We Yogis: Yoga for the Family

When yoga enthusiasts Diana and Trip Rodgers began searching for yoga studios that offered childcare in Dallas, Texas, they came up empty handed. “We have three kids and were in search of a yoga studio that offered good childcare,” said Diana. “There weren’t many options, so we decided there was a need for that type of studio.”

To fill that need, the Rodgers began offering free yoga classes in their garage, where parents could come and practice yoga while their children played in the family’s play center. The free classes were so well received, the couple decided to found We Yogis, a family-oriented yoga studio, in September of 2012.

We Yogis, located on Lovers Lane in Dallas, sports two studios — the main yoga studio, where people of all fitness levels can practice yoga, and a Future Yogis room, where parents can leave their children for supervised play.

“We didn’t want parents to have that ‘guilty mom’ syndrome, where they feel guilty for working out because they’re leaving their children behind,” explained Diana.

In Future Yogis, children ages 3 months and up participate in engaging activities under supervised care, such as painting and reading. According to Diana, some activities even incorporate age-appropriate yoga. For example, while reading books, Diana explained that children have the opportunity to practice yoga poses in between pages. “This is so they can have a taste of yoga while their parents are practicing,” said Diana.

Outside of the Future Yogis childcare center, there are child-friendly yoga classes in the main studio. In a Lil Yogis class, children ages 3 and up can practice yoga in a safe, non-competitive environment. In addition, a Special Yogis class allows children with special needs the opportunity to develop greater body awareness in a safe environment.

For adults, parents have the opportunity to choose from a variety of classes, such as Rockin Yogis, a fast-paced Vinyasa flow class; Yogis Bootcamp, which incorporates weights; and Yogis Power Hour, an intense, hour-long class. Or, parents can take yoga with their children in a Together Yogis class.

“We have yoga classes for everyone,” said Diana. “It’s so fun to see the different ages practice yoga, and see how much they really respond to it. We wanted to create a place that offered yoga for all.”

Having fun is a part of the studio’s philosophy. On April Fools’ Day 2013, the studio held a beer tasting for adult participants in order to generate some fun-loving positivity. On April 5, 2013, the studio will host a “glow-stick party” for tweens that will feature prizes and music. “We do all sorts of fun things,” said Diana.

According to Diana, yoga is great family-oriented activity. “It helps the whole family relax,” she said. “Yoga is the one thing you can do to see increased longevity that you can do at any age. So far, the response to the studio has been great.”

By Rachel Zabonick