Elm Flats Ranch

02/04/2022

Elm Flats Honey.

It has long been a dream of mine for Elm Flats to be a host for bees. More than just pollinators that support the growth of our ecosystem, they exhibit how working together for the greater good of the hive is the purpose of their existence and what benefits one, benefits the collective. The bees are happy in their Environment and as a result, we have some lovely small batch raw honey for sale. If you are interested, please DM me.

4oz - $5
10oz - $12

Photo: Dow Hickam
Art: Rhia Robinson
The beekeeper keeping things real: Shelley Rice

01/18/2020

Our 5th annual Caregiver’s of Alzheimer’s retreat is next Saturday, January 25th. This wonderful retreat provides a day of care to Caregiver’s of people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias the techniques to reduce stress and create a home self-care practice, including yoga, meditation, nutrition, art, journaling and other powerful tools. Over 35 Houston-based professional volunteers including certified yoga, meditation and mindfulness teachers; licensed psychotherapists, acupuncture, art, and massage therapists have volunteered to offer their services on the day of the retreat. This retreat is free. If you know anyone who would benefit from a day like this, please reach out and join us.

Highlights from the 2019 Houston Caregivers of Alzheimer's & Dementia Retreat.

09/06/2017

We're hiring! Apply now.

09/01/2017

We have some terribly sad news to report. This afternoon we found out that we lost at least 4 of our miniature donkeys in the flood waters of Hurricane Harvey. 3 of those donkeys were just babies. My neighbor was finally able to get there to check on them and found the survivors to be depressed and soaking wet up to their poor little heads. She loved on them, fed them cookies and hay and they perked up a little. We are absolutely heartbroken over this loss and will be making plans to build them a proper shelter for future rains and flood waters. We haven't been able to get to the house yet, as there was at least 3 feet of water, which we believe might have penetrated the garage. We don't know about the house yet, but hope to have an update this weekend. If anyone wants to help with a barn project in the next month or so, we would gladly accept your assistance. Peace and love to everyone affected by Harvey. ❤️

04/05/2016

EF is in the process of getting a new road just in time for our 2nd annual wellness retreat for Caregivers of Persons with Alzheimer's with Melissa Smith Yoga

If you know of a caregiver in need of respite for a day, it's not too late to sign up. The retreat is Sunday April 17th and you can sign up here at: http://www.melissasmithyoga.com/2016-caregivers-retreat.html

06/18/2015

On June 7, 2015 Elm Flats hosted a very special retreat for caregivers of Alzheimer’s disease. The caregivers learned techniques to reduce stress and create a home self-care practice to include Yoga, meditation and other powerful tools, and they connected with others and enjoyed a full day away. It was a huge honor to be included in this magical day. Thank you to Melissa Smith Yoga for the vision and passion to bring this idea to fruition and thank you to all of the volunteers who assisted to make this day so seamless and the caregivers who showed up for themselves and also a big thanks to Anthony Rodriguez of Arexpressions for the beautiful photos. Big love.

June 2015 photos by: http://arexpressions.zenfolio.com
with Elm Flats Ranch

On June 7, 2015 we experienced a full day retreat for caregivers of Alzheimer’s disease. They learned techniques to reduce stress and create a home self-care practice including Yoga, meditation and other powerful tools, they connected with others and enjoyed a full day away in at the beautiful, Elm Flats Retreat Center in Fulshear, a suburb of Houston, Texas.

My step mother suffers from Early On-set Alzheimer’s disease. My father has been her caretaker for the past decade. Watching him and the toll it has taken on his physical and mental health has been tremendous. Read more about my stepmom, Marcee, here: http://www.graceyogaretreats.com/2014/08/i-sure-love-you.html

It has inspired me to do something about it by offering what I can. In the wellness field for over 25 years and teaching yoga for the past 14 years, I lead retreats worldwide and teacher trainings in Yoga Therapy and Restorative Yoga, and I'm grateful to be able to share this with others by bringing some of the best teachers in Houston to collaborate on wellness.

Join us next year as a caregiver or volunteer, Spring 2016. email melissa @ melissasmithyoga.com for more info.

02/26/2015

A gorgeous cold day out here at EF. I found this little babe tucked in his momma's jacket. And I just found out we now have an avocado tree!! Thank you to Chon and Gudelia for loving EF and taking care of it as if it were your own.

08/25/2014

It's been pretty quiet at EF during these hot summer months.. quiet except for chasing renegade donkey deserters on 4 wheelers while trespassing 2 properties over to get em back only to have them abscond again a week later. If they love the cows that much, I'm thinking they can stay over there for now.

The BIG news for EF right now is that we are in discussions with the University of Houston architecture program for a Design/Build project with their graduate students for the Yoga Shala and the Bunkhouse. Yep.. that's right.. bringing education and community collaboration to the country. This is an extremely exciting prospect for us as we look forward to the future vision of Elm Flats.
..last but not least, we have some upcoming fall and winter retreats scheduled and some others in the works.. stay tuned for the substantial growth and possibilities sure to amaze!

04/27/2014

Four yoga retreats and a wedding... Elm Flats cleans up real nice for the fancy shindigs. Congratulations to Tracy and Courtney Talbert.

03/04/2014

Eyes open to start the day.
Focus on the beauty beyond the windows of a panoramic view to a forest of icicle covered elms.
A lone cardinal sits perched in a tree providing a speck of bold color and life to the otherwise black and white stillness.
Abundant peacefulness of cold, wintery quiet, save the cracking of heavy limbs.
Unable to withstand the weight of frozen rain mounted on their branches, they plunge to an untimely demise, blanketing the spring sprouts of grass with the heaviness of their death.
Who decides the natural order of things when the buds of new growth are ready to open to life, yet the unexpected weight of winter carries on well past it's welcome, stifling the birth of spring?

02/27/2014

Do you have a desire to expand and enhance your reach and experience in teaching through seva and community? Join us at Elm Flats as In-Powered by One Significant Act, A Yoga-Based Charity leads their first teacher leadership training weekend in April.

Offers yoga programs for a wide variety of unique individuals. Committed to offering diverse yoga programs in K-12 schools, prisons and underrepresented people.

01/22/2014

How exciting is this?! EF is hosting In-Powered by One Significant Act, A Yoga-Based Charity's first teacher training geared toward existing yoga teachers who are ready to expand their reach and dive into service.

The focus will be on modifying the practice for populations outside of the traditional yoga studio (specifically schools, prisons, juveniles justice programs and homeless facilities) and prepare teachers to use our techniques in their own communities. This training offers participants a deep, transformational process of self-inquiry and the tools to embody service effectively. The training culminates with each participant teaching a powerful sample class using the tools and strategies gained through the weekend.

https://www.facebook.com/events/613124352092671/