Inspiring Conversations with Anna Ferguson of World Peace Yoga

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Ferguson. 

Hi Anna, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
From birth to early childhood, I lived in Cincinnati—the neighborhood of Clifton, to be exact—and I have very fond memories of this neighborhood, which is the home of World Peace Yoga at 268 Ludlow Ave. and the Cincy VegFest at Burnet Woods. In college, I was introduced both to vegetarianism and yoga practice via asana, the postures. One of my roommates and friends in school decided to experiment with eating a vegetarian diet. I began to observe some positive changes in my roommate, as she devoted herself to a vegetarian diet. I saw that her skin had a glow and she took on a healthy weight. Overall, she seemed calmer, especially in situations where the more natural response was stress.

I thought, “Who wouldn’t like that?” 

So, these physical and mental changes that I saw sparked my interest. Around the same time, I was experimenting with vegetarianism, my yogic journey began. Exposed to asana through a “Power Yoga” video, my sister Amy and I practiced for about fifteen minutes in my parents’ basement…and then lost interest. The video, while physically challenging, was not engaging enough for me to finish, although it did spark my interest enough to take an asana-focused yoga class a few weeks later. 

Not knowing what to expect, I attended my first yoga class and from there became a dedicated practitioner and eventually a teacher. It was through going deeper into my yoga practice, I learned more about the lifestyle and philosophy of nonviolence or ahimsa. My initial interest in a vegetarian diet was for self-centered reasons to improve my overall health and well-being. The practice of yoga connected me to other-centered reasons and I shifted to a compassionate plant-based vegan diet for the benefit of the environment and fellow animals. 

It was the overall calm, peacefulness, and joy that the practice of yoga and the vegan lifestyle brought to my life that inspired me to co-found World Peace Yoga studio over 15 years ago and the Cincy VegFest event going into its sixth year in 2023. It was also my love for yoga and compassionate living that inspired me to be part of the co-creation of Heart Montessori, a school currently serving ages 3-12 where children grow up learning self-reliance, sustainability, meditation, mindfulness, conflict-resolution, and compassion for all beings and the earth as a part of core academics. 

While yoga and the message of world peace continue to grow throughout the world, there are still many people who have yet to experience the profound and healing nature of yoga. This is why I wrote the World Pace Yoga book—an effort to share and connect more people to these nourishing practices. Currently, I live in Cincinnati, Ohio with my eight-year-old son Noah who is a student at Heart Montessori. I teach weekly classes online and in Clifton at World Peace Yoga and you may also find me on Instagram and Facebook @annafergusonpeace sharing my life journey, including adventures in food and gardening. 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annafergusonpeace/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annafergusonpeace/ 

World Peace Yoga: www.worldpeaceyoga.com 

World Peace Yoga Book: www.worldpeaceyogabook.com 

Cincy VegFest: www.cincyvegfest.com 

Heart Montessori: www.heartmontessorischool.com 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Working together in cooperation and collaboration is certainly not easy and there are often challenges. With as much care and patience as yogis devote to their breathing and mindfulness, as co-founders of World Peace Yoga and the Cincy VegFest, Mark Stroud and I have worked gently and painstakingly to achieve everything we are doing. As our philosophies developed, more people came along that shared our mission and vision. And, it is because of our purpose, passion, intention, and the community of people we surround ourselves with that we are able to rise above the challenges and difficulties of working in a competitive, aggressive, and violent culture—maintaining a sense of calm and peace and not allowing an unhealthy sense of ego get in the way. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
World Peace Yoga holds a vision to create a world of empathy and compassion—leading to peace—one lifestyle change at a time. Our goal is to assist others become intuitively aware of their choices, and their corresponding empathy, so that they may cultivate the most exquisite version of themselves. 

Through generosity, respect, sustainability, community, innovation, intuition, empathy, and inclusive compassion for all beings, we offer yoga for people who breathe. We believe these offerings and practices lead people to choose a healthy and healing lifestyle. This inspires inner peace and creates world peace. 

Interested in letting go of stress and bringing more peace and calm into your life? Sign up for our FREEdom Month of Yoga – 30 days of FREE unlimited classes including mindfulness practices such as meditation, yoga basics, vinyasa flow, and yin-restorative yoga. Offered both in studio + online. 

Link to sign up to FREEdom Month of Yoga: https://app.fitdegree.com/t/dashboard/fitspot/297/store/7?fitspot_id=297 

We also offer weekly community/free/donation-based classes, such as the weekly Yoga at Burnet Woods, our Mindful Book Circle, and our Mindfulness Practice that focuses on conscious breathing and meditation. 

What matters most to you?
Being of service and making choices in line with my morals and values. I believe it is essential to practice what we teach and say what we mean and mean what we say by living it on a daily basis. This is what is going to create a more peaceful world. 

World Peace Yoga works to make a positive difference in local and world communities through education, compassionate service, and dedication to peace in action. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.worldpeaceyoga.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldpeaceyoga/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldpeaceyogah
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxuxFNQxCeQon3hX9dnIpYxNLTrHhChaS