The Community Nest

December, 2025

Weekly Gifts to Inspire Practice & Bring Calm At Home

December Self‑Care at the Studio December can be busy, and it’s easy to lose sight of your own care. This month, our focus is on you—so you can feel supported, enjoy the season with joy, and stay motivated in your practice. Each week you visit, stop by The Community Nest table to receive a special gift chosen to inspire at least 60 minutes of self‑care here and also at home. Here are each week’s gifts:

  1. Week 1 (Dec. 1-7): Clear & Renew — Use your palo santo smudging stick to release stagnant energy and invite fresh calm into your home space. Information & instructions included.

  2. Week 2 (Dec. 8-14): Mindful Moments — Sip tea and color a mandala page to slow down, breathe, and enjoy a peaceful evening of mindfulness at home.

  3. Week 3 (Dec. 15-21): Calm on the Go — Keep Laurie’s guided meditation on your keychain for quick grounding, stress relief, or restful sleep anytime, day or night.

  4. Week 4 (Dec. 22-28): Relax & Restore — Roll on lavender essential oil to soothe your senses, ease tension, and support deep relaxation. Includes tips for how to use and benefits.

  5. Week 5 (Dec. 29-Jan. 4): Heal & Intend — Hold your moon stone and reflect with your intention card to cultivate healing and set meaningful goals as the year closes. Guided instructions included.

*Gifts are available for the first 50 students each week, with one gift per student. Many items are generously donated and assembled by our Community Nest volunteers, while others are thoughtfully provided by the studio. We’re truly grateful for this combined support—it’s what makes the self-care share possible.

December Self Care. Contribute to our Community Gift Wall.

All month long, you’ll see a beautifully wrapped gift displayed on the wall as you enter the studio. We invite you to stop by, fill out a card with one way you practice self‑care during the holidays, and hang it on our wall. Your tip will inspire others with ideas for their own care, creating a shared gift of support. Together, let’s fill the Community Gift Wall with wisdom and encouragement to keep our whole community grounded this season.

PAST EVENTS

NOVEMBER, 2025

We Helped Feed 100 Families on Thanksgiving Day!

Due to significant funding cuts, a lot of Central Ohio families didn’t have Thanksgiving meals as they have in the past, so Neighborhood Services, Inc Food Pantry and Charity Newsies partnered to serve Thanksgiving meals to 100 families on Thanksgiving Day, and many Balancing Owl community members cooked and donated meals and also volunteered on Thanksgiving to help! Thank you to everyone who was able to participate!

We Collected for Foster Children

Alicia's Closet is a local non-profit group with a holiday giving program serving the foster care community in Central Ohio. The Goal was to help over 1000 children and our Balancing Owl community really stepped it up! We had a box in the front hallway and ended up with a HUGE mountain of donations throughout November. Thank you!

We Built a Tree of Life Puzzle as a Community!

All month there was a puzzle set up on our “The Community Nest” craft table that everyone contributed to. It is now framed and hung up by our Tea Station for everyone to see. The “Tree of Life” represents the deep, interconnected, and ever-renewing nature of life- all things we can be thankful for.

We Grew a Tree of Gratitude

All month there was a tree set up on the front glass of the studio where students filled out a leaf, writing on it something they are grateful for filling the community tree with gratitude!

October, 2025

We Created Peace Mini-Pumpkins for Fun!

All month we painted mini-pumpkins just for fun! Everyone got to take home their pieces of art to display at home.

Saturday, October 25 from 4-6pm
2nd Craft & Connection Social

Another fun afternoon of crafting for this group! This time, Laurie brought her dog, Thomas, and he entertained the group. We painted mini pumpkins, some did beading, coloring, scrapbooking and enjoyed time visiting. Thank you to Harmony for baking her amazing pumpkin muffins and cookies and for also bringing amazing apple spice cider. We can’t wait for the next event!

Friday, October 17 from 6:30-7:30pm
Step Into Joy- A Movement & Music Play-shop with Carisa Holmes

We had such a fun time moving around the room, having full permission to feel the joy and dance! Carisa invited us to embrace the elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air as we danced to the sound of her voice and we also enjoyed while she played the flute and drummed during some songs. What an empowering and joyful experience!

September, 2025

Saturday, September 27 from 6-8pm was FREE Craft & Connection Night

Our very first Gathering at Balancing Owl Yoga—we spent the night creating, connecting, and discussing why community is so important. We also talked about the type of things we want to do with this group moving forward. We also talked about doing this event as an open event monthly! If you want to join, stay tuned to this page to sign up!



September 1-30. Create Your Own Inspirational Picture Frame

All month there were frames and supplies to decorate them set up on our “The Community Nest” craft table. Over 50 students created them and took them home to enjoy, inspiring them to live their best life!