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🌸 APRIL NEWSLETTER – 
OF THE OAKS
with Michelle
Supportive tools for moving well, aging with strength, and leaning into calm.
“In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect.”
— Alice Walker
 
🌷Spring Awakening
Hi everyone,
April has certainly made itself known this year — showers, flooding, and all. Wow. And yet, right alongside it, the quiet promise remains: April showers bring May flowers.
If you are hoping to start a garden this year, just give it a go. The great thing about gardening is that if something doesn’t work one year, you can try again the next — or try something new. The garden doesn’t judge or hold a grudge, and that is one of the things I love most.
Accept the idea that you are going to kill a lot of things along the way — it’s how you learn.
And if you’ve ever gardened, you know… you’re basically doing yoga the whole time — squatting, reaching, twisting, lifting. Movement woven naturally into life.
This month, we lean into spring vitality and explore Yoga as Preventative Health — how simple, consistent practices support your body long before problems arise.
With care,
Michelle
Yoga Therapist + Movement Specialist

🌿 This Month’s Insights -
Yoga as Preventative Health

Movement Insight – Your Body is Designed to Move Daily
01
Preventative health begins with movement.
Yoga supports:
  • Joint mobility and lubrication
  • Muscle strength and balance
  • Fascia hydration (helping your body move with ease)
  • Functional movement patterns that support daily life
Even gentle, consistent movement signals your body to stay resilient.
💡 Did you know?
Your joints rely on movement to receive nutrients — there is no direct blood supply. Motion truly is lotion.

Science Insight – What Research Says About Yoga
02
Yoga isn’t just relaxing — it’s scientifically supported.
Research shows yoga can:
  • Lower cortisol (stress hormone)
  • Improve heart rate variability (resilience to stress)
  • Reduce inflammation in the body
  • Improve sleep quality
  • Increase GABA levels (a calming brain chemical)
💡 Did you know?
Even one session of yoga can begin shifting your nervous system toward a calmer, more regulated state.

💡 Did you know?
Yoga supports both strength and flexibility — a rare and powerful combination for long-term health.

Whole-Person Wellness – Aligning with Global Health
03
Each year, World Health Organization highlights the importance of preventative care and whole-person wellness.
📅 World Health Day
The focus is simple and powerful:
  • Move your body regularly
  • Support your mental health
  • Reduce stress
  • Prioritize preventative habits
Yoga uniquely supports all of these at once.
💡 Did you know?
Gentle movement, breathwork, and mindfulness together create one of the most effective combinations for long-term health and aging well.

🚀 Feature – Yoga… Even in Space
Here’s something cool to know:
Astronaut Christina Koch, part of a historic mission orbiting the Moon, practiced yoga in space — and described it as not only possible, but incredibly effective.
In microgravity:
  • Stretching movements become more fluid
  • Small stabilizing muscles are activated in new ways
  • Yoga helps maintain strength, balance, and coordination
But perhaps even more powerful are the mental benefits.
In the isolation and intensity of space, yoga helps regulate the nervous system, reduce stress, and support emotional resilience.
And looking back at Earth from that distance?
Everything changes.
The divisions we focus on fade away — and what remains is a shared understanding: we are all connected, living on one fragile, extraordinary planet.
A beautiful reminder that health, movement, and mindfulness are universal — whether on Earth or beyond it.

🧘‍♀️ Mindful Moment – 
Spring Presence
Spring invites us to reawaken — but gently.
Pause today and notice:
  • The light lasting a little longer
  • The air feeling softer
  • The subtle energy returning to your body
You don’t need to rush the season.
Just like the garden… growth happens in its own time.

🌿 A Small Update – Spring Retreat
A quick note from last month — there will be no May retreat this year.
This is simply a shift.
Thank you again for the love and support around this offering over the years — it has meant so much. More opportunities to gather, move, and connect are still to come 💛

stay tuned for upcoming workshops and events!
🍂 SAVE THE DATE - September 27th 🍂 
Autumn Yoga & Lunch at Laurentian Lodge
🧘‍♀️ Weekly Yoga Classes – Join Us and use the Jane APP to sign up.
 
Blind River – Tuesdays at 6:30 pm at W.C. Eaket School
Iron Bridge - Wednesdays at 6:30 pm at Village Inn
💧Bring water, yoga mat, and any props you find helpful.
These are all-levels classes — gentle, grounding, and supportive of your body as it is.
 
CLASSES are for every BODY
They are a blend of traditional gentle yoga with yoga therapy and biomechanics.
 
Book now
🌷 April Momentum – Keep It Going
Spring energy is here — and it’s building.
Not all at once. Not perfectly. But steadily.
This month, keep it simple:
Move your body every day
Get outside whenever you can
Let the longer light guide your rhythm
Follow through on one small promise to yourself
Momentum doesn’t come from doing everything.
It comes from doing something — consistently.
You’ve already started. Keep going 🌿

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SPANISH-STYLE TUNA SANDWICH ~ Tosca Reno
This is my favourite way to have tuna for a sandwich or over a salad (olive haters please stand over there). Serves 4, prep 10 minutes
Ingredients:
  • 1 x 5oz can low-sod white albacore tuna, water, drained
  • 1 cup/240ml cooked white beans
  • ½ cup sliced cherry tomatoes
  • ¼ cup chopped pimentos
  • ¼ pitted green olives, sliced
  • 2 Tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • ¼ tsp sea salt
  • 1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 16 inch whole grain baguette, cut in half lengthwise and toasted
Instructions:
  1. Place tuna and white beans in a small bowl and using a fork, break up tuna into bite-sized pieces and slightly mash beans. Add rest of ingredients and mix well (I like to add ¼ tsp red chili peppers too). Place tuna mixture on bottom half of toasted baguette, top with lettuce (optional), and place top half of baguette on top. Cut long sandwich into four sections and serve. Or wrap up and take it to go!
Closing Thought❤️ With Gratitude
Preventative health isn’t about doing more.
It’s about doing small things, consistently, with care.
Move your body.
Breathe deeply.
Stay curious.
And let this season support your growth.
With warmth and gratitude,
Michelle
Of The Oaks | Health Gains

✨ Let’s Talk
Curious if yoga therapy could help with your stiffness, pain, or movement challenges? I offer 1:1 sessions for people just like you.
Book a Free Consultation
Let’s explore what’s possible.

Thanks so much for reading! Please share it with someone you feel would enjoy it too.
🫶 Stay Connected
As always, I’m here to support your movement, calm, and well-being.
If you'd like to deepen your practice or book a session, reach out anytime.
Wishing you warmth, grounding, and gentle movement all month long.
— Michelle | Of The Oaks & Health Gains
 
Michelle Deschenes
Yoga Therapist + Movement Specialist
Of The Oaks | Health Gains
www.oftheoaks.ca
📧 moftheoaks@gmail.com
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17 River Drive
Blind River, ON P0R1B0, Canada