Not long after St. Patrick’s Day rolled around this year, Marilyn Mercado felt it was fitting to teach the attendees of her new yoga series’ debut class about clover breathing.
This breathwork technique includes four simple steps, or “clover leaves” as they’re nicknamed: inhale, hold, exhale, and pause.
Casually structuring some segments of her monthly sessions at the Nipomo Senior Center around different holidays and seasons is an informal trend she’s enjoyed maintaining since premiering the program in late March.
“Our energy’s different each season,” said Mercado, whose Nipomo series—called Health, Wellness, and You—takes place every fourth Tuesday of the month. Walk-ins are welcome and admission is free. More details are on nipomoseniorcenter.org.
Tips on incorporating short, easy-to-learn self-care and stress reduction activities into daily life is at the heart of Mercado’s program, which also includes yoga movements and other flexibility and strength exercises.
‘I go over the different nourishment that we need. … Nourishment for the mind, nourishment for the body, nourishment for our emotion, and then nourishment for our spirit.’
—Marilyn Mercado, Santa Maria resident
May 26 will mark the series’ third class, focused on chair yoga, from 1 to 2 p.m. A substitute instructor will fill in for Mercado during this event while she’s away on a yoga retreat. Mercado knows more than a thing or two about substitute teaching herself. That’s her day job with the Santa Maria-Bonita School District.
She’s also a certified life coach, longtime hula dancer, and published author, with her latest self-care book set for release before the end of June (for more info on all of her books, visit wise-warrior.net).
Writing and journaling have been part of Mercado’s life since her teen years, while growing up in Maui, Hawaii. She moved to California’s Central Coast in the early 2000s.
Some of her boxes from that move have remained unopened in storage for the past two decades, including her oldest journals she’s kept.
“All of my clients that I coach, I require them to have a journal because it’s so important,” the Santa Maria resident said. “There’s so many golden nuggets you shouldn’t forget.”
Journaling is part of Mercado’s “nourishment of the spirit” practice she walks participants of her Nipomo Senior Center program through, along with other nourishment principles she upholds as crucial health and wellness tenets.
“I go over the different nourishment that we need. … Nourishment for the mind, nourishment for the body, nourishment for our emotion, and then nourishment for our spirit,” Mercado explained. “For nourishment of the body, we’ll do some yoga movements. … For nourishment of the mind—since our mind is always active—we will do a guided meditation.”
Mercado said she also likes to talk about topics related to literal nourishment, such as using your senses to appreciate meals in a different way, and taking ample time to eat mindfully rather than rush toward an empty plate.
“You need at least 20 minutes. … Most people will eat in like five minutes and be done,” Mercado said. “Use all of your senses when you’re eating. Look at your food, smell it, stimulate your digestive system. And breathe. Breathing helps push all this food around your body for the nutrients.”
Different from what some may assume based on the location of Mercado’s new monthly program, her series at the Nipomo Senior Center is open to anyone 18 and older. So far, there’s been attendees hailing from various generations at the events she’s hosted, Mercado said.
Mercado is in her 60s but said she feels more like she’s in her 20s thanks to yoga and other wellness practices she commits to on a daily basis.
“I’ve read that those who do yoga feel younger than they are,” she said, “and it’s true.”
Highlights
• Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria will celebrate its graduating class of 2026 with a commencement ceremony on Friday, May 22, at 10:30 a.m. The ceremony will take place on the college’s football field. The class of 2026 marks the college’s 105th class overall. The in-person ceremony will also be streamed live online. For more info, visit hancockcollege.edu.
• In partnership with MOVE Santa Barbara County, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, and other local agencies, the city of Buellton is hosting an e-bike community workshop on Wednesday, May 27 (at 6 p.m. in Jonata Middle School’s gymnasium) to discuss topics related to e-bike safety for riders and pedestrians.
Reach Senior Staff Writer Caleb Wiseblood at cwiseblood@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in May 21 – May 28, 2026.