Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Houghtaling.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jennifer. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I came to yoga over twenty years ago now much in the same way a lot of people probably do. It was being offered as a class at the gym where I taught group fitness so I tried it as a way to break up my step aerobics and kick boxing work outs! I loved the fluidity of the practice and the strength challenges it offered, but what made me fall in love with the practice was the benefit it gave to my mind. As someone who had struggled with (and continues to manage) anxiety, I began to notice that when I was practicing, I felt, for the most part, present. I wasn’t getting dragged around by the currents of the past or future and I could just, be. Additionally, I distinctly remember lying in my first savasana and experiencing a profound “loosening” around my heart. I just lay there and cried–I wasn’t even sure what about or from where, but it was cathartic and I am still and deeply grateful to my practice for allowing me a space to let go of things that have been making my heart heavy.
After a few years of dedicated practice, I felt compelled to enroll in a teacher training. I began teaching immediately after my first training and I never looked back. That was almost 14 years ago now. I did most of my teaching and remained loyal to one studio, H.Y.P. Studio in Wellesley and even helped run and write curriculum for teacher trainings there.
About two years ago, I was presented with the idea of opening up my own studio. I resisted it for about a year, but the idea kept coming around again. In the wise words of Pema Chodron, “Nothing Ever Goes Away Until It Teaches Us What We Need To Know”….so, I figured I should take a leap of faith, and on July 8th of 2017, Shanti Yoga opened. In retrospect, it made sense as the next tier to wanting to spread the good word about Yoga, and I am beyond grateful I decided though terrified at first, to do it. I made a commitment also, to use the studio as a platform for seva (the sanskrit word for selfless service). Throughout the year we host by donation classes with the intention of “giving back”. Teachers pick causes, often close to their hearts (friends battling cancer, animal rescue, pajama drives for kids at Christmas), and donate their time to raise awareness and contributions.
Has it been a smooth road?
Interestingly enough, it’s probably been one of the most simultaneously challenging and rewarding years of my life! But isn’t that just perfect? It reinforces the notion that two things can and often are true at the same time.
This year I had some health challenges that resulted in major surgery in the fall. I had interpersonal struggles with someone that caused a lot of stress and strain in my life and work. As hard as those two things were, they paled in comparison to what happened most recently. On January 9th, my father died, suddenly. I was in no way prepared and my life came to a screeching halt. I miss him every day.
In the spring of 2017, I remember sitting with my husband at our dining room table, trying to come up with the name and the tag line we would use. Where we landed, “Shanti Yoga: Strength In Community” ended up being the perfect name for our little grass roots studio. Through all of the challenges that life threw at me this year, the community of teachers and students, put the studio on their backs and carried it along lovingly, when I simply couldn’t. Despite the struggles, the studio continued to thrive, grow and support each other and me.
I am forever grateful for the love, compassion and empathy that has been shown to me during this last year. It has made me believe in the resilience of the human spirit and the innate goodness of people. It has emblazoned the quote by Robert Ingersoll on my heart–“We rise by lifting others”.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Shanti Yoga – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We are a community of like-minded and hearted people first and a Yoga and Barre studio second. We teach heated and mildly heated Vinyasa yoga and have teachers on staff that are descendants from lots of different lineages, giving each teacher their own style and energy. We encourage this difference as we believe there is much to learn from keeping an open mind and perspective around movement and Yoga. We also offer Barre and Tabata classes that are a wonderful compliment to asana practice.
In addition to our amazing faculty, we invite incredible teachers and educators to Shanti to offer Workshops. Those offerings have included study in Meditation, Yoga Nidra, Yin Yoga, Acrobatics, Anatomy, Reiki and study of Yoga Philosophy.
Our commitment to service and our community outreach are what I am most proud of and what distinguishes us from other studios.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
My husband and I lived in Belmont for years and loved being so close to the city! The restaurants, the Coolidge Corner Theater, the variety in Yoga studios! I’m not sure there’s much not to like about Boston…maybe the driving? Boston drivers need a little more decaf in their life, and yoga, lol!
Contact Info:
- Address: Shanti Yoga, 61 Wood Street, Hopkinton MA
- Website: www.shantiyoga.studio
- Phone: 508 625 0063
- Email: shantiyogainfo@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shantiyoga_studio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shantiyogahopkinton
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
