Beloved AYC Students and Community,
We want to start this letter by expressing our immense gratitude to you, our loyal clients and supportive yoga community. This year has brought all kinds of change and uncertainty into all of our lives, and we continue to remain in awe of your support and patience as we navigate this “new normal.”
For more than twenty years we have not just built a business together with Asheville Yoga Center, we have fostered a community. Our amazing teachers and staff are at the heart of our practice—but our purpose is rooted in helping others grow in strength, awareness, peace, and overall health. With that in mind, we would like to provide you with an update on our intentions moving forward.
For several years now, we have been exploring what a transition in ownership would look like. We are both ready for the next chapters in our lives. We are taking the next step in entertaining offers as we fully explore new ownership options of the business and properties, collectively or individually. What does this mean for AYC and you? The intention is that operations will not change as we add fresh new energy to the foundation we have already built. We will be making this transition as smooth as possible for everyone. Trainings are booked as far out as December of 2021. Despite the constraints on our business brought on by COVID-19, we are continuing to run AYC as “business as usual.” Any serious inquiries should be directed to our broker Jay Lurie at lurie.jay@gmail.com.
We are eager to define our individual and shared paths ahead. We have the utmost respect and mutual admiration for all we have created together as a yoga family and beautiful community. Our desire to be transparent with you about our present intentions has been the catalyst for this communication. We will keep you up-to-date as the future reveals greater clarity and purpose to our vision. Know that you are valued, and we truly cherish the community we have created together!
Many thanks to each and every one of you for your continued faith in AYC!
Much love,
Stephanie & Sunny Keach
Capital at Play Features Yoga in the Park Summer Series
Just as yogis lengthen their limbs—arms, legs, fingers, and toes—with an intentional groan of muscles, so is the yoga industry expanding to accommodate more practitioners, products, concepts, and classes. As of 2018, some 36 million Americans practice yoga; between 2012 and 2016 alone, the number of practitioners increased by 50%. For all its spirituality, it’s also an undeniably capitalistic enterprise, and a profitable one at that: We spend $16 billion on yoga classes, clothing, equipment, and accessories annually, with the average yogi dolling out some $90 monthly to deepen their practice.
Click to read the full article.
Yoga Digest Features Asheville Yoga Center’s Article
The sun smiles down on Mother Earth and softly embraces our hemisphere with abundant beauty and warmth. As we celebrate the beginning of the summer solstice, we begin to experience the heat of the season as it sets in for the next few months. Summertime serves as the perfect opportunity to ignite your practice as you enjoy longer, warmer days. There’s no better time to channel the fiery power of your Manipura or Navel Chakra.
Om Yoga & Lifestyle Magazine Feature
Spring is the perfect opportunity to ignite the root chakra (muladhara) inside ourselves as a time of rebirth and new growth. The chakras manifest themselves as spinning wheels of energy that correspond to specific areas of the body. The human body consists of seven chakras which influence behaviors and values in our lives. You’ll experience differences in your body depending on which chakra you choose to activate. The root chakra is represented by the element earth. As earth provides the foundation and resources for our existence, the root chakra serves as the foundation for the entire chakra system. Located at the base of the spine, it is associated with feelings of safety and grounding. It allows us to grow with security while we explore all aspects of our lives.
Shape Up for Spring
Spring is just around the corner which means it’s time to refresh, rejuvenate and get back to feeling your best! Shake off those winter blues and spring forward into a new season of endless opportunity. When we think of spring we think of new growth and fresh starts. The same goes for your health! A healthy body starts with nutrition, water and physical exercise. Whether you’re trying to tone and strengthen muscle, or you’re just working on having healthier habits, take advantage of the spring season to get back on track. Try this asana sequence to feel more grounded and shape up for spring.
The Benefits of Yoga in the Winter Season
Even for the most devoted yogi, the winter months can be a drag when it comes to getting motivated to hit the mat. We get it – cold, dark, lonely – who wouldn’t want to stay curled up at home? But consistently skipping your workout could backfire, especially in the colder months when your body (and mind) are most vulnerable to sickness and stress. So don’t take the season off. Here are some reasons to amp up your yoga practice this winter.
