Love Roots Yoga Shala celebrated its 5th anniversary on Sunday, June 23, at its yoga studio in Wrightwood. Located on the corner of Hwy 2 and Cedar Street, the shala is upstairs on the second floor of the building, which also houses the 6000-ft. Gift Shop and Wrightwood Dentistry.
The gathering celebrated the success of the local business built around health, wellness, and community. The party invited longtime yoga students and curious community members into the tranquil studio space for drinks and snacks, which included an impressive custom charcuterie board by local favorite Baby Got Boards.
Like many small businesses in Wrightwood, the Yoga Shala has seen struggles, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the studio has overcome the challenges and has experienced growth opportunities. Recently, they expanded their class offerings while adding a new business owner and yoga instructor to the team, Mallory Reiss.
“I think Mallory has brought so much newness and insight to Love Roots Yoga Shala,” said founding member Liz Wolf-Spada, one of six owners of the yoga studio. Liz is one of the original co-op business owners of the Yoga Shala and recalls when it was the Big Pines Movement Arts Center before becoming the yoga studio it is today.
Since joining the Yoga Shala team, Mallory has been able to offer consistent weekend classes. She is working hard on the business’s community engagement by taking on their social media and updating their website. Many of the other owners said they’re grateful for Mallory, “the next generation,” and hopeful that Love Roots Yoga Shala will continue to be a staple in the community for the next five years and beyond.
“I would love to nurture more of a community here at the studio,” said Mallory, who has over 20 years of yoga experience and is already looking ahead to her next endeavor by offering a children’s yoga class, which is currently in the works and planning to be offered sometime in the fall.
The Yoga Shala would like the community to know that it offers a variety of classes for all levels and experiences. Even if you’re unsure that yoga is the right fit for your lifestyle, the Yoga Shala invites everyone to try different health and wellness techniques by offering a select number of free community classes.
A free community yoga class is offered on the first Friday of every month; no RSVP is required. The next class will be on Friday, July 5, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the studio and will be led by Lynn Crawford, another Yoga Shala owner. In June, they also offered free mindful meditation workshops by seasoned meditation practitioners Wan Chang-Hamachi and Marshall Hamachi for anyone interested in learning more about one’s mental health. More free mediation workshops will be offered in July on Saturday, July 7th & 21st at 11:00am in the studio.
Other offers for beginners included an 8-week T’ai Chi Chih beginner class in June led by Yoga Shala owner Gail Nieto, who is hoping to offer it again in the future. A Chair Yoga class is offered every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. and taught by Suzi McKinney. This class is perfect for beginners, seniors, or anyone who has trouble getting down to or up off the floor. Also, a Gentle Yoga class on Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. led by Lynn Crawford teaches you the fundamentals of yoga while allowing you to move at your own pace. Weekend classes are also offered every Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 a.m., led by Mallory. These classes are $15 for a single class, or you can purchase a class pack of 5, 10, or unlimited monthly classes on their website. See the Love Roots Yoga Shala entire class schedule, pricing, and special event offerings on their website at www.loverootsyogashala.com and follow them on Facebook @Love Roots Yoga Shala and Instagram @loverootsyogawrightwood.
