Introduction
Rebekah Jacobs and Angie Mandl from Sama Yoga in New Canaan, Connecticut
Owner and founder of Sama Yoga Studio in Halo Fitness
As a studio owner, studio director, mother, wife, student, seeker, adventurer and entrepreneur, Rebekah is constantly refining life skills to navigate the challenges and joys that encapsulate this dynamic human experience. Her journey started while on tour with a Broadway show and continues to reveal insights and opportunities beyond her dreams. As the former Director at Richard Gere's Bedford Post Yoga Loft, she is proud to have contributed to this studio which has earned accolades including 'Best Yoga Center' Westchester, featured in Well + Good, Luxury Travel Mag, Off Metro, CNN, NY Mag, WAG, Urban Agenda, Show Boats International, among others. Rebekah opened Sama Yoga Center in New Canaan, CT., serving Fairfield County and beyond. Part of their mission is to make yoga accessible for every body, age and ability.
Four pillars of optimal health – stress, nutrition, exercise, recovery
Yoga is interpreted differently
Halo and New Canaan Racquet Club wanted a Yoga studio and brought Rebekah into to open her practice here in New Canaan
Angie moved here from India – worked at other studios before Sama
Angie performed 3 yoga teacher trainings
Willingness and need for people to connect in a real way and to feel safe
Sama Yoga made Angie felt comfortable for the first time
Sama is committed to the community
Academy for teachers has evolved
The first teacher training is more about philosophy
Started with 10 students ages 13-68
Every lecture is available online and we created this platform before COVID
Every word they say was written down
How many individuals have gone through the academy?
Hesitant about teenagers because we ask a lot of them
Youngest is 13 years old and registered with yoga alliance
Passionate about sharing what they know to support positive leadership
5 or 6 tennagers were Yoga trained out of 60 graduates
Accredited with the yoga alliance – certain criteria must be met for this
Graduates can be registered with the yoga alliance which is nationally and internationally recognized so graduates can teach anywhere
Yoga alliance makes sure all 8 limbs of yoga are being taught to students
Seated poses, back bends, and how to do poses that is safe, not continually correcting the pose
8 limbs of yoga is a template – yama (abstinences), niyama (observances), asana (yoga postures), pranayama (breath control), pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation) and samadhi (absorption)
Don’t pay attention to the noise in the next room
So many different types of people in the class
Yoga can be for everybody, no matter age, gender, demographic or body type
Yoga is not a gymnastics class at Sama Yoga
Looks out over the meditation garden and hold regular classes outdoors in meditation garden
Summer has been tough on Sama Yoga
Providing a service that meet people right where they are right now.
Sama Yoga is where people come in and say “this is the only place im going.”
Classes in person, classes online, and classes at the same time
Virtual community where you can practice in your own home
With any fitness level or body type, you can feel included
To contact Sama Yoga or for more information:
Www.samayogacenter.com
IG: @samayogacenter @samayogaacademy
Facebook: Sama Yoga Center