The True Nature Healing Arts Foundation, best known in Carbondale and beyond as a place promoting wellness, healing and community, is expanding its programming efforts in 2025. This will include an uptick in programs centered around connection, such as addiction support, programming for children and even grief work — all built from an Ayurvedic philosophy, which True Nature founders Eaden and Deva Shantay live by.
In a press release sent Nov. 11, 2024, the founders wrote: “With the gift of the True Nature Carbondale campus to the True Nature Healing Arts Foundation now complete, we invite you to embrace True Nature as your own. This transition into a not-for-profit foundation means the center will forever be dedicated to conscious living through inspiration, connection, and self-discovery.”
The couple always intended for True Nature to become a nonprofit foundation. It has operated several for-profit businesses within the establishment for a number of years toward this aim. The Shantays took on the risks personally as they poured resources toward growing a campus and making it a community asset. True Nature has already operated as a nonprofit since 2022.
“I liken [this process] to TACAW, with the difference being that the community was responsible for raising the funds to build out that campus,” said Anne White, sitting director of the foundation. “With True Nature, we’re very fortunate that Eaden and Deva saw the vision for themselves to build this out here in Carbondale, they have really put their own time and energy into doing so.”
The True Nature businesses, including an organic cafe, spa and boutique, are meant to raise profits to help sustain the foundation’s philanthropic programming. This year, the foundation’s focus is on five areas: 1. Wellbeing, mindfulness and healthy development for future generations via Ubuntu Youth Programming; 2. Consistent, holistic support for individuals affected by addiction in all forms with AID: Addiction Is a Doorway; 3. Deepening connections with the land and exploring relationships with nature through the ever-popular Peace Garden; 4. Exploring meditation, yoga and Ayurveda as pathways to a more conscious and connected way of life; 5. Providing grief and trauma support for vulnerable community members.
“The vision — or rather the mission — of True Nature is to create a space in educational programming to help people connect with the truth of who they are and why they incarnate,” Eaden told The Sopris Sun. “What we’ve found is when people understand their life purpose, what their gifts and passions are, when they step into and live those purposes and share those gifts, they’re most happy and of service to the world without even trying to be, because they’re doing what they were built for.”
Eaden shared more about what drew him into a holistic approach to life, stating that his struggles helped him find Ayurvedic teachings. With a background in clinical psychology, Native American spirituality and yoga, he described the new programming, in part, as aftercare for people living with addiction.
“What we’re providing is more aftercare, where people can come to support groups, yoga classes, workshops and immersions on how to connect deeply, because a lot of challenges people face are the result of being disconnected from their truth, their source and, in many cases, their trauma. We’re offering programming that welcomes people of all traditions and ages, to meet them where they are. It’s an invitation for people to connect and to deepen,” Shantay stated.
Valery Moore Kelly, a development associate on the foundation side of True Nature, echoed Eaden’s sentiments. She shared how the Addiction Is a Doorway (AID) programming has already seen many groups of young people benefit from the connections made within.
“We’ve had some wonderful groups of kids come through [AID]. We’ve been really helping to support youth in developing skills to help them connect with their innate purpose, their passions and their inner guidance systems,” she stated. “I think it’s exciting to have opportunities where people can support each other. There’s lots of programming coming up, and we’ve been holding so many different things over the years that we keep growing and have some wonderful people helping us put them together.”
For more information, to make a donation to the foundation and stay connected, visit www.truenaturehealingarts.com
