In an effort to fill a need and keep its community together, a new yoga studio is in the works for the Capital City.
Registered Yoga teacher and head yogi at the Wilson's Fitness downtown location, Megan Sappington, said the new space, to be located at 128 E. Dunklin St., will be both beautiful and historic, a space for those who already love yoga, as well as those just exploring.
The vision: An all inclusive yoga studio where no style is restricted and teachers from around the state can host classes fitting their specific niche.
"What's great is nothing like this exists in Mid-Missouri," Sappington noted.
There are many narrow niche studios throughout Central Missouri that speak to only a small crowd of people. The new studio will combine all types of yoga, offering classes for beginners, hot yoga, Hatha, Kundalini, Aeraial, Therapeutic, teen yoga and more.
The current facility is located downtown at the corners of West High and Jefferson streets. Sappington said yoga has been held in that third floor location for almost 13 years, formerly Show Me Yoga, adding a partnership with Wilson's about 31â„2 years ago. As of Aug. 1, however, the Wilson's classes held there will essentially be homeless as the building owner, Central Bank, prepares the space to be used for other things.
In response to its impending move, Sappington said she, and Wilson's Fitness owner Keri Austin, as well as other yoga participants in the area, are trying to make the most of the situation. They have taken the opportunity to create something new.
"It's going to be created by the community, for the community," Sappington explained.
The new studio will require contribution of time and talent as well as monetary donations. The space is essentially a blank canvas, one these yogis plan to make their own.
Taking a note from the Yoga society, Sappington said the word Seva - meaning community outreach and involvement - will be heavily emphasized throughout the transition and into the future.
"We're looking at this as a community process," the yoga instructor noted.
Plans for the studio include a water feature to welcome visitors, a second floor Hot Yoga studio, two massage rooms and a private studio. Eventually showers and locker rooms will be added as well. The original hardwood floors will be exposed and the tin tiled ceilings will be kept for a sense of history.
Perhaps the most unique aspect about the Dunklin Street building will be the addition of an eventual rooftop option. Sappington and Austin both agreed the flat rooftop space will be perfect to host sunrise and sunset classes in the future.
In the down time between Aug. 1 and that anticipated October opening, Wilson's will host "pop-up yoga classes," utilizing various spaces throughout Jefferson City.
In an email to yoga clients, Sappington calls this new studio a "once in a lifetime opportunity."
"We have to do this, as we believe that all of the incredibly talented teachers and huge community will disperse and once again be separated," she added.
Sappington estimated there are more than 400 people in Mid-Missouri currently using the local Yoga studios. Even people from out of town visit the downtown location. "We have travelers who always come to class when they're in town."
Aside from adding new types of classes, the future venue will also allow for new yoga instructors to emerge. The studio hopes to become registered with the Yoga Alliance, the governing board for yoga both nationally and internationally. Currently there are only three registered yoga teachers in Jefferson City. The new studio hopes to change that by offering a teacher training program, a service not offered anywhere closer than St. Louis. Mini classes will also be offered prior to the training for those interested in learning more about that training opportunity.
As yoga gains popularity in Central Missouri, Sappington and Austin hope to fill the need. A July 27 community rally, a 108 Sun-Salute Mala, where participants go through a series of yoga postures in one sitting, will jumpstart the donations process. The 9 a.m. event is open to the public and will be held in the downtown location, 101A W. High St. Donations are also being accepted on the Wilson's Fitness website through PayPal.
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