Photo courtesy of Lisa Samuels
March 16, 2018 By Tara Law
A yoga and wellness studio that emphasizes inclusivity and empowerment will open in Astoria next weekend.
The Happie House will open next Friday at 30-05 35th St. with a special open house. The studio will offer yoga and meditation classes and nutrition consulting.
The studio was founded by Lisa Samuels, a registered dietician and a certified yoga instructor. Samuels, who has lived in Sunnyside for two years, teaches private yoga classes and formerly taught yoga at Come Together Yoga Studio in Long Island.
As a plus sized woman of color, Samuels said that she often felt alienated in studios where she previously practiced yoga because she did not fit the stereotype of the white, skinny yogi.
“In terms of the community, I was only accepted to a certain extent,” said Samuels. “I wanted to make a place where people can find a community.”
Samuels hopes to build a strong sense of inclusiveness in her own studio. The space will host a tea and social hour every Saturday afternoon from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Samuels also plans to begin hosting social events such as open mike nights and lectures as the studio becomes more established.
Photo courtesy of Lisa Samuels
The studio will host about 23 yoga classes weekly, including restorative, vinyasa and heath yoga sessions. Meditation lessons will also be available, including sound healing meditation sessions on Fridays. Each of the sessions is capped at 16 participants.
Samuels will also offer nutrition counseling at the studio. She welcomes clients who wish to lose weight, or want to develop healthier eating habits. A major component of her counseling, she says, is talk therapy.
“There is more to eating than food,” said Samuels.
The Happie House will host an open house from March 23 to March 25. All yoga classes throughout the weekend will be free and open to the public. Signup is at the link.
The studio will also host a free brunch event next Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. with tea, coffee and small bites.
For more information about the open house weekend, visit the link.
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3 Comments
Check out their website, they seem to be offering some rather ambitious programs, unfortunately I’m probably not qualified to do anything other than “sleep yoga”.
Best of luck, I think you are fulfilling a big need in the neighborhood and will probably outgrow that space quickly.
When you do yoga, you should focus on the practice, and the meditation,not on the skinny white stereotype…
Think you missed the point and think she is focused on the practice, hence this. I’m thankful and happy she’s opening up this studio.