Breathing community

For the past four years, Zuri Osterholt (pictured, on the left) and Tatiana Looney have been teaching yoga in and around Chico, everywhere from Chico’s Hot Yoga Club, Freebird Aerial Yoga and In Motion Fitness to Ohana Health in Paradise. Most recently, they’ve been co-managing two yoga clubs—in Chico and Granite Bay. When the space at 707 Wall St. in Chico—the former Studio One Ballroom, which closed following the Camp Fire—came open last month, they jumped on the opportunity to open their own business, which they’ve dubbed Hatha House. They already have a full staff and are offering membership discounts until their grand opening, March 1. A variety of membership options, from single classes to unlimited, are available. Swing by that evening for live music, food-truck eats and a sneak peek at Hatha House. Go to hatha-house.com or call 884-4130 for more info.

This place is huge!

Looney: It is huge—it’s 4,000 square feet of space. So, we’re able to divide it into two sections, where we can do our infrared mat yoga and then get up in the aerial hammocks and fly and play around.

I’ve heard of aerial yoga and I’ve heard of hot yoga—what is infrared yoga?

Looney: The panels that are hanging, that’s the heat source. It’s clean heat. So, you’re not walking into a room that feels stuffy and hot—this feels like the sun is on your skin. There are so many health benefits to infrared heating.

Osterholt: And when the body’s a little warmer, it’s easier to move, so it’s great for the yoga.

What do you envision for this space?

Osterholt: A community center. Likeminded people coming together. We see ourselves partnering up with other businesses in the area and offering that community hub for people to participate in classes for wellness—not just the yoga—and coming in for workshops, teacher trainings …

Looney: … events—if people want to have a concert here, let’s do it!

What’s the biggest thing you’ve gotten from yoga?

Looney: For me, it’s mindfulness. It’s so oversaid, I guess, but it’s taught me to pay attention to who I am, how I am with other people, how I act, react. You find that on the mat. Maybe you’re in a pose and it’s really difficult to balance that day, your balance is off. You can either get very upset at yourself or laugh it off and see it as a lesson. That’s been a big thing for me; to take a moment to take a breath and be like, OK, how do I react in this situation? Do I flip someone off and blare my horn or do I smile and wave and say, “You go ahead”?

Osterholt: I think I would say connection. Connection of the mind, body, breath that you get in the physical practice, but also connection … because we all show up here together when we practice yoga in a classroom setting. So you’re forming that connection and that connection goes out into the whole world.