Moving Through Grief at Sunflower Yoga in Popoyo
If you’ve never been to Sunflower Yoga, tucked behind Buena Onda Road, you are seriously missing out on one of Popoyo’s hidden oases.
As soon as I stepped through the gate, I felt an immediate sense of calm. There were plants everywhere.
Nicaragua is currently experiencing an unusually dry rainy season. Wells are drying up, rivers are dwindling, and community members have started leaving buckets of water out for the monkeys. Yet here I was, surrounded by what felt like a lush jungle.
I was warmly greeted by Judy and her three dogs, Mika, BusStop and Daisy.
Judy kindly offered to give me a tour of the property after I expressed my delight in the earthbag dome homes she had designed. I also dream of creating a permaculture paradise one day, and seeing what she had built reignited that passion.
She showed me the property’s greywater system, which likely explains how everything remained so lush despite the dry landscape beyond the gate. We passed a starfruit tree heavy with fruit, and Judy encouraged me to “take as many of the ripe ones as you want.”
We eventually made our way into the open-air yoga shala, where she laid out two mats for us.
I told Judy I’d had a difficult week and was going through a breakup. She responded by sharing a little about her professional background, and I immediately understood why her presence felt so safe and grounding.
Before teaching yoga, Judy worked as a nurse practitioner and psychotherapist. Her experience as a forensic nurse—working with cases involving child abuse, sexual assault, and domestic violence—gave her an extensive background in trauma. She is also trained in Clinical Traumatology, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, and Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness.
Judy has practiced yoga for 35 years and completed her Ashtanga yoga teacher training, along with training in Yin and aerial yoga. She initially pursued yoga and mindfulness certifications to incorporate these practices into psychotherapy. Today, she teaches because she loves helping others experience the benefits of somatic movement and nervous system regulation.
Knowing all of this, it made perfect sense that I felt so safe and supported in the space she created.
We moved through a gentle Vinyasa flow. Judy was recovering from the flu, and I didn’t have any particular expectations about the pace or style of the class. I was simply there to absorb the peaceful energy, reconnect with my body, and move through some of the grief I was carrying.
We played with a few inversions, including Crow Pose and Headstand, before settling into Savasana.
As I lay there, Judy came over and quietly asked if I would like a head massage.
“Yes. Absolutely!”
It was exactly the kind of care I needed that day.
Judy also offers aerial yoga at Sunflower Yoga, which gives me the perfect excuse to return to this little jungle oasis soon.
Ready to experience Sunflower Yoga for yourself?
Drop-in classes cost C$360 (US$10), and class passes are available for C$3,240 (US$90). Private aerial yoga classes are also available for two students.
To learn more or reserve your spot, message Judy on WhatsApp at +1 416-364-0240.