Look back at your list of New Years’ resolutions for 2015. Chances are, one of them is to get back in shape. But now that it’s March, how many times have you hit the gym? If you can count the number on one hand, maybe it’s time for a different approach. If treadmills and weight benches just aren’t working for you, Idaho Yoga Co-op just might have the answer.
For starters, the location is much nicer than the gym. Nestled in a loft on Shoup Avenue in Downtown, the main location of Idaho Yoga Co-op is open and welcoming, decorated with beautiful artwork, cushions and couches from faraway places, paired with the antique charm only a historic building can have. The studio space itself is enormous, with plenty of room to stretch. The space came to be this way after lots of hard work; the loft had been unoccupied for 15 years prior to the Co-op’s inception. Despite the dirt and clear signs of neglect, Daysha Hampton had a positive attitude about the potential of the loft: “When you have a vision or you can see what something can become, an artistic idea of it, you can see it there. I don’t know if anyone saw what I did, or just thought I was crazy!” she said.
An East Idaho native, Hampton is the owner and founder of the Co-op. “I grew up in Idaho Falls and knew that it needed something like this,” she said. “I thought it was about time that the community could support something like it, that there was enough interest in all of these different things. It was the right time...and it’s working.”
Hampton spent over 12 years studying yoga and traveling to almost 50 countries to do it, including years where she lived in India, Thailand and many other nations. After returning to Idaho to open a yoga studio in the Teton Valley, she got a phone call from a fellow yoga instructor who was planning on moving and hoped that Hampton could take over the Namaste Yoga studio. She still conducts classes in that studio space, which is just around the corner from the loft inside Kingston Plaza, and also uses it as a wellness center for massage, footzonology and much more. The loft is her pride and joy; after weeks of hard labor with the help of friends and other instructors, it’s now a shining and beautiful space, perfect for peace of mind and body.
The purpose of the Co-op extends far beyond yoga alone, though. “I want to fill this space with positivity. I want everyone in the community to know that the Co-op exists, and to come and find something for them,” says Hampton, “Whether you come for art classes or dance classes...it’s a yoga studio, but they don’t even have to come for yoga, they can come for different things.” The Co-op has an incredible offering for anyone and everyone in the community; at any given time, you can find a variety of yoga classes, art classes, tai chi, nutrition classes, meditation workshops, dance, zumba, dance, and more. It’s easy to sign up for an individual class, or to sign up for passes to attend specific classes of anything and everything offered. Artisan products are also sold within the Co-op by local artists and makers. For those hoping to dive deeper into the world of yoga and meditation, there’s training courses for anyone who wants to become an instructor, as well as traveling with Hampton to study yoga in India and other destinations around the world. The opportunities are endless, and always growing.
To some, yoga or any of the other activities the Co-op offers may seem intimidating, especially to those who don’t think they’re flexible or fit enough to give it a shot. But it can be the missing piece to your health, both physically and mentally. It’s not just another gym; it’s a collaborative effort. “The Co-op’s never been mine,” said Hampton, “Everything in here is a contribution from the community. The teachers can share their gifts with the community, and I want the community to have personal investment in this. I want to grow this into a space where people can come in and out and make it their own.”
To find out more about the Idaho Yoga Co-op and to sign up for a class, visit them on Facebook or idahoyogacoop.com.