When Russell and Elaine purchased Park Hill Orchard, they had a tiny farm stand. About 17 years ago, one of the first visitors was Charity, a beloved friend to many of us, and the owner of Indigo Massage and Healing Center in Easthampton (later in Florence).

Find out what’s changing this fall!

We’re thrilled to announce that Sanctuary has been selected for a state-funded grant that will match crowdfunding efforts 2-to-1. Having experienced our fair share of hardships during the pandemic, this grant is an opportunity for us to breathe new life into our beloved studio and transform Sanctuary’s common areas to support the next generation of students and teachers.

Owners Lindsay and Jonathan sat down with Tara Brewster of the Western Mass Business Show to share their personal histories, the story of how they came to own Sanctuary, and their renewed vision for the Sanctuary community.

“My yoga practice is my spiritual practice, embodiment ritual, and a touch tree that allows me to come back to myself, and notice how I’m treating my body, mind, and spirit, and from there, how I’m treating those around me.”

“In the moment after a session, I hope my clients feel more in balance and at ease in themselves, with access to more possibilities for movement. Over time, my hope is that clients will be able to deepen their trust in themselves and how and why they move through the world.”

“Through Sanctuary, we’re here to do as much good as we possibly can, with the time and resources we have. Creating community–and advocating for the wellbeing of our community–is among the most important things we can do right now, and always.”

“As a place of personal healing and collective well-being, where people can come and process critical parts of their life, Sanctuary inherently holds space for a lot of big feelings and difficult realities. No matter the case, life is full of things we need to hold and feel, and Sanctuary is intended to support individuals through each new journey.”

“Sanctuary is an open, affirming, and inclusive space for our students, so why not be the same for professionals? Whether someone is just getting started, or they’ve been at it for several decades, we aim to offer a safe and supportive place in our studio for each of them.”

“Lindsay and I had dreams of nurturing a community space that went beyond the philosophies and practice of yoga. Caring for oneself and being a good human takes a lot of work, and yoga is just one of many tools we know have helped ourselves… We are ready to take the next steps towards crafting our original dreams.”

The most important part of my self-care practice is often the most difficult.

“I like to begin class sharing a mantra. That’s the way sacred texts were remembered before they were written down, so it is a connection to the roots of yoga. I approach the asana practice like music. Each class is a song that has peaks and valleys, moments of silence and vinyasa sequences building into crescendos.”

2022 has passed by in a blur of frantic motion. I reach out my hand and try to stop the wheel, but instead I find myself running to catch up with it.

My body is not always a comfortable place to inhabit.

“I have been practicing yoga for over 50 years. It’s part of me.”

“I have a very chaotic personality. I try to incorporate Child’s Pose into my every day. It’s important for me to pause and surrender to stillness, curled around myself, holding my inner child.”

“I have taken yoga classes elsewhere. Yoga instructors are typically nice people. But I find the folks at YS to have a deeper thoughtfulness and intention than I’ve found at other studios.”

“Mindful Yoga is an invitation to slow down and check in with the body and mind in the midst of the frantic rush toward the finish line of a busy week. It’s a reminder that yoga is an embodied practice—one that we carry with us as we roll up our mats and continue going about our daily lives.”

“When I practice yoga I am self-aware and self-assured. It enables me to better hold myself, and others, with the grace and care we deserve.”

“I am transgender and my yoga practice deepened as I began my physical transition. I had never felt at home in my body, and practicing yoga gave me a way to connect with my body even as it was changing. My yoga practice has enabled me to feel present and at home in my body, this vessel of perpetual change and growth.”