Homespun Yoga Studio Takes Root in Bed-Stuy

After the 2009 closure of Home Sweet Yoga -- one of the neighborhood's last yoga studios -- former students decided, rather than make a trek to the next closest yoga studio in Williamsburg or Fort Greene, why not start one of their own?

Soon after, Bed-Stuy Yoga was born in a small comfy room on the first floor of a brownstown on Halsey Street between Patchen and Ralph Avenues.

Sarah, one of the resident instructors, says the best thing about Bed Stuy Yoga is the fact that it's so casual; it doesn’t buy into most people’s idea of a yoga studio. There are no expensive class passes, cool looking water bottles or airs of pretension like some other places.

"We're not a studio; we're just a group of people getting together to do yoga," she said.

Anyone is welcomed, regardless of their level. Sessions are held every weekend, with some weekday classes scheduled at the discretion of instructors and participants. Participants can RSVP on the group's website and are given the option to pay online or at the studio.

The members use email to communicate about classes and each other's schedules, holding the 180 or so members accountable for when and how often classes are held.

"I don’t live in the neighborhood, if I show up and there’s no one there, then I’ve just taken the subway and two buses for nothing,” says Sarah, about the informal class registration policy. Sarah says they have to establish a relationship of trust. In that way, "I have a responsibility to them; they have a responsibility to us, and also to their practice."

And with so many more established yoga studios to choose from outside of the neighborhood, it’s the community aspect that keeps people coming back week after week.

In fact, after a little more than a year of meetings, participants have started to dabble in other community based initiatives.

“It’s become a really beautiful community of people,” gushes Sarah. “We started a community garden, we have potlucks, and I’ve never been around a group of people who are so welcoming. Some people have helped each other with house repairs!”

Still, Bed Stuy Yoga is not without its problems: The small space the group occupies is barely able to accommodate ten people, making membership expansion nearly impossible.  Regardless, lack of expansion doesn’t seem to be on their minds too much.

“If the demand is there, then hopefully in the future, [we can expand]. We usually do whatever we can to make it work,” she said.