This 6-week series is designed especially for LGBTQIA+ identified students who are looking to connect with their bodies and their breath in a supportive, community oriented environment. This space aims to create a container where queer and trans community members can cultivate joy, a deeper relationship with their bodies, and a sense of connectedness to their yoga practice.

The need for justice and equity within our community demands constant attention, and we are grateful for the countless organizations, committees, and activist groups working toward their causes. Sanctuary is a community partner to these organizations and groups, with the intent to raise awareness and encourage action. We hope to use our platform and resources to foster change!

“My hope is to provide a space and time to do the practice of opening up to and really feeling and accepting what is here now. This is not easy, but what's the alternative? As one of my favorite teachers, Byron Katie, says, ‘When you fight reality, you lose, but only 100% of the time.’”

Birth work is activism. Encouraging and empowering families to discern what their beliefs are about birth—to shut out all the societal noise—to dig deep and let themselves know what agency they will have in something that is patterned yet sometimes unpredictable.

“My favorite thing about teaching this class is connecting with people! At the beginning of class, I will always ask if there are special requests for an area of the body to work on, or limitations to keep in mind. As a trained yoga therapist, I love connecting with people around taking care of their bodies!” 

One of the most meaningful ways life coaching changed my life was in allowing me to transform my relationships with my daughters from fraught difficult relationships, into connected, joyful, loving relationships. Once I saw the power of life coaching, I wanted to share it with everyone!

“I hope that students will leave class with feelings of spaciousness and stability in their minds and bodies, a renewed sense of embodiment.”

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.