Today we’d like to introduce you to Bethanie Meredith.
Hi Bethanie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My personal history is very relevant as the backdrop of my story and the making of who I am today. It’s a vital contributing factor of who I’ve become, the reason I became a yoga teacher, and the driving force of the community non-profit I founded in 2022.
Backstory: Raised in East San Diego, CA, I was a really “bad kid” with no moral compass. My dad left our family when I was 2 and my single Mom worked up to 3 jobs at a time, unable to be home much. Child Support Enforcement Agencies weren’t really a thing then (the 1980s) so she was doing the best she could. She had 3 kids (I was the only daughter) and my rebellious, strong-willed nature was too much for my mother.
My behaviors included:
· Drug Use
· Drug Sales
· Sexual Promiscuity
· Incarceration
· Theft
· Violence
· Gang Activity
· Foster Care
· and many points on the ACE score chart (Shout out if you know what that is).
Tough Love and Law Enforcement forced my mother’s hand and I became a ward of the court in the State of California at age 15.
After 5 foster homes in 3 years, I met with a recruiter before I graduated El Cajon Valley High School at 18 years old and “aged out” of foster care. I realized my life trajectory was headed into a destructive pattern and THANKFULLY, I had not destroyed my brain cells too much; My ASVAB score qualified me to join the Air Force of The United States. I left California for boot camp in Texas in 1989. I also left the only family I knew, to start a new life. I never looked back.
While serving active duty in the USAF I developed personal accountability, self-motivation, and conservative values. I was honorably discharged as a pregnant, married Air Force wife and joined my husband at Clark Air Base in the Philippines where, after the birth of my first child, I experienced the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991. This catastrophic natural disaster is what prompted me to start searching for spiritual anchoring. Being raised with no spiritual/religious guidance, I searched for answers to the questions that were stirring in my soul. I moved to Northeast Ohio with my husband’s family and with some guidance from my brother/sister in law, I gave my life to Christ in 1991 and have done my best to follow HIM ever since.
I had 2 more children in my early 20’s as I got to know Jesus and became very involved in church ministry, serving consistently for almost 25 years. I learned the value and joy of “pouring out” my life for God and His people.
In 2010, however, my world as I knew it came crashing down around me when my husband of 20 years left our family. I found myself no longer able to pour out ANYTHING – because I felt empty, depressed, anxious, suicidal, deeply wounded, and fearful of my future. I resigned from all lay-ministry and barely made it to work each day because I didn’t want to get out of bed.
My divorce was finalized in November of 2010 and after many months of deep, dark, depression, I was encouraged to practice some “self-care.” I recognized my need for recovery; I needed healing. I needed to re-learn how to connect with my Creator. I needed His unconditional love and nurturing hand. Christ-centered yoga was a new group meeting at my home church that offered mindful, physical, and spiritual connection to Jesus, so I attended simply as a get-away. During the rest of 2010 and the beginning of 2011, I received so many benefits from my yoga practice, I couldn’t wait to share it! I completed yoga teacher training in November 2011 and have been sharing my practice publicly as “Yoga by Bethanie, LLC” ever since.
Since my professional background was in social services, as my public practice grew and my colleagues learned how I was helping people with their mind, body, and spiritual healing, more local organizations were seeking my services – But I could not keep up. Many of those organizations did not have funding available and there is only so much pro-bono work a single mother could do. I managed as best I could, serving my community while working full time for various service agencies and non-profits.
In 2013, I met an amazing man who saw my passion and we were falling in love with each other. He proposed in 2014, we were married in 2015, and in 2016 he said, “Go follow your dream!”…And so I did!
Because many are unaware that professional, trauma trained yoga teachers spend HUNDREDS of hours and THOUSANDS of dollars to be great servants, it is not a profession one chooses for the money. But these services are desperately needed and terribly under-funded.
So, in 2022, I was prompted to start a non-profit to reach more people with this practice, because I KNEW I was not the only yoga teacher who was serving their community and just needed a little financial support.
As a result, “Healing At The Hands of Almighty” (we call it H.A.T.H.A.) was born!
As of May, 2025, we have already paid yoga teachers who serve clients in 5 different states at various agencies, including:
· Incarcerated youth in Phoenix, AZ
· Elderly dementia patients in Ashland, Ohio
· At Risk grade-schoolers in Mansfield, Ohio
· Incarcerated youth in Mansfield, Ohio
· Sex Trafficking victims in Jackson, TN
· First responders in Parkville, MD
· Low-income community members in Pittsburgh, PA
· Children’s Advocacy Workers near Chicago, IL
· Foster Kids and their families in Youngstown, Ohio
· Sex Trafficked youth in a shelter in Holmes County, Ohio
The clients HATHA serves are people just like me and I am inspired to be a teeny part in helping them along THEIR healing journey!
So, here is the summary of my story: I am a Christ Follower, in love with my Healing Creator. I am a Wife, Mom, Grandmother, a Native Californian, Air Force Veteran, trauma survivor, and a social services advocate. I am a full-time yoga teacher and non-profit administrator, living in NE Ohio with my husband and 3 dogs. We have 5 children and 6 grandchildren and I am so grateful to be continually shaped by the Hand of God.
I have no idea why God’s grace has been so generously poured out for me. I should have been dead; killed or overdosed as a teenager, considering my reckless choices.
All I can come up with is ONE REASON: L. O. V. E.
I was made to love.
Love God and Love People.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The Struggles have been many.
After each of my life-changing events, I tend to wrestle with depression, despair, hopelessness, anxiety, feelings of unworthiness, and distrust. There’s been several times in my life where I would describe myself as mentally and emotionally “shattered,” yet I’ve found God to be faithful in His re-making of me for His Glory.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My professional background was in social services and because of my personal history, I am most proud of being able to serve and love the people who are in the exact places I used to be.
My “specialty” is in trauma sensitive yoga and that is what I am known for in my community and professional network. I’m most proud of my work with my faithful clients who attend my weekly public sessions offered by “Yoga by Bethanie, LLC” and the work that HATHA (the non-profit) is doing all over the nation.
What makes you happy?
My joy is found in Jesus, no matter the circumstances.
Pricing:
- Donations to the non-profit are beneficial and welcome in any denomination.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.HATHAnp.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/h.a.t.h.a._yoga/#
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HATHAyogaCanfield
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/h-a-t-h-a-healing-at-the-hands-of-almighty/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@h.a.t.h.a.?si=5UpTxEIbwnZaPvcy
