Youga Yoga
By Lindy Burns
Youga Yoga is Corpus Christi’s first Donation-Based Yoga Studio located in the Down Town area behind Threads. I have cultivated this long-time dream of mine over the past 8 years by volunteering classes to my community in a variety of settings; MHMR, City Hall, Juvenile Justice Boot Camp and Probation department, in parks, on the beach, and out of my home just to name a few. I have a passion for bringing yoga to those neighbors of my community who may not have thought twice about trying yoga or maybe haven’t had the opportunity to do so. My practice has exposed me to a community of genuine and authentic people who celebrate the unique differences and accomplishments of each other. These people have taught me about the power of synergy. I also believe in personal empowerment and the transformation one can attain through the practice of yoga because of what this practice has given to me. It is a joy to share this gift with my community.
Through the practice of yoga we can achieve optimal health, even reverse damage and wear and tear our bodies have already sustained. Furthermore, the practice has the ability to release one from self imposed limitations. The physical benefits of yoga can serve as rehabilitation for physical injury, surgery, or illness, but can also offer the most intense workout one can be exposed to. Yoga is a process of self exposure, first on a physical level: “What am I physically capable of? How does tightness or weakness in my body affect me on the day to day?” Then as you explore your thoughts and perceptions of the world around you on a deeper level: “How do my thoughts affect my experience in this pose? How do my thoughts affect the way I perceive life?” Even if you are only interested in yoga for pure physical benefits, you will find that the practice can reduce stress, tone and strengthen the body, increase range of motion leading to more comfort and functional movement, and lead to feelings of joy and personal satisfaction (just to name a few!). The mission of Youga Yoga Donation-Based Studio is to expose yoga to as many people in the community as possible and make it available to anyone willing to step in to their own practice. When we feel physically and mentally balanced on an individual level, we see more harmony on a collective level.
The practice of yoga is the practice of self care and self appreciation, when we see the good in ourselves we can see the good, the potential, in the world around us and find joy in the good tidings of others. Our Donation-Based space was created organically and almost instantly thanks to the support and inspiration of Threads. The individual people in the downtown area are interested in building community and each other by supporting LOCAL businesses, Arts, programs, gatherings, and individuals. I have long supported the restoration of the downtown district and have always been inspired by the community spirit rich in the downtown area. Our Downtown cultivates a collective interest that calls to people throughout the Coastal Bend.
Why Donation-Based? The practice of giving, aparigraha, is paradoxically the practice of abundance. You may have heard the common phrase, “You reap what you sow”. That type of mentality is essentially what we are trying to cultivate here at Youga Yoga Downtown. When we give freely, we are sowing seeds of abundance, which ultimately attracts more abundance to us. It is all a part of the cycle.
Youga Yoga is interested in doing our part not only to contribute to the betterment of our community, but to enhance each and every community member’s personal experience in this world. The Benefits of yoga will find you regardless of your current limitations or capabilities. Our classes are geared to develop a solid foundation for a personal transformation through the practice of yoga. Step on to the mat, into the journey, and discover a yoga for you, wherever you are.