New Studio Opening: Devi Yoga
Devi Yoga is a small studio in Williamsburg that was quietly opened last year by Bridget Vizoso, a professional floral designer. As you might expect, the space is warm and inviting with plenty of artfully arranged candles, flowers and plants that brings a little nature into this cozy space.
Vizoso actually found the studio when she was looking for a new home for her floral business. Serendipitously a friend needed to vacate her own. She realized it was not only the perfect size to run her business in the back, but it would also allow her to realize a dream of creating a quaint yoga studio in the front. Not surprisingly, nature references often float into explanations of asanas while tree branches decorate in the studio.
Vizoso currently has a core schedule of classes at peak times of the day like 7am, 12:15pm and 7:30pm that she’s found best serves her current clientele.
Vizoso originally was introduced to yoga through Jivamukti and after years of classes got her certification through Kelly Morris. Her classes and studio are vinyasa-based with each of the teachers on the schedule, people like Hollis Maloney, Gabrielle Stratton and Rachel Martin, adding their own twists.
Although Vizoso encourages the teachers to show their individuality, she requires all instructors teach no more than two poses on one side before balancing it on the opposing side and that they all include a meditation in each class. In addition, all instructors are very well-versed on manual adjustments.
Classes are small with an average of three per class. Vizoso admits to liking the small size and the fact that the studio is more a passionate labor of love than a money making venture. She understands that a benefit for the students is often getting a private or semi-private in a class and therefore students can expect a lot of personal attention.
Vizoso loves connecting the idea of yoga and meditation to real life for students and often includes personal stories as dharma talks at the beginning of class. She recently began bridging her two passions by offering a series of flower arranging workshops as a type of meditation in motion lesson. The first was “A Meditation on Color and Form.”
Classes are $10 each. To learn more about the current class schedule and workshops go to the Devi Yoga website.
-- Allison Richard is a self-care coach and yoga and meditation instructor. Visit her website or follow her on Instagram
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