I shared a more personal version of this on the YBC® App, but people, it’s been a whirlwind these last few weeks. I am thrilled (and slightly terrified) to announce that on Saturday, June 15 through June 28, 2019, Namaslay® Studios will open its doors at 159 Danbury Rd, Suite 106 in Ridgefield, CT for a two week soft opening, offering a variety of yoga and fitness classes with a twist.
It’s not easy opening a brick and mortar location when you’ve never had a brick and mortar location, but you know me, I just kind of jump right in and hope for the best. In developing the studio vibe, I wanted to be sure we were different from what was already offered in the area. In the area, we have a Bikram location, a small power location, and a more gentle location. We wanted our place to be a bit different, so we took the name Namaslay® and ran with it, creating every class offering just a bit different from the norm. Namaslay® Studios is rooted in honoring the foundations of the ancient yoga practice, while inviting its teachers to add a funky twist. For example, in Kait Ferguson’s Hip Hop Yoga Class on Wednesdays, she’ll lead a powerful, vinyasa-based class rooted in alignment but set to an energizing and invigorating hip hop playlist. In Dan Tavino’s Namaslay® Fitness class, he’ll use yoga movements, hiit training, and strength and stabilization exercises to create a workout aimed to complement the yoga practice and promote longevity in life off the mat. In my Creative Vinyasa class, it’s really just a normal vinyasa class but with the promise of really unique and interesting sequencing to keep your body guessing. I’ve also added a Yoga Base Foundations class to the schedule, which has an intentionally vague description, so I can have a bit of freedom - sometimes I’ll focus on yogic philosophy and anatomy and sometimes I’ll focus entirely on something else, like the foot placement, for example.
I think one of the most exciting pieces to this new venture is that it’s rooted in community. I really wanted to feel more grounded in my life, and get back to the sense of community. Years ago I taught multiple classes per week in Germany at a few different studios. I’d see the same people over and over and I absolutely loved that. It felt like family. That’s what I’ve been missing in my life lately - a sense of home, a sense of helping and touching people’s lives in person. I hope to eventually continue doing what I’m doing with YBC® - traveling and teaching - but to start, I’ll focus all my energy on opening and running the studio before I resume traveling. (Actually, that’s kind of a lie - I’m going to Chicago next week for work and a workshop.) I’ve got a strong team by my side, and my hope is that Namaslay® Studios will be a beautiful home base for us. My hope is that our teachers will come together to be the backbones of this great little community we’re creating.
The soft opening will offer donation based classes. Community members are invited to bring a new item for the Women’s Center of Greater Danbury or make a cash donation which will go towards the Namaslay® Scholarship Fund, created to help make yoga teacher trainings and workshops more accessible to people within the community. Mats are available to rent or bring your own, and please arrive a few minutes early to settle in. Check out the full schedule and you can follow along on Instagram as well.
I have no idea if anyone will show up to the soft opening. I realized, in hindsight, I should’ve asked people to sign up ahead of time so at least we have a ballpark idea of who’s coming, but live and learn. Wish me luck, friends, and if you’re in the area, please stop in. I’m humbled, and grateful, and excited, and nervous. But also really, really happy.