Founded in July of 2009 by Suki Dalury and Genevieve Oswald, Shree Yoga Taos is Taos’ only truly dedicated yoga studio.
The two women met when they both worked as baristas at the World Cup Cafe. Suki’s studies in Yoga began in childhood (her mother is a Yoga Teacher), and she has accumulated hundreds of hours of training in various forms since. Her teachers include Noah Maze, Naime Jesseny and John Friend.
With a focus on alignment and therapeutics, she has lately been inspired by the Yin Yoga practice. Suki is loved by her loyal students for her great light and big heart.
Heart seems to be the operative word here. Genevieve Oswald (who happens to be my daughter), is an Anusara Inspired teacher. After sustaining a serious break and subsequent fusion to her lumbar spine at almost 16, she came to Yoga much later, after being introduced to it by a family friend in NYC, and soon after forging a friendship with Suki, who encouraged her to begin a practice of her own. This led her to complete a 200 hour Anusara Teacher Training with Bea Doyle in 2009.
Gen’s intimate understanding of injury and vulnerability in the body, together with heartfelt compassion and empathy, brings another level of awareness to her classes.
Shree’s Mission Statement in part tells us that the intention of this serene and beautifully appointed yoga studio “ is to create a safe, nurturing, and welcoming environment for people to gather and gain awareness through movement. Shree Yoga Taos is rooted in a celebration of intrinsic goodness, and the awakened spirit of an aware and aligned body. Shree Yoga Taos is a community space, designed to empower and uplift everyone who enters.”
Since opening Shree has continued to offer nearly 30 affordable classes weekly, to students at varying levels. Shree has continued to win the Best Of Taos award every year since the inclusion of Best Yoga Studio in 2014.
In their Press Release the two women note that “Shree has always been about giving back, and serving our community, be that community our students, yogis in Taos, Taos itself, or larger communities within which we operate. We have tried to keep our class fees low so as to make yoga and its benefits available to as many people as possible. Inclusion is a major value of ours.”
In conjunction with International Yoga Day (declared by the United Nations in 2015), and in recognition of the great service they provide to our community, at last Tuesday’s town hall meeting here in Taos, June 21st, the day of the Summer Solstice, was declared Shree Yoga Day!
To honor the occasion Shree has a few special events planned through June and July to celebrate a decade of yoga in Taos.
On June 21st International Day of Yoga, Shree will be hosting a Free Yoga Class on Taos Plaza from 7:30-8:30 pm. On Friday evening, June 21, on Summer Solstice, to kick off kick off their 10th Anniversary celebrations, they will be offering a FREE class to Taos, co-taught by Suki Dalury and Genevieve Oswald.
Bring your friends and join in the fun. Participants will need to bring their own mats and props for the class.
And in recognition of its true anniversary on July 10th, Shree will host a weekend of free 1 hour classes taught by several of its great teachers beginning Friday July 12th (7:30 am; 9:30 am; Noon; 2:30 pm; 5:30 pm), Saturday July 13th (9:30 am; Noon; 2:30 pm; 5:30 pm), and Sunday July 14th (9:30 am; Noon; 2:30 pm; 5:30 pm).
Also from June 21st through July 231st, Shree is giving back even more with 10% off all punch passes and $1 off all drop in’s.
Along with a core of ever growing loyal locals, the studio continues to host many visiting students and teachers from out of town; a few of them very famous. In class though, they are simply themselves. Yoga is a great equalizer, with humility at the root of its profound teachings. Suki and Genevieve both strive to keep that balance in their lives, work and in the studio! Speaking of which, yesterday the Feng Shui elves were hard at work, clearing stagnant energy and making room for the chi to keep flowing freely!
Happy Summer everyone and Congratulations to Suki and Genevieve along with all the other great teachers at Shree! Here’s to another 10 years and many more!
For more information on Shree Yoga Taos and all they offer, please visit their site linked below. And don’t forget to bring your heart!
All images thanks to Suki Dalury at Shree
