a full-day pass to The Sanctuary, with time to see the lions, tigers, bears, and other rescued animals from 1.5 miles of elevated walkway. Yoga classes were held indoors on the Mezzanine of The Sanctuary's Welcome Center — a domed structure that serves as a controlled biosphere — and were paired with specially curated talks about the work being done at The Wild Animal Sanctuary.

We move with purpose and we practice in service.

A rescued tiger walking through prairie grass with the snowcapped Rocky Mountains behind

Why it matters

Every registration supported lifelong care

100% of event proceeds go to The Wild Animal Sanctuary, which rescues and provides lifelong homes for large, exotic, and endangered captive wild animals — offering hundreds of rescued animals space, care, dignity, and safety.

The program

Four classes, one purpose

The day featured four 60-minute All-Levels Vinyasa classes on the Mezzanine in the Welcome Center, two special presentations, and a raffle drawing to close things out.

10:00 – 11:00 AM Class #1 — All-Levels Vinyasa Kevin Flynn & Cree Lawrence · Yoga Pod
11:15 – 11:45 AM Special Presentation The World's Captive Wildlife Crisis
12:00 – 1:00 PM Class #2 — All-Levels Vinyasa Karen Ehrhardt-Martinez & Jennifer Maddox · E8 Yoga
2:00 – 3:00 PM Class #3 — All-Levels Vinyasa Amanda Meader · E8 Yoga
3:15 – 3:45 PM Special Presentation The World's Captive Wildlife Crisis
4:00 – 5:00 PM Class #4 — All-Levels Vinyasa Derise Anjanette & Matt Kapinus · Yoga Pod
5:00 – 5:30 PM Raffle Drawing The grand prize drawing, held after the final yoga class

The raffle

Thank you to our prize donors

Every registered participant was entered into the raffle, with more than $3,000 in prizes and gift cards generously donated by our partner studios and local businesses. Thank you to everyone who contributed.

Featured prizes

✦ "Around the World Wine Tasting for 6 Guests" at the Kuper Wine Bar
✦ Private House Concert by Tim Merkel
✦ Longmont Theatre tickets for 4 people
✦ Five 5-Class Passes for E8 Yoga
✦ Three One-Month Unlimited Class Passes at Yoga Pod
✦ Two 5-Class Passes from Soul 19 Fitness ($240 value)
✦ One 5-Punch Pass from The Longmont Climbing Collective ($140 value)
✦ $100 gift card to the Pumphouse

$50 gift cards

Angles Sports, Cheese Importers, Longmont Florist, Longs Peak Pub, Miss Krissy’s Bistro, Oskar Blues, Red Cedar Bistro, Rosalee’s Pizza, Snow Apparel, and Saint Vrain Cidery

$25 gift cards

Flavor of India, Mike O’Shays, Pelo’s Deli, TeoCalli, and Wild Bloom Coffee

Prizes generously donated by E8 Yoga, Yoga Pod, Soul 19 Fitness, The Longmont Climbing Collective, and our local business partners.

Our instructors

Thank you to our teachers

Each 60-minute class was led by experienced instructors from our participating Longmont-area studios. Thank you for sharing your practice with us.

Kevin Flynn & Cree Lawrence — Yoga Pod

Class #1 · 10:00 AM · Yoga Pod

Kevin Flynn & Cree Lawrence

Cree and Kevin are a Longmont, Colorado–based yoga and wellness team creating inclusive, heart-centered experiences for practitioners of all levels. Cree teaches Vinyasa, VinYin, Yin, Restorative, Hot yoga, and weighted workouts, weaving breathwork, creative transitions, stillness, and meditation into her classes. Kevin (E-RYT 500, certified health coach, psychology student) blends play, discipline, and intentional breathing, sharing clear alignment cues and relevant science about posture, breathwork, and mindfulness. Together they lead outdoor classes, festival classes, and retreats.

Karen Ehrhardt-Martinez — E8 YogaJennifer Maddox — E8 Yoga

Class #2 · 12:00 PM · E8 Yoga

Karen Ehrhardt-Martinez & Jennifer Maddox

Karen's enthusiasm for teaching yoga is rooted in its ability to inspire a healthy lifestyle, be of service to others, and help students believe deeply in their inner voice. A 16-year Longmont resident and 500-hour certified instructor teaching since 2016, she is the event organizer for the Yoga in the Wild Fundraiser. Jennifer discovered yoga in 2016 and, after a 22-year corporate career, followed her heart to teach. An E-RYT 500 and Yoga Medicine® Registered Therapeutic Specialist, she specializes in making yoga accessible for every body, blending movement, breathwork, mindfulness, and compassion.

Amanda Meader — E8 Yoga

Class #3 · 2:00 PM · E8 Yoga

Amanda Meader

Amanda has been practicing yoga since 2004 and teaching since 2015. Specializing in Integrated Vinyasa™, she blends strength, mindful movement, and breath-centered flow to create an accessible, empowering practice for all levels. She holds a 200-hour Yoga Alliance certification, a 300-hour Integrated Vinyasa™ training, and certifications in Inferno Hot Pilates, Aerial Yoga®, and AFAA Fitness. Her classes emphasize safe alignment, intentional movement, and accessibility — a welcoming space to build strength and deepen the connection between mind and body.

Derise Anjanette & Matt Kapinus — Yoga Pod

Class #4 · 4:00 PM · Yoga Pod

Derise Anjanette & Matt Kapinus

This husband-and-wife duo share over four decades of combined teaching experience and are one of Boulder's most recognized instructor couples. Their classes are warm, inclusive, and highly supportive of new students. Matt brings a distinct levity, encouraging students to cultivate kindness and curiosity toward their whole experience, while Derise's colorful sequencing challenges students in body and mind. Big fans of the Sanctuary, they can attest to the magic of being there at sunset when the lions, tigers, and wolves announce their existence to the world.

The venue

About The Wild Animal Sanctuary

Located in Keenesburg, Colorado, the Sanctuary provides large-acreage habitats and lifelong care for rescued captive wild animals. Visitors experience it from an elevated walkway designed to allow viewing without disturbing the animals.

Visit WildAnimalSanctuary.org →
1.5-mile elevated walkway
Welcome Center with food, shops, restrooms & rest areas
Education Center on rescue & the captive wildlife crisis
Indoor Mezzanine yoga space
Self-guided experience with volunteers throughout

Volunteers

Thank you to our volunteers

Our event volunteers helped with admissions, class transitions, wayfinding, and participant support. Thank you for giving your time — and thank you to The Wild Animal Sanctuary's staff and volunteers for welcoming us.

Organizer

Organized by Karen Ehrhardt-Martinez

Karen is a 15-year Longmont resident and 500-hour certified yoga instructor teaching since 2016. A former environmental sociologist — with work alongside the Ohio Wildlife Center and World Wildlife Fund — her teaching draws on yoga's power to build self-awareness, resilience, and community connection.

Email Karen Ehrhardt-Martinez →

Move with purpose.
Practice in service.

Thank you for spending the day at The Sanctuary with us and for supporting rescued wild animals. We can't wait to share photos and highlights from the day.

Donate to the Fundraiser

Want to go back? Plan your own visit to The Sanctuary →