Jaenique Swartz
IN 2018, Lara-Lyn Ahrens, the founder of Yoga Shala, embarked on a journey to make yoga accessible to the community.
It all started with a free yoga day where more than 100 people joined the classes, laying the foundation for what would soon become a thriving yoga studio.
Following the success of the free yoga day, Ahrens and friends officially opened the doors to Yoga Shala.
Their mission was to yoga to as many people as possible.
The studio aimed to foster a positive relationship between individuals and their bodies and minds, encouraging a connection with innate feelings of joy and love.
“Yoga integrates beautifully with all other wellness therapies and lifestyles, because it is gentle and inclusive but also has a lot of space for growth, therefore it is suitable for everyone,” said Ahrens.
The art and practice of yoga extend beyond physical fitness, offering a multitude of health benefits that encompass both the body and mind.
She said yoga contributes to building a strong and mobile body, teaches purposeful breathing, and empowers individuals to harness the mind’s transformative capabilities.
For Yoga Shala, the journey has been more than just a physical practice, it is about creating a loving and caring community where people can flourish through yoga. The studio has become a
hub of activity for individuals seeking not only physical well-being but also a supportive environment for personal growth.
Even in the face of challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Yoga Shala demonstrated resilience. They persevered and looked to other means to provide lessons, bringing forth an online approach where their members could join from anywhere in the world including people from Europe and the United States of America.
They partnered SPCA, a non-profit organisation that helps animals in need, to host a puppy yoga session at the end of last year. They will soon host a kitten session as Ahrens notes there have been studies proving animals can be uplifting and soothing to people.
“We found that just elevated the levels of joy and connection that we all received. It provided SPCA with exposure to some of the animals ready for adoption as
well. I think incorporating yoga into your routine can only have benefits for you,
even if it’s once a week to start for 10 minutes a day. Your health and happiness are your responsibility and your number one asset,” stresses Ahrens.
The Yoga Shala comprises of several talented and qualified teachers and students.
“It is a community and a family,” she said. Apart from providing yoga lessons, Ahrens finds herself immersed in rendering Thai massage therapy, one-on-one, and group coaching sessions with her background of Ayurveda, an internal purification process followed by massage therapy and meditation, as well as Naturopathy.
“I garnered wisdom from my 20-plus years of yoga and teaching. I am also the one half of Samudra Yoga School that offers a 200-yoga teacher training once a year, with our next one scheduled for spring 2024,” she said.
Ahrens expressed a wish to convey to people that nobody will ever know you and your life better than you.
“I want to encourage everyone to remember their sacredness, take your health into your own hands, and value your health by moving your body with joy, breathing well, eating food that nurtures you, and treating each living being with the same sacredness,” she concluded.
-jaeniqueswartz@icloud.com