Francie Richards (she/her/hers)
Yoga, Wellness, Feminism and Social Change
Francie is a yogi, social worker, Virgo, Enneagram 2 and ISFJ (importantly, like Beyonce). After 20 years of advocating for social justice in nonprofits, politics, government and corporate settings, she found herself buried and burnt out. Having never practiced yoga before, and frankly finding it all a little too “woo woo” for her at the time, she is forever grateful to have found Christina Thomas’ Yoga & Adventures Worldwide in 2018. Not only did she find extraordinary cultural experiences, but she also found the healing she’d been seeking in yoga. She’s been on Y&AWW retreats to Tulum, Cuba, Oaxaca, Greece and El Cuyo, and she has taught her own retreats here in Michigan and in Mexico.
Francie’s practice leans into the emotional and spiritual components of yoga. Her classes generally include meditation, pranayama and asana and are themed around an emotion, experience of skill we may be able to process, release or build on the mat. Inspired by her favorite teacher Jess Apo, she is passionate about the music and selects lyrics and sounds that sink into the body and stay with the soul.
As a woman of Mexican descent, she is passionate about BIPOC, queer and beautiful, large-bodied women who – like her at one time – don’t yet see themselves on the mat or don’t feel seen by mainstream yoga culture. She is especially passionate about supporting women who are at the front lines in our communities and need restoration, healing and to build wellness practices to fortify their impact and their own quality of life.
Francie completed her 200hr Yoga Teacher Training and Certification at The Lab Chicago under the guidance of Chris Gilmore and Wade Gotwals.
Events with Francie S. Richards
Signature Wild Heart RetreatSeptember 18 - 21, 2025
If you were truly brave and free, what would your wild heart do? This is the power-house question that led me away from corporate America to the land of entrepreneurship and “everything is figureoutable”; to the revival of the historic South Shore Resort as a retreat center; and to the establishment of Wild Heart Retreats and our nonprofit partner, Dharma Collaborative. Yep. That question was a doozy. What burns at the end of that question for you? Come retreat with me where we will listen for the answer. At a signature Wild Heart Retreat, we do wha t our wild…
Dharma Collab: Fall Nonprofit Leaders' RetreatNovember 6 - 9, 2025
Are you a leader in a nonprofit or community organization that’s feeling burnt out? We’ve been there. Since 2020, we have become increasingly concerned about our people: the social impact, nonprofit and community leaders who are the vanguard of care in our communities. We’ve wondered, ‘what happens when they can’t carry the weight of caring for us anymore? When the physical, emotional, and mental toll of the work is too much to bare?’ Dharma Collaborative was founded to to address this concern. Join us for a retreat program built just for you, and yet, where everything is optional. Sleep in,…
Dharma Collab: Winter Nonprofit Leaders' RetreatMarch 9 - 12, 2026
Are you a leader in a nonprofit or community organization that’s feeling burnt out? We’ve been there. Since 2020, we have become increasingly concerned about our people: the social impact, nonprofit and community leaders who are the vanguard of care in our communities. We’ve wondered, ‘what happens when they can’t carry the weight of caring for us anymore? When the physical, emotional, and mental toll of the work is too much to bare?’ Dharma Collaborative was founded to to address this concern. Join us for a retreat program built just for you, and yet, where everything is optional. Sleep in,…
