Charleston’s yoga scene in Charleston has grown in recent months, producing tight-knit communities and more than 20 studios to explore.
But Sarah Frick, owner of The Works and The Renew — which have several locations across Charleston — said it wasn’t always this way.
“When we opened our first studio, we were on upper King Street, there was nothing there,” Frick said. “There were maybe two other studios in town, and now it seems there is one on every street corner.”
In the midst of the yoga boom, the Covid-19 pandemic brought everything to a sudden halt. Studios had to adapt to new conditions and get creative with how they catered their services. Many were forced to close their doors. Others, however, were able to persist by offering their classes via the internet, said Trace Bonner, director of Holy Cow Yoga Center in West Ashley.
“I remember we closed on a Monday, and we opened on that Tuesday virtually only,” she said.
Some people think of yoga as a physical activity — rolling out a mat for movement based mediation practice. However, Bonner likes to think of yoga as a way of being, mixing physical and philosophical aspects together to make yoga. And that combination made it a great outlet during the pandemic, she said.
“Yoga means different things based on your understanding of it. When I think of yoga, I’m thinking that I’m centered, mindful, grounded, open in a state of ease with my actions, reactions and interactions in this chaotic world,” Bonner said. “Yoga has changed and evolved, and I think that’s what it’s supposed to do.”
Booming post-pandemic
After the pandemic, the industry changed to become more front and center and more lucrative, according to Frick. There are now more than 20 studios throughout the Charleston area that work together to bring yoga to the community, she said.
And with Charleston being such a destination spot for visitors and new residents, the appeal is only growing.
Bonner said she noticed another change after the pandemic. With rapid growth, she said she worried the focus has shifted more toward yoga being just another workout, instead of a practice for mindfulness and overall wellness. This, she said, could lead to yoga becoming a passing trend rather than a lifelong practice.
“I feel like people are saying kick my ass, make me sweat, make me workout,” she said. “It makes me wonder if yoga has transitioned into solely a workout that’s just another form of exercise.”
As the yoga scene continues to grow, Bonner said she hopes that as a community, yogis proceed to carry the teachings of yoga with them. Taking the balance and mindfulness practiced, and spreading that amongst others.
“My great hope would be that we can find peace and equanimity within ourselves, and then share that with our greater community,” she said. “If we can still practice for ourselves, we can love one another and find ease within ourselves. And that would be beautiful.”
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