Intend to Sustain

Divas That Care Network

Come and listen while Host Gia-Raquel Rose, owner of Airs Above Yoga chats with today's guest Ann Scheerer.

Ann Scheerer, PhD, is a professor of environmental sciences and sustainability and a longtime meditation and yoga practitioner. Ann's courses explore the current "unsustainable" planetary situation and engage students in designing social responses to prepare for changing conditions. Ann believes contemplative practices like meditation and yoga are crucial for personal resilience in these complex and uncertain times. She came to Yin Yoga practice to slow down and listen to her body. Through deep and long Yin yoga poses, she found a deeper connection to her body and to the earth. These practices have supported Ann's teaching and influenced her curriculum. As a proponent of slowing down, Ann encourages students to be more aware of our choices and self care. Ann embraces change and has shifted her career a few times following her curiosities and earning multiple degrees. In addition to her PhD, Design and Planning, she has obtained two Master's degrees - MSLS (Master of Strategic Leadership for Sustainability) and MPA (Master of Public Administration).

What if sustainability wasn't just about saving the planet, but about creating a more fulfilling life for ourselves? Our guest, a university sustainability instructor and yoga teacher, reveals how her path shifted from corporate work to community-based sustainability action, forever changing her perspective on what truly matters.
At the heart of sustainable living lies a powerful concept: efficiency. Before investing in solar panels or electric vehicles, we must first address the efficiency of our homes, habits, and systems. As our guest explains, "Efficiency is really the number one thing to look at because it usually can be addressed by a behavior change." Those changes—sealing windows, insulating properly, reducing food waste—create the foundation for meaningful environmental impact while often saving money and improving quality of life.
The conversation explores the "tragedy of the commons," where public resources become degraded when no one takes ownership, and how community cooperation offers the solution. When we engage with our neighbors through river cleanups, trail maintenance, or local food systems, we not only protect shared resources but fill our own cups through meaningful connection. These community bonds represent the antidote to convenience culture, where quick decisions often lead to environmental harm and disconnection from place.
Simple swaps emerged as powerful tools for change—bringing reusable bags to farmers markets, carrying water bottles instead of buying single-use plastic, walking more often, buying in bulk to reduce packaging, and supporting local businesses. The "100-mile diet" challenge of sourcing most food from within 100 miles exemplifies how sustainability practices can deepen our connection to place while reducing environmental impact. As our guest reminds us, "It's not like all doom and gloom based on maybe mainstream what we hear in the news, because those people are still doing the work."
Ready to ground yourself in sustainable practices? Listen to this episode, then join us for our special Earth Day meditation designed to deepen your connection with the natural world. What one small change will you make today to benefit both yourself and the planet we all share?

For more Divas That Care Network Episodes visit www.divasthatcare.com

Chapters

1. Introducing Sustainability Expert (00:00:00)

2. Personal Journey Into Sustainability (00:02:35)

3. Efficiency vs Convenience Dilemma (00:06:08)

4. Tragedy of the Commons and Cooperation (00:13:09)

5. Simple Sustainable Swaps (00:20:50)

6. Community Connection and Local Action (00:31:54)

7. Earth Day Meditation Preview (00:40:36)