Today we’d like to introduce you to Justine Budhram.
Justine, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My first experience with yoga was in an acting class in college; we did sun salutations as a warm up for the class. I have never been a naturally flexible person, and could never even touch my toes! By the end of a semester of a couple sun salutations per week, I was able to touch my toes for the first time, so I decided to make yoga a regular part of my life. I practiced the few postures I had learned in class at home for a few years before finally taking my first actual yoga class.
As I continued my yoga journey, I realized that the benefits I was receiving from my practice went much deeper than physical flexibility and strength; I began to find a level of gratitude, self-acceptance, and calmness of spirit that I had never experienced before. I decided I wanted to share my joy and love of yoga, so I completed my yoga teacher training in 2008, six years after my first sun salute. That year my husband and I moved to Massachusetts, and after teaching at several studios and gyms, I opened Ananda Yoga in 2010. I am happy that my studio has grown into a warm and friendly community, where everybody is welcome.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The Pioneer Valley is pretty saturated with yoga studios. One of my challenges has been making my way as a new studio in a sea of older and more established studios. But each studio in the Valley offers a unique focus, environment, and style. People who are attracted to a friendly and approachable style of practice with a lot of personal attention (I know every client’s name) eventually find their way to my studio.
Ananda Yoga – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We are known for friendly and warm classes with an atmosphere that encourages everybody to see yoga as a playful and exploratory practice. We specialize in heated vinyasa/flow classes that offer challenging postures for experienced practitioners as well as modifications for less experienced practitioners.
My classes specifically are unique in that they are taught from a functional movement perspective. I teach certain postures as templates for how to move in your daily life to keep people free from pain and injury. Also unique in my classes is I add bits of soft tissue work with balls and rollers to teach clients how to self-treat sore, tight areas of their bodies.
I am proud that I know the name of every client, and that my business feels like a true community, rather than just a place people come for yoga.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
The palpable energy in the room after a yoga class – a whole group of people feeling revitalized. Seeing everybody walk out of the class feeling better than when they walked in. Giving people tools and techniques to get themselves out of pain. Those are success to me.
Contact Info:
- Address: 41 Russell St.
Hadley, MA 01035 - Website: www.ananda-yoga.us
- Email: info@ananda-yoga.us
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anandayogahadley/
- Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/biz/ananda-yoga-hadley
Image Credit:
westonjade.com
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