Health benefits emphasized at Austin studio
Yoga Yoga's origins as an Austin-based studio began 17 years ago, before practicing yoga became mainstream.
Light, airy studios such as those that Yoga Yoga occupies were unusual because yoga was often taught in back rooms of buildings, CEO Rich Goldstein said.
Now with four Yoga Yoga locations, he said yoga is accessible to anyone. The founders—Michael and Laura Benton— started Yoga Yoga to build a community of students and teachers, he said.
Goldstein began practicing yoga after having chronic back issues. He has spent the past decade researching how yoga and health care intersect and even earned his master's degree in public health.
"Yoga as a practice is the thing that makes the biggest difference in people's long-term consistent health and well-being," he said.
Because of yoga's positive effect on the brain's chemistry, Goldstein said it is recommended to practice yoga at least every two days to gain benefits such as the reduction of stress, depression and anxiety.
"Stress is at the heart of disease, and yoga is at the heart of combating stress," he said. "It is the most effective tool that we have as a society to address chronic stress."
With 120 teachers and more than 300 weekly classes among its four locations, Goldstein said anyone can find a class to suit his or her needs. Students range in age from children to seniors, Goldstein said. The business also focuses on education.
"You might see a group of 20–30 people practicing together, but the teacher is skillful enough to direct each of those people to modify their practice," he said. "Because we're a place of study, we're not just leading people through the classes. We're helping them study yoga individually."
Yoga Yoga's pre- and postnatal program also helps expectant and new moms. Benefits can include a shorter labor and aiding the mother's body to carry the baby, said Lesley Clark, center manager for the northwest studio. She had her third child at age 38 and said it was her easiest labor.
"You have this community of people who are going through the same thing," she said of the program. "It can be really isolating when you have a new baby."
Yoga Yoga has several classes geared toward parents with their babies and toddlers as well as specifically for children.
"They're little sponges," Clark said. "They just absorb it. I know that because my own children [will tell me] when I get stressed, 'Take a deep breath.'"
Yoga classes
- Yoga Yoga offers four main types of classes: hatha, ashtanga, kundalini, and health and wellness. It also has other programs.
- Hatha: The most widely practiced form that involves holding poses longer
- Ashtanga: A subset of hatha yoga, this is an original form of hot yoga.
- Kundalini: A more dynamic form that focuses on building energy and uses music
- Health and wellness classes: Designed for people with health issues, topics include deep relaxation and managing stress.
- Beginner's series: This $99 series meets twice a week for one month to learn about the foundations of practicing yoga.
Yoga Yoga, 12001 Burnet Road, 512-490-1200, www.yogayoga.com, Twitter: @yogayogaaustin