In 2015, Ginger Derr had a vision of remodeling a dilapidated pole barn and turning it into a beautiful space of tranquility and healing. She created The Yoga Barn at Sunnydale - a yoga retreat studio in the country near Wichita, KS, where she was living at the time. The Yoga Barn offered private lessons, unique class experiences, and half-day retreats with Ginger Derr, RYT-500. She owned and operated the studio until she moved to Colorado in 2017.
Experiences at The Yoga Barn offered a chance to step back in order to rest and gain perspective. Creating time and space leaves you feeling refreshed and renewed and ready to live your life with more purpose and intention. The retreats included yoga (the physical practice most commonly talked about) as well as breath work, mindfulness techniques, time enjoying nature, and guided journaling time. Each retreat ended with a light, delicious meal. Offerings included all levels retreats as well as beginner retreats for those who want a slower practice or those who have never practiced yoga before, and also corporate wellness retreats.
Nature has a powerful way of reminding us of that which is real, true, and beautiful in life. It is healing and grounding. Our hope was that every person who walked through the front door of The Yoga Barn would experience peace in some way...and we were blessed to see that hope become a reality.
Ginger Derr, RYT-500, was the owner and teacher at The Yoga Barn at Sunnydale. She has been teaching since 2007, and loves to share the tools of yoga to help her students learn to help themselves when they’re in pain, stressed, or feeling unbalanced. She believes yoga helps people discover they are powerful - the kind of power that equips them to do the hard things in life with love and kindness - power that is filled with hope. She believes yoga is about finding strength and balance physically, emotionally and mentally, while opening up to joy. Click here to learn more about Ginger.
More about the barn vision and renovation
A note from Ginger:
The moment I walked into the old, neglected pole barn on our new property, I thought, "This is meant to become a Yoga studio." This was unusual for me because I am not someone who sees a space and envisions what it could become; but the idea just wouldn't go away. As time went on it was clear that this was a path I was meant to take. It offered me the opportunity to step forward into the light, to stop hiding and playing small and instead to take a risk. Each step of the way, it was abundantly clear that this Yoga Barn was meant to be. All along, the vision for The Yoga Barn involved having retreats to give people the opportunity to take a break from the daily routine, practice yoga in a beautiful space, walk the paths that surrounded it, and just let go. Nature helps us to feel more alive and present, to open our eyes and let the haze of busyness and stress dissipate. Nature, yoga, the breath are all powerful ways of stopping the autopilot and the numbness. We wanted people to remember that they are ALIVE—that they are living, breathing, and feeling creatures who are meant to shine, who are built to connect with others and to look up and out to see the world and its people while also looking within to see themselves.
Each piece of furniture in The Yoga Barn was custom built using wood that was original to the barn. We tried to preserve as much of the old barn charm as we could while updating the space to make it beautiful, light, and peaceful. We put so much thought and intention into everything about the space. The windows and wall of light allow you to bask in the beauty of natural light while bringing you as close as possible to nature. Standing at the front door, you can see all the way through the barn to the pasture behind it. The wood floors draw your focus out to the sources of light, while also providing a sense of containment and groundedness in the space. The shiplap wall is original to the barn. We used the quietest HVAC system possible so that the sounds of the AC wouldn't distract from the practice. We used the beautiful hanging lanterns so the light would be diffused and wouldn't be glaring down on you when you're lying down or looking up. We held you all in our hearts as we went through the process. We wanted The Yoga Barn to feel like coming home - a safe space where everyone could be who they are, rest, and experience peace and joy.
Bringing The Yoga Barn vision to life was one of the most beautiful, challenging, and amazing things I've been privileged to do in life. It changed me in wonderful ways. The time shepherding it was a time of beauty, community, and life-changing healing for many of us. I am forever grateful for the journey The Yoga Barn took me on, as well as all of the many dear yogis whose journeys paralleled mine for a time. There was something so amazing about the spirit of that place - each one of us who were privileged to rest there felt it. And we will never forget it. Thank you for allowing me to share in the journey of healing with you, my wonderful Kansas yogis and yoginis. Our journeys continue to call all of us further in and further up. Blessings and peace as you travel. Namaste, dear ones. The light of God within me honors and bows to the light of God within you.
For photos and more fun information, check out Ginger Derr Yoga on Facebook!