Nearly 20 years ago, Vanessa moved to Nicaragua and started her own business. Now, with three kids, she shares more than just her journey; she discusses how we can all tap into more mindfulness when it comes to others and building community, no matter where we call home. 

Listen to the end to get her valuable marriage advice too! 

I love you, Vanessa, and I'm so thankful for you. 

Be sure to check the links below to find out how you can support a local kid in Nicaragua or join one of her epic yoga retreats.

Vanessa Pattison lives and passionately teaches meditation and yoga in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua where she built and runs Zen Yoga, the only yoga and meditation studio in town. She also co-founded Nicaragua Yoga Institute; NYI at TreeCasa Resort where she hosts yoga retreats and yoga teacher training programs.  Originally from California, she traded the golden handcuffs (they're real and shiny) for a more authentic life which includes a surfboard. The surfboard is her husband's (he tricked her into moving) but the yoga studio and the people it serves are what keep her connected, inspired, and growing.  

Forever the student, Vanessa has acquired over 3,000 hours of yoga certifications in Hatha, Prenatal, Restorative, Vinyasa, and Yin since 2005 when she first moved to Nicaragua. 

Her dive into meditation and subsequent training and certification by Deepak Chopra and The Chopra Center in Primordial Sound Meditation has broadened her awareness and deepened her practice and teaching immensely. All monies earned through her donation-based meditation classes go towards helping children and teens in the area and eventually led to the creation of a non-profit. 

Vanessa co-founded the non-profit; Growth In Giving to inspire those more fortunate an amazing opportunity to help a child grow through education and sports. The idea here is that we all grow from this, not just the one receiving it. She focuses on fundraising for Nicaraguan youth to provide opportunities for better education and keep kids healthy and involved in sports.

Being a mother to three boys, all born in Nicaragua. Led Vanessa to support other women as a birth doula and she has assisted and/or delivered over 20 babies in Nicaragua and the United States. She is very grateful that she went against the grain and created a life in Nicaragua that felt more authentic, although not always easy, she knows it was her destiny. Vanessa knows that navigating life in Nicaragua and having a strong yoga practice have taught her so much and given her so many tools to pull from when she needs them but she attributes her greatest growth to staying present as a mother and also committing to a long term marriage, which she jokes in yoga is the greatest spiritual work there is.

Welcome to the conversation.

Karissa Dean

https://growthngiving.org

https://www.instagram.com/zenyoga_nicaragua?igsh=ZDFtY3pvN29vaDly