My favorite yoga class at my regular gym didn’t survive the pandemic, so I was excited to try the offerings at Yoga Soup, the treasured Santa Barbara studio founded by Eddie Ellner in 2006. I was looking forward to increasing my flexibility and relieving muscle tension. What I found was a space that offered a class for nearly every mood and physical circumstance.
I started with a Strong Flow Level 2/3 class on a weekday evening. Instructor Lauren Hopper led the packed class through a series of asanas, including chair pose and fallen angel. As she challenged our balance with a transition from twisted chair to twisted crescent, Hopper shared a quote from Buddhist nun Pema Chödrön: “Only to the extent that we expose ourselves over and over to annihilation can that which is indestructible be found in us.” Or, as my friend who’s a regular put it: “This class is brutal but it’s good for me.”
For those who may still not be comfortable exercising in a large room in close proximity to strangers (especially when you’re all being exhorted to exhale through your mouth), Yoga Soup offers online and outdoor options as well.