Two years on from her death, a much-loved Sunshine Coast yoga personality’s dream to bring the discipline to as many people as possible is becoming her legacy.
Zenko Yoga founder Lauren Verona was a yoga teacher, businesswoman and business mentor who grew thriving yoga communities at Maroochydore and Noosa.
She died in 2022 after complications giving birth to her third child – a daughter named Lucinda – triggering an outpouring of love and grief from her tight-knit yoga community and beyond.
At the time, the community rallied around her husband, Ryan Gaylard, baby Lucinda and Ms Verona’s two older daughters Allira and Evie.
Today Ms Verona’s legacy is continuing through Zenko, with Mr Gaylard as director, and through Lucinda – who recently turned two and is described as the light Ms Verona left in the world.
In her memory, Zenko Yoga has now launched the Lauren Verona Yoga Legacy.
The charity aims to provide financial support and bursaries to people facing hardships to access yoga memberships, certified yoga teacher trainings and yoga retreats.
Mr Gaylard said the charity would give people the opportunity to “sponsor a yogi” and give everyone a chance to participate in yoga.
“When Lauren was alive, she was always the first to provide a helping hand to those who needed it, whether that was through kind words, connections, a smile, or giving access to yoga trainings and classes for free to those who needed it most,” Mr Gaylard said.
“She never hesitated to say yes because she knew the positive impact yoga would have on the mental and physical health of her community.
“In June 2022, when Lauren tragically and suddenly passed away, many people reached out to me to offer their support to ensure her legacy of giving stayed alive, often talking about how much she had given them when she was alive and how she had changed their lives through yoga.
“So, I decided that we would create a charity to allow people to donate and essentially ‘sponsor a yogi’ through the Lauren Verona Yoga Legacy Incorporated.”
Mr Gaylard said the charity would start supporting people in the Sunshine Coast area before expanding across Australia.
He hoped the community would back the cause in honour of his late wife.
“Our hope is that we can fundraise enough money each year to be able to sponsor people from all backgrounds and walks of life to access yoga,” he said.
“Our aim is to be able to provide 20 yoga memberships, four yoga teacher trainings and four retreat experiences each year as a minimum to members of the Sunshine Coast community.
“That’s 28 people each year whose mental and physical health will be changed forever.
“From my experience, I know this can then change the trajectory of their life, their families, their workplaces and their communities.
“I’d love to see the Sunshine Coast community and businesses getting behind this initiative.
“Even the smallest amount helps someone to access yoga and change their life for the better.”
For more information about the Lauren Verona Yoga Legacy click here.
Like stories about Sunshine Coast people doing great things? Help us deliver more by registering for our FREE daily news feed. All it requires is your name and email at the bottom of this article.
