Wolf Tree Collective offers classes varying from yoga to support groups designed to give people from all walks of life a safe space to visit.
Wolf Tree Collective, 74 E. State St., got its name from the wolf tree, which is a giant tree where many different species live. Wolf Tree Collective has adopted that as their goal, to bring together different types of people and give them a place to call home.
The organization focuses on showing people the joys of simple things in life and helping make people feel included in something bigger than themselves.
Laura Post, the executive director and founder of Wolf Tree Collective, said she created the organization when she saw families she volunteered with wanting to be part of a bigger connection than just her one on one attention. She wanted Wolf Tree Collective to give people that opportunity, as well as show them how they can have those connections without a huge hassle.
“Our mission is to provide resources and a home away from home to all types of people,” Post said. “We want to show people how they can thrive through simplicity.”
Along with creating a safe space, Wolf Tree Collective encourages people to build bonds with each other. They offer group activities and conversation hours in order to do so. During conversation hours, people can come in and socialize face to face.
Wolf Tree Collective has daily classes like yoga, however they also offer weekly art classes, and sometimes have speakers come in to teach different kinds of workshops. From March 17-19, Boaz Ramos, a yoga instructor who has spent the past decade traveling and learning self care and alternative health, is flying in from Oregon to share his knowledge.
Post said Wolf Tree Collective strives to make its classes affordable for everyone so they can attract people from all financial standings.
“We offer (classes) that, on a national scale, would be three to four times more expensive (than ours are),” she said. “We can offer (those classes) to all demographics.”
Katherine Murphy, a freshman studying math statistics and psychology, enjoys yoga and thinks she would enjoy visiting Wolf Tree Collective. Along with the yoga classes, she likes the idea of encouraging face-to-face communication.
“(People) don’t interact face-to-face as much. I have friends I’ve never met face to face,” she said. “It’s crazy how disconnected we are from people.”
Murphy visits a church in Athens where they have free meals for people living in poverty. She said she enjoys going to talk with community members. Wolf Tree Collective presents this opportunity as well, and she said she would be interested in going to socialize.
Wolf Tree Collective welcomes people of all ages and demographics, and the people who attend classes are all very different. Post said they have a “really good mix.”
“(When Wolf Tree Collective first started), I was afraid we would only attract a certain demographic,” Post said. “But we have a diverse group, from great-grandparents to out-of-state students.”
Ann Jacob, a senior studying journalism, said she isn’t interested in the yoga classes or workshops, but likes the idea of interacting with people in the Athens area. She said she’s been interested in meeting new people in Athens since she started at OU, but she’s never had the opportunity. Depending on who comes to the social events, she said that could be an opportunity for her.
Wolf Tree Collective prides itself on offering something for everyone and creating a place where everyone can find their niche. Recently, they have begun doing art shows as well as their regularly scheduled activities. They also host clothing drives, free support groups and workshops on anything from selfcare to DIY aromatherapy.
“We have so many (options),” Post said. “It’s hard to decide where to go.”
