Yoga is all about making the mind, body and spirit work in harmony with one another. It’s as much a mental and emotional workout as it is a physical one. That’s why the physical space one practices yoga in is important.
This is not lost on Marla Matthews, co-owner of Living Yoga on North Main Street.
She and her partner, Lori Fisher, bought the place July 1, and the first item on their agenda was sprucing the yoga studio up a bit.
“We wanted to have a clean, nice space for people to come to,” Matthews said. “The main space is completely different now.”
The studio, which is below ground level, used to be all carpeted (imagine a gym, full of sweaty bodies, with a sponge-like rug underfoot?) and lined with dark, blue walls.
Now, you walk on a smooth, hard, flat surface (that won’t suck up sweat and debris) and look at light yellow walls, all bathed in soft Christmas lights that run around the perimeter of the ceiling.
“It’s much brighter now,” Matthews said.
It’s also more open. The studio used to be sort of divided into two parts. When you first walked in, there was an area meant for stashing shoes and other belongings. This part was separated from the rest of the studio by a curtain of beads. Now, those are gone.
When you walk in now, you can see the entire studio right in front of you, its warm, soft lighting inviting you inside. You can still leave your shoes and everything by the front, it’s just not cordoned off by beads anymore.
Matthews also added some decor, such as a buddha statue at the front of the studio that was given to her as a gift. It really adds to the whole ambiance of the place, if you ask us.
The project was somewhat of a personal one for Matthews, as she had been going to Living Yoga basically since it opened 11 years ago. She started off as a student, then became an instructor until she finally bought the place in July.
“It’s sort of always been my home,” Matthews said.
That’s why when the previous owner was looking to sell, she and her business partner and yoga buddy Fisher jumped on the opportunity to buy.
“It wasn’t a hostile takeover, though,” Matthews said.
Now although we may have somewhat spoiled the surprise for you by running a photo of the new space, that shouldn’t discourage you from going to the open house Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. That will be your chance to actually walk around and get a feel for the studio for yourself.
There will also be a raffle, door prizes, food and friendly faces, all of which tend to make for a good time. After the open house, there will be a free flow class from noon to 1 p.m. for anyone who wants to join in.
Beyond the open house, there’s a full slate of classes and workshops right around the corner, too.
A six-week restorative yoga workshop starts Wednesday (Oct. 5) , as does a four-week Intro to Mysore session, which will meet Wednesdays and/or Fridays.
For more information, go to livingyoganh.com or call 226-YOGA.