Showing Aparigraha in Our Community
Since inception, we have made it a priority to do what we can to positively impact our environment. As yogis, we strive for aparigrapha, which is the idea of not taking more than one needs.
Our solar-powered, environmentally sustainable yoga center sits on a lushly landscaped campus surrounded by an abundance of edible and aromatic native trees and plants. Daylighting is utilized as much as possible in our classrooms to reduce the consumption of electric lights. We’ve implemented all of these areas of sustainability to support the health and well-being of our environment.
In keeping with the yogic principle of aparigrapha, we feel that it is our duty to do what we can to give back and support nonprofits with these same values and who also go above and beyond to combat environmental issues. We are seeing harmful effects on our planet daily, and we are determined to do something about it.
During the month of June, we are partnering with MountainTrue as our Charity of the Month to support their efforts in sustaining a healthy, natural environment here in Western North Carolina. They value the integrity of natural systems – air, land, water, and native plants and animals – and believe in the restoration and protection of them to benefit all generations. The organization empowers individuals throughout the region to engage in policy and project advocacy, outreach and education and on the ground projects.
As yogis, we believe in being caring and compassionate to all living things. Here are a few small ways that you can help positively impact the environment in your own day-to-day life and protect our beautiful planet:
#1. Use Reusable Bags
We have a huge problem with plastic bags. They get discarded in landfills and can end up suffocating animals who either get stuck in them or mistake them for food. Keep a few canvas bags in your car for the next time you go grocery shopping to cut down on your plastic consumption.
#2. Carpool Whenever Possible
If you can, take public transportation, walk or ride a bike. If you can ride with friends to outings you will be able to cut down on your carbon footprint.
#3. Be Mindful About Water and Energy Consumption
Water is wasted more frequently than you think! Be mindful to turn off faucets while you brush your teeth and limit your water consumption while you wash dishes. You can save water by keeping showers short and efficient. When you leave a room, turn lights off to conserve energy.
If you would like to support MountainTrue, donation boxes will be available all month long in the Studio and Boutique for monetary donations. On Wednesday, June 26 at 6pm, we will host a donation-based class focused on gratitude for our beautiful planet. All proceeds will be donated. On Thursday, June 27, we will host our Donation Day where 10 percent of all community and drop-in class sales will be donated. In addition, AYC will give a direct donation of $250. Please join us for a class and show your support!
Asheville Yoga Center Raises Donations for Pisgah Legal Services All Month
10% of Drop-In and Community Class Sales on Thursday, March 28 Donated
Asheville Yoga Center prepares for a full month of fundraising for Pisgah Legal Services as its Charity of the Month partner. The organization strives to pursue justice by providing legal assistance and advocacy to help low-income individuals in Western North Carolina meet their basic needs. Some of their charitable work includes; providing legal aid to those living in poverty, partnering with agencies to make sustainable changes for people in crisis and improving policies which impact thousands of low-income individuals in the area.
“We are honored to be able to partner with Pisgah Legal and support their efforts in helping improve the lives of those in our community. As members of the yoga community, we feel that it is our duty to do what we can to help those in need of basic living rights,” says Melissa Driver, General Manager of Asheville Yoga Center.
From March 1 until March 31, donation boxes will be located in both the Studio and Boutique for monetary donations. On Thursday, March 28, 10% of all drop-in and community class sales will be directly donated to the non-profit. You can show support by coming in for a class at the Studio or by visiting the Boutique!
“Pisgah Legal Services is grateful for the support we can receive from the Asheville Yoga Center and other local businesses. We rely on community support to provide free legal help to those who need it most and also to raise awareness of issues facing people living in poverty here in our mountains. When we come together to ensure that our most vulnerable residents have access to justice, we all thrive,” says Ally Wilson, Director of Development, Pisgah Legal Services.
If you’d like to learn more about the organization or speak to a representative, please come by the Studio on March 28 for our donation day. A member of the Pisgah Legal team will be present to answer any questions regarding their work in the community.
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