060226 ~ 3rd Annual Ann Arbor Rotary Yoga Retreat - Jody Tull

The third annual Ann Arbor Rotary Yoga Retreat, hosted by the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor, is positioning yoga not as a fitness trend but as a vital tool for mental health and community well-being. Jodi Tull, a certified yoga director and Rotary program director, reveals how the event evolved from a niche activity into a fully inclusive, all-day experience designed for all ages and abilities—featuring chairs for every participant and a neuroscience-backed focus on breathwork. She shares a transformative personal story: a 25-year-old music director on a plane who, after a brief breathing exercise from a stranger, began a 28-day yoga journey that changed her relationship with her body and mind. The retreat, on June 14th at the Kensington Hotel, blends lectures from experts like neurologist Dr. Jonathan Rosenthal and University of Michigan’s Dr. Steve Ragsdale with experiential yoga and meditation. Central to the event is the idea that deep breathing activates the vagus nerve, triggering rest and restoration—critical in a world overwhelmed by anxiety and burnout. The event also honors mental health advocacy, including Collier Smith’s work after losing his son to suicide. With scholarships and free access for Rotaracts, the retreat embodies Rotary’s 'service above self' ethos—where self-care isn't selfish, but essential to being able to serve others. The episode reframes yoga as a radical act of presence and self-awareness.