From Me, to our Community

Hello,
I’m Lucy (she/her)
Owner of Shakti Power Yoga in Athens, GA.

I started practicing at Shakti in 2019. I had taken a class led by Ruby, and one afternoon she saw me walking down Prince Avenue with a yoga mat and invited me to the studio. It was my first time in the physical space. I don’t remember much about my first class except I remember feeling like the teacher was speaking directly to me about my own experiences and challenges in life. I remember leaving class feeling seen, understood, accepted, appreciated, empowered, and like I wasn’t alone.

Before I ever took a yoga class, I wanted to be a yoga instructor, and before I ever moved to Athens, I dreamed of owning a yoga studio. As a young child I did gymnastics and loved being in my body, twisting, and bending. I am so incredibly grateful to have found the practice of yoga.

Besides the love of being in my body and the physical asana, yoga has transformed my life, my way of being, my understanding of the world around me, and how I react to challenge and disruption. It has brought me so much freedom, strength, and resilience.

I have struggled in my life with disorders such as eating, substances, as well as physical abusive trauma. This practice allowed me to meet myself without judgement, guilt, or shame, and provided space for me to heal alongside this community. It was in this community that I found myself. I found my passion and joy. I found my ability to trust myself, my body, and other people, again. I found a space that felt safe and like home.

There is no true way for me to express how much Shakti, the community, the practice of yoga, the teachers, and students have impacted my life. However, I hope to show up for this community as a leader, friend, and instructor and tell you ‘thank you’ daily. Thank you for being here, thank you for trusting me, thank you for teaching me, thank you for your contribution to this amazing community, and thank you for honoring this sacred practice of yoga.

I teach yoga as a service to myself and others, to expand and connect to intuition, so we may know what we need in the moment—on and off the mat.

As Shakti’s owner, I commit to cultivating meaningful connection. I commit to showing up in every capacity and holding space for you to do the same. I commit to seeing you, hearing you, welcoming you, and trusting you. I commit to creating a brave and inclusive space. I commit to honoring this practice, students, teachers, and the community. I commit to honoring your process—on and off the mat.

I am excited to step into this new chapter of my life with you. I am excited to build and expand our community, and I am excited for Shakti’s future.

With deepest appreciation, the sincerest gratitude, and all the Shakti love,

Lucy S.