Fresca Yoga
Fresca Yoga
Loriann Conti is a travel nurse by trade, but a yoga practitioner by passion
Loriann Conti resides in Great Valley, NY, just minutes from Ellicottville. She started Fresca Yoga in the spring of last year to bring awareness and teachings of the benefits - both physically and mentally - that one receives from regular yoga practice.
“I ‘dabbled’ in yoga here and there when I resided in Southern California,” Conti said. “In that area and many other areas, yoga is very popular. I was always more into intense bootcamp or kickboxing fitness as most people like the ‘instant’ sense of wellbeing they get after a high intensity workout. That is great, but fleeting. Yoga gives you that same sense of wellbeing, but it also molds and changes your nervous system when practiced regularly, while being gentle on your joints and nourishing and creating space.”
A debilitating on-the-job back injury with permanent nerve damage and chronic pain brought Conti back and closer than ever to yoga. To avoid surgical intervention (doctor’s recommendation), she started to slowly integrate yoga into her morning routine, 15-20 minutes of slow stretching. This, over time, started to ease her pain and allowed her to return to working as a nurse.
After several years, Conti had the desire to learn all she could about the benefits of the ancient wellness practice and to share with others, especially in other regions where yoga is not as commonly practiced.
“In 2017, I went thick into the jungle of Costa Rica and studied the practice origin, philosophy, etc. for 30 days from 5:00am-9:30pm,” said Conti. “Removed from the modern world, I lived and breathed from my Guru and the jungle animals.”
Moving forward to Feb 2020, the devastating loss of Conti’s son, Zach, who was 27 years old, coupled with the pandemic, left her paralyzed with grief. “I took a few months off,” Conti said. “if I did not have my yoga resources I believe I would not have survived. This is twice in my life that yoga has healed me - once physically and once emotionally.”
That is when the decision was made that it was time for Conti to share her knowledge and teachings with others in her hometown. She started Fresca Yoga (although she still works full-time as a travel RN). “I have made time to have regular summer Sunday sessions at Spruce Lake and periodically sub for local instructors, offer classes for wellness events, corporate activities, wedding parties, etc.,” she said. “My goal in the next few years is to open a small hot yoga studio on my property,” said Conti.
Last year’s summer sessions at Spruce Lake (located at the top of Holiday Valley) were donation based, and Conti donated the proceeds to Whispering River Rescue in Gasport, NY. This year’s summer sessions at Spruce Lake will run Sundays from June 12th through August 28th. Cost is $15 per session, or book the entire summer series - 12 sessions total - for $100 (prepaid).
Conti is also hosting a special “Yoga at the Brewery” session on Saturday, June 18th at Fattey Beer Co. in Ellicottville from 10:00am-11:15am. This is an all-level yoga class followed by a refreshing beverage (non-alcohol options available). For more information or to sign up for Yoga at the Brewery or any Fresca Yoga class, visit frescayoga.net or call 716-697-5340.
“Yoga helps you become flexible, release tension, and burn toxins so that you can experience peace, calmness, relaxation, and clarity. On the surface, yoga can be merely perceived as exercise, though the philosophy, spirituality, and healing properties of this practice behind yoga goes much deeper.”