WellcommDC [6.29.26]

WellcommDC is the email newsletter bringing you the best of the DMV’s wellness community. Get On The List and get Wellcomm sent directly to your inbox. Have a friend who would love Wellcomm? Then please forward our email or tag them on our IG.

[HIGH FIVE] We gave a High Five to Leah Peterson, a Yoga, HIIT and Strength Instructor at YTX Austin and Running Coach in Austin, TX.

Wellcomm: Where do you workout?

Leah Peterson: YTX Austin (with every instructor), Lady Bird Lake (full loop trail running), weight lifting with Kayla Peterson, Barry’s with Brandon Gonzales, Studio Three with Al Cairns, RIDE Indoor Cycling (with all their instructors), and essentially every fitness or yoga studio in Austin.

WC: What does wellness mean to you?

LP: Wellness is living in alignment with the season of life you’re in. It’s about tuning into your mind and body, cultivating trust in your journey, and finding joy, freedom, and presence in the way you move through the world. True wellness extends far beyond physical health: it’s the connection of mind, body, and spirit. I believe in using physical practices and movement as a gateway to unlock deeper awareness, healing, and fulfillment within yourself.

WC: What are your wellness goals over the next twelve months?

LP: Over the next twelve months, my wellness goals are to cultivate greater peace, trust, and contentment within my mind and body. I hope to create a sustainable balance between my career, teaching yoga, relationships, and play, allowing each area of my life to support the others. Above all, I want to show up for my community as a positive, authentic, and loving presence—living in a way that reflects my values and contributes meaningfully to the lives of those around me.

WC: Who are some people who inspire you, motivate you, or keep you accountable when it comes to your wellness?

LP: All instructors at YTX Austin, Diana Wilcox, Lysandra Brewer, Julia Taylor Veronesi, Makenzie Mowat, Gia Parker, Amelia Raun, my twin sister Kayla Peterson, and my best friends and wellness girlies Lindsey Hanna, Zoe Scurletis, Rachel DeMay, Austen Carrington, Olivia Young, Molly Hentz, and Heather Pharr.

WC: What advice would you share with someone looking to change their wellness routine?

LP: In general, begin with curiosity. Examine the thoughts and patterns that drive your behaviors and motivations to workout. Wellness means so much more than just movement or nutrition. It’s a holistic approach to life and how you show up every day. See what sparks joy inside of you and lean into that. Don’t blindly subscribe to ways of living and advice from influencers who do not lead lives or missions you wish to emulate. Tune inward and operate from that inner wisdom: bodily wisdom and soul wisdom.

Know a fitness instructor or personal trainer who deserves a High Five? Click here to submit your nomination so we can consider them for a future High Five profile!

[DMV HIT EVENT]

• What: Yoga & Wellness Retreat hosted by Alma Collective

• When: July 25th to August 1st (7 nights)

• Where: Ubud, Bali at Tulus Hati Ubud Retreat Center

• Why: Co-founded by Gabriela Duarte (check out her previous High Five Profile here) and Lydia Franklin, Alma hosts global wellness retreats that tap into the beauty of intentional traveling and experiencing something new. This will be an opportunity to immerse yourself in nature, experience daily yoga and movement, enjoy nourishing meals, experience Balinese culture, and take time to relax and reset. They’ve curated this weeklong experience so that all you have to do is show up.

• How: Sign up here.

So how do we pick our Hit Events? They’re curated exclusively for our WellcommDC Community from former High Fives. Each week, we’ll highlight one standout fitness event in the WellcommDC email. This could be:

• a group workout

• a pop-up fitness event

• a race or charity run

• a pickleball tournament

• a cycling ride

• a recovery event or

• anything else fitness-related

These events will be shared with all Wellcomm email subscribers, but submissions from former High Fives who are subscribers are prioritized, ideally for events they’re organizing, leading, or personally involved with.

We’ll feature one event per week, so spots are limited. We’re grateful for our High Fives and are excited to share these exclusive ongoing updates from the best of the DMV!

That’s this week’s edition of WellcommDC. Like what you read? Get On The List and get future editions sent directly to your inbox. Have a friend who needs to read Wellcomm? Forward our email to them or tag them on our IG. Until next time, take care of yourself, and take care of each other.

Go For It,

Your WellcommDC Team

Transform Your Self. Transform Your Community. Transform Your World.