Picture feeling the gentle breeze on your skin, the solid earth beneath your feet, sunlight streaming through the trees, an eagle soaring above, and the scent of pine cones in the air. You can expect this from a nature-based yoga class in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Nature is a sanctuary for Cat Stenberg, an outdoor enthusiast and passionate yoga teacher. She combines the natural world with yoga, drawing inspiration from the changing seasons and her own life’s seasons. What started as a personal journey developed into hosting off-grid yoga retreats, leaving a lasting impact on many in her community.
Yoga has a unique way of meeting people where they are, offering natural healing and a sense of peace. For Cat, this practice found her shortly after graduating high school during a time of feeling lost. Exploring various classes, she noticed a common underlying message from all her teachers, prompting her to pursue immersion teacher training.
This transformative experience shifted her perspective. During her 200-hour yoga teacher training in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala, she practiced yoga in nature for the first time. Cat recalls, “I found myself following the guide of our teacher while simultaneously finding a home in my breath and body among the elements, something I felt I had lost at the time. There is something sweet about turning inward with the trees, birds, and even bugs. Despite being just one person, this practice reminded me that through connection, we can build reciprocity for ourselves, our communities, and the earth.”
Driven by these transformative experiences, Cat continued with a much deeper practice inspired by nature. Cat is an E-RYT 500, YACEP, Founder, and Lead Trainer of Pinecone Yoga Institute. With over 11 years of yoga practice and 2,000 hours of teaching experience, she offers in-person and virtual classes, workshops, continuing education modules, retreats, and a 200-hour yoga teacher training. “500 of my teacher training hours were conducted off-grid, studying with my wisest teacher, nature.” Her studies span Sivananda, Yin, Yoga Nidra, and Sadhana Yoga practices. This deep appreciation for nature inspired the founding of Pinecone Yoga.
Established in 2022, Pinecone Yoga aims to provide a nature-based pop-up practice, inspired by Cat’s desire to share the parts of yoga that resonate with her. Pinecone Yoga embodies an off-grid experience where nature and yoga seamlessly blend. It is a nature-based pop-up practice committed to sharing quality, safe, and accessible yoga with the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and beyond.
Nature-Based Yoga and Meditation experiences highlight Pinecone Yoga’s offerings, providing a sanctuary for individuals to reconnect with themselves and find inner peace. The focus is on creating a safe, intimate, and inclusive environment where individuals can unplug from the stresses of everyday life and find solace in nature.
“Nature-Based Yoga and Meditation is inspired by the nature within and surrounding us. In a world that can often feel like sensory overload, this practice serves as a reminder to pause, reflect, wonder, and play. Rooted in traditions from Sadhana yoga, the exploration of a regular personal practice is key when it comes to a nature-based practice. We emphasize mindfulness, nurture connections with nature, discuss sustainability (energetic & environmental), explore inclusivity, and tap into curiosity on and off the mat. Living in the Midwest, not every asana practice can take place outside, so we look to partner with studio spaces aligning with our values when needing to shelter from the elements. We go by the saying ‘There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear,’ to encourage outdoor connection regularly while promoting yoga. A mindful moment in nature can be incredibly nurturing in itself.”
The benefits of practicing yoga in nature are truly remarkable. The serene environment of nature can profoundly impact our mental well-being, helping us reduce stress and find inner peace. These offerings allow participants to connect with nature, manage stress, and achieve greater balance in their lives. Being in nature provides many benefits to our physical and mental well-being such as improving our mood, reducing stress, improving sleep, and regulating our immune system.
“I hope by offering these experiences to help people re-discover connections for themselves, however that looks for them,” said Cat. In addition to the nature-based experiences, Pinecone Yoga also offers a comprehensive 200-Hour Nature-Based Yoga Teacher Training, designed to provide aspiring yoga practitioners with a deep understanding of how to integrate nature into their practice. The training program, offered by Pinecone Yoga Institute, follows a unique format spanning across the changing seasons, allowing participants to align their practice with the natural world.
Cat takes everything one step at a time, ensuring Pinecone Yoga’s teacher training programs are thoughtfully developed and delivered with the utmost care. She reflects on the first 200-hour training experience and considers how they can continue to uphold their commitment to serving practitioners with intention, quality, and care. After having 7 “rockstar” trainees graduate from the program in July, Cat believes this will profoundly impact the community directly. This sets the foundation for potential future endeavors like 300-hour teacher training. Cat values the journey of growth and development to better support the community. She enjoys providing a “pocket of peace” in her community as well.
Pinecone Yoga’s commitment to providing an immersive yoga experience deeply rooted in nature serves as a reminder of the power of finding serenity in the hustle and bustle of life. Whether you’re just starting your yoga journey or you’re a seasoned practitioner, embracing the natural world can deepen your yoga experience. This harmonious blend of nature and yoga creates a truly powerful and rejuvenating experience.
McCall Kelly is a dedicated holistic health and wellness professional. She serves as a RYT-200 yoga teacher, passionate about bringing the benefits of yoga to her community. As a lifelong learner, she considers herself a student first, constantly expanding her knowledge and deepening her practice. McCall balances her teaching with the joy and challenges of being a mom to three energetic boys. Her classes are known for their warmth, inclusivity, and emphasis on personal growth. She embodies the harmony of teaching and lifelong learning.
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