Some of the cast and crew at Sadhana Yoga
You’ll find the all new Sadhana Yoga tucked along Worcester Street, among the artisnal shops and restaurants of the city’s South End neighborhood. The team there likens the yoga center to an “urban oasis” offering a broad selection of classes to meet most any style of practice. After a recent change of hands, they now share ownership with their sister studio Coolidge Corner Yoga in Brookline. As is their vision at Coolidge Corner, the new owners (David and Tatyana Souza) aim to provide a supportive space where the South End and surrounding communities can practice a variety of yoga styles.
We are excited to continue and build upon the strong foundation created by the prior owners of Sadhana Yoga. We wanted the yoga studio to persist to support the health and wellness of the South End community. We look forward to becoming part of the fabric of the South End by providing high quality yoga for everyone in the neighborhood.
With the mantra of “feel good, do good”, the Souza’s company focuses on making the world a better place, through yoga, one person at a time and also by contributing to local and global causes by donating a portion of profits each year to worthy causes as determined by its yoga communities. They are also deeply committed to keeping yoga affordable and providing a fare wage for its staff.
As we launch into our holiday week. We reached out to the crew at Sadhana. They seem like a cheerful troupe, so we polled some of the instructors inquiring as to the source of their sunshine. We wanted to specifically get a glimpse of what has them feeling grateful this Thanksgiving. Here is a snapshot of what we gathered:
Caity teaches the Sunday 2:00 pm Community Yoga and the studio’s Monday 12:15 pm Vinyasa class
Favorite pose: dhanurasana (bow pose)
“This season I’m feeling grateful for my breath and snuggles with my dog Taco”.
Sara teaches the studio’s Saturday 2:00 pm Community Yoga class.
Favorite pose: crow
“This season I am grateful for having some quiet time to take a step back and reflect!”
Elyssa teaches Prenatal Yoga on Tuesdays at 7:30 pm.
Favorite pose: chopasana and supported supta badokanasana
“This season I am grateful for my boys! And, mindful breathing…”
Elizabeth teaches Toddler Yoga which with start in January on Mondays at 10:45 am.
Favorite pose: forearm plank
“This season I am grateful for LOVE AND HIGH HEELED SNEAKERS!”
Lakota teaches Vinyasa at 9 am on Wednesdays and Fridays and Prenatal Yoga on Sundays at 9 am.
Favorite pose: warrior III
“This season I am grateful for the powerful mindbody teachings of yoga and meditation that have kept me grounded through the election cycle! Then to be able to offer that strength and equanimity to my students is a real joy!”
Cameron teaches Vinyasa on Tuesdays at 12:15 pm and Fridays at 5:45 pm, and also Fundamentals Yoga on Thursday at 7:30 pm.
Favorite Pose: humble warrior
“This season I am grateful for all of the offerings that mother earth provides. This planet provides us with everything we need. Lets protect our world by making conscious/mindful decisions!”
Catie rises bright and early for the 6:30 am Vinyasa classes she teaches on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Favorite Pose: handstands
“This season I am grateful for my tribe! I would not be where I am today without the love and support of my people.”
Gerard teaches both Yoga Fundamentals and Vinyasa at the studio.
Favorite pose: uttkatasana (chair pose)
“This season I am grateful for all the support and love that I receive from my friends and family.”
Sadhana Yoga and Cooldidge Corner Yoga aims to keep everyone shining bright during this busy time of the year. Check out their seasonal line-up brimming with cutting edge programming:
Sugar Plum Flow at Coolidge Corner Yoga: (Christmas Eve) Dec., 24, 9:15 am to 10:45 am
Sugar Plum Flow is a vigorous holiday yoga class that moves through poses with the pace of your cheerful breath. Designed to elicit holiday cheer for all levels and will build toward a peak sugar plum pose.
New Years Awakening at Coolidge Corner Yoga: (New Year’s Eve) Sat., Dec. 31, 1 pm to 3 pm
Alex Baumeister will mindfully lead soul-searching yogis into the new year with this mind/body practice that invites students to reflect on the past, let go of what no longer serves them and discover a meaningful intention for the new year. Part meditative flow and part inner practice.
New Years Eve at Coolidge Corner Yoga: (New Year’s Eve) Sat., Dec. 31, 10 pm to 11:55 pm
Do something different this New Year’s Eve! Ring in 2017 with the Coolidge Corner Yoga family. CCY co-founder Tatyana Souza will lead students through a fluid vinyasa flow to wring out 2016 and make space for the year above. Expect a chill soundtrack, bliss lights and a champagne toast to welcome 2017 at midnight.
Envisioning the New Year: Yoga, Meditation & Vision Boarding for 2017 at Sadhana Yoga: (New Year’s Eve) Sat., Dec. 31, 2 pm to 4 pm
This workshop will include an inspiring yoga practice designed to connect us at what’s at our core. We will follow this up by creating our own vision boards. Meditation will seal everything in and strengthen our intentions.
Flowing with Intention with Lakota Elise Sandoe: Sun, Jan. 1, 2017 , 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
How do we magnetize and enhance qualities in ourselves and in our lives? Where would it be helpful to loosen our grip to get there? New Years is traditionally a time of remaking ourselves; sadly, but predictably, most resolutions fall short. This New Years Day practice will guide you through working with intention and help you to set the tone for the year ahead. We’ll use writing prompts, gently flowing asana, embodied inquiry, and meditation to tap into what you already know deep down inside and want to see reflected more in your daily life. Your own personal intentions will be held within the group intention to protect our environment and all life on earth. Come explore in an intimate, playful environment set to some great music! A portion of the proceeds from this class will be donated to the Natural Resource Defense Council.
And, last but not least… don’t miss Sadhana’s Thanksgiving Flow this Thursday morning at 9:15! While the turkey (or tofurkey) is in the oven, join Gerard Samson for a Thanksgiving class to benefit Boston’s Animal Rescue League. Visit the studio’s website for registration and additional information on these specialty classes.
Author Susan Currie is an Associate Editor at LA YOGA magazine. Her words and images have been featured in the Boston Globe, Elephant Journal, Yogi Times, the Tishman Review, the Huffington Post, Spirit of St. Bart’s and on the cover of the book Moving into Meditation (Shambala) by Anne Cushman.
Susan is also the creator of the Daily Inhale and an RYT 200 registered yoga instructor. She unpacks her various professional experiences through the creative and yoga workshops she leads throughout the country. Her new book, GRACENOTES (Shanti Arts 2017), a blend of words and images, is now available in wide release.