The outside of City Yoga studio. Photos by Jeff Cravotta, www.cravotta.com
Award-winning City Yoga of Columbia has become yet another beloved city institution to shut its doors because of the economic realities related to the COVID-19 pandemic, but its owners vow they will find a way to keep their patrons mentally and physically healthy with innovative virtual, on-demand, and outdoor classes.
“It is with a heavy heart I have decided to close the doors to the City Yoga studio,” said a letter written by Stacey Millner-Collins, who owns the studio along with her husband, Brad. “The financial struggles are real. Keeping a building open with all its additional expenses is no longer a viable option for me.”
“It is my hope we remain, however, a strong and committed yoga community until the pandemic passes and we can practice again safely in a common space,” the letter continued.
“The City Yoga studio was a beautiful container that provided the space for people to open their hearts and to create, transform, and change. Hopefully this happens again sooner rather than later. No sure where. Not sure when. But I promise to be here for you like you have been there for me over the last 17 years.”
Stacey Millner- Collins teaches Yoga in Practice with Alma Dunnavant, who is an instructor at the studio.
In an interview with The Columbia Star, Millner Collins said the restrictions placed on the number of people allowed to attend in-person classes, as well as all the costs associated with keeping the physical plant operating, forced the tough decision to close the studio, which had been in its current location for the last 13 years.
“You just can’t keep pushing that boulder up the hill, which is what I feel like we had been doing for the past five months,” she said. “Our landlord was amazing and tried to work with us for as long he could, but finally it just became apparent it was no longer a viable option for us.”
Sally McKay, one of the most seasoned instructors at City Yoga, praised Millner-Collins for her leadership, professionalism, and grace through hard times.
“Stacey has been my teacher, colleague, and friend for almost 20 years. Her teaching is a powerful combination of technical expertise and heartfelt devotion to the practice of yoga and to the City Yoga kula (Sanskrit for community),” McKay said. “City Yoga in Five Points has been a focal point for yoga practitioners of all levels and aspiring instructors in and beyond South Carolina. What Stacey and Brad created in our beloved studio will be sorely missed by our community, but we will continue to share the light of City Yoga with students near and far through our online offerings.”
Many of the instructors currently teaching at City Yoga have decided to stay with the studio and offer live-stream online classes, Millner-Collins said. In addition, there will be on-demand classes offered through the studio’s site (cityyogasc.com), outdoor classes when weather permits, and private lessons by appointment.
“I want our community to stay together until we can regroup in a new communal space,” she said. “And even after that happens, whenever it happens, I believe we will continue to offer online classes.”
In the meantime, Millner-Collins is taping the third season of “Yoga in Practice” for PBS, which will be released in spring 2021. The previous two seasons are available on the Carolina SCTV app.
For the most current information on City Yoga and its offerings, visit the studio’s Facebook Page or www.cityyogasc.com.
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