by Erin McIndoo
After a successful summer of outdoor yoga in 2021, Shanti Yoga Center has decided to continue outdoor classes and expand to new locations this coming summer. Beginning April 30, Shanti will host Connect to Community outdoor yoga classes every other Saturday at Bad Habit Brewing, 25 College Ave. N., St. Joseph.
After making classes virtual last year, Shanti tried their hand at hosting outdoor sessions at Milk and Honey Ciders. Jessie Sandoval, owner of Shanti Yoga Center, found it created a space where attendees could feel comfortable and safe during the pandemic.
“Our goal is to bring yoga to as many people in this community and to share it with them in an accessible way where we can educate them about the importance and benefits of the practice and meet them where they are [in their journey],” Sandoval said.
These sessions are welcome to all and instructors can accommodate and give suggestions to all levels of experience within the class. Group yoga classes can be very beneficial to participants, Sandoval said, as it can unify energy and bring people closer together. It will also be a great way to connect with others of the community and enjoy mother nature at the same time.
“I think people sometimes get caught up in ‘can I do it if I’ve never done yoga?’ [but] every single one of our teachers is extremely well trained and experienced,” Sandoval said. “Whether you’ve done no yoga to a lot of yoga, these classes are fully accessible.”
In addition to partnering with Bad Habit Brewing and Milk and Honey Ciders, each week other local vendors will collaborate with the outdoor yoga sessions to highlight other businesses in the community. Some of the vendors include; Korppi Coffee, Overlander Coffee Co., Flour & Flower, Community Coffee Cart and others.
“Connection and community is really important to me,” Sandoval said. “Building community has always been the underlying element of everything we do and you can’t do that just in one physical space.”
There is a fee for the outdoor yoga sessions and participants may register in advance or just drop-in. To view the schedule or sign up for classes go to shantiyoga.center or the GloFox app (Shanti Yoga Center). Any questions can be sent to hello@shantiyoga.center.
