When you spend life in the clouds, sometimes you need a little grounding.
This is exactly why local flight attendant Amelie Auger decided to launch her yoga studio and cafe in downtown Squamish.
In what she describes as a “lifelong dream,” the business venture came together quickly, but organically, to open in late March.
“With being a flight attendant, I also wanted a little bit of grounding, and I've been practising yoga forever,” Auger told The ¾¢±¬´ó¹Ï.
“I did my teacher training before the pandemic, and then was teaching a little bit in different workshops and things like that. Then, when I moved to Squamish, I was teaching at different gyms and ... I just thought, well, how hard would it be to create the space that people want, and so I started looking into it.”
Within three months, Prana Yoga was open, offering 10 different classes to the public.
The space
The classes on offer include: yin, hatha, vinyasa, bhakti, strong and slow flow, as well as baby and me yoga.
“I discovered yoga when I was 14 years old, so early teens. I've never stopped practising since then, and I've always come back to it, and it's been so beneficial in my life,” Auger said.
“And this is what I want to share with people.
“It's not about what the posture looks like, it's about what it makes you feel or what it brings you back to. And it's been really nice to see people come in here and say, ‘Oh, I've reconnected with yoga after a long time.’”
Prana Yoga supplies all the props and mats so that guests can simply bring themselves (and their baby) to the classes.
“They're welcome to bring their mats or anything that they want. But I just also wanted to make it accessible. If you don't have the full gear or anything like that, you know, everything's available here,” she said.
Alongside the yoga classes, Auger has also set up a cafe within the space.
“I always had this idea of this little coffee shop and a yoga studio, and it was just something always in the back of my mind,” she said.
“[The idea behind the cafe] is that community aspect, just to be able to come in and sit here after class and have a beverage and chat.
“I am still touched by how well received it was and how much support I've been getting from everybody who came on board.”
While the cafe only serves beverages and small treats, Auger said the sales help to keep the pricing lower for the yoga classes.
“The coffee was community-driven, but another thing is that I do want to make it affordable for people. So having the coffee is kind of helping a little bit to keep the yoga affordable,” she said.
“It's one of those things that was important to me that I'm really charging the least that I can.”
Unsurprisingly, there has been a lot of interest and support from the community for both yoga and coffee.
“There is a lot of support within the community, which is really, really special. Starting a place like this here in Squamish is also really aligned,” she said.
“I don't think it would have been the same in any other place in the world.”
Drop-in classes are $21, try as many classes as you like for $55 or opt for a monthly yoga plan for $145.
To book a class or to learn more about Prana Yoga, or pop into their studio at 1241 Village Green Way.
The Squamish Business Beat was developed in response to local demand for more business-focused news. To be considered, please reach out to [email protected].
While funding for this coverage was provided, The ¾¢±¬´ó¹Ï maintains full editorial control over all content.
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