Saha Yoga

historic ballston spa Where Dreams Really Do Come True

WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAPHED BY THERESA ST. JOHN

"Your body exists in the past, and your mind exists in the future. In yoga, they come together in the present." - B.K.S Iyengar

Now, more than ever, we need places where we feel comfortable and safe - open spaces that allow us to take care of ourselves and each other. Isolated for such a long time over the past couple years - when we can be together now, it should be in a nurturing way. Luckily, I'm not the only one that feels this way. Enter the studio known as Saha Yoga, Located in the heart of downtown Ballston Spa. Recently, I met up with the owner, Jen Sayers, and we were able to talk about Yoga and community; more often than not, the two walk hand-in-hand. Jen was in the restaurant business for 26 years before her keen interest in yoga began. The stress in that line of work proved to be overwhelming at times. Yoga helped—a lot. In 2006 Jen began teaching part-time and dedicated six years of training - that's 500 hours ladies and gents - at Kripalu, in Stockbridge, Mass. She's now a 500hr E-RYT, Professional Level Kripalu Yoga Teacher who wants to share the excellent benefits of this practice with others. "I was an only child, very creative, imaginative, and independent. My family encouraged all of these things, and yoga was the perfect outlet for me to explore and get to know my inner self on a deeper level." I haven't worked much with Yoga in my own life, so I'm curious about the art. When Jen states that everyone can practice Yoga, I find myself blurting out a question. "Okay, but what if someone's paralyzed? How on earth can they even consider Yoga when they can't move their arms or legs?"

"You adjust the posture to fit the body," She says immediately. She doesn't even blink or need to mull the question over. Jen relates a story about a man who was paralyzed from the chest down. "The Yoga instructor took him out of his chair, propped him up with pillows, and set his legs wide apart. He began to cry. He hadn't sat like that in years. The stretch felt amazing - in his soul, where he could still feel everything." "Here's the thing, " Jen states. "You meet Yoga where you are." Hmmm, think about that. I ask how she came to be the owner of Saha Yoga. Her laugh is infectious. "It was the middle of the night," Jen tells me, a far-away look in her eye. "I woke up from a dead sleep, sat up in bed, and called out in the dark." I look at her, catching a glimpse of the panic she must have been feeling at the time. "Are you crazy?" she said to herself in the quiet of midnight. "Buying a business in the middle of a pandemic? What are you thinking?" Jen was right to panic. The world was on lockdown, and she now owned a yoga business – unable to practice the art because no one could come into the building. We're tucked in the corner booth at Mrs. London's - a place you all know I frequent. We look at each other over our ice teas and pastries. Jen is deadly serious when she begins speaking again. "It was terrifying, but the thought of this studio not surviving the pandemic broke my heart. The community needed it - I needed it. I knew in my gut I had to make it happen." Talks with the sellers moved forward. Her following sentence makes me grimace. "I became the owner of Saha Yoga in July of 2020." I can't help but roll my eyes. "I know," she laughs. "We were in lockdown for the next two months - months where I still needed to pay the bills - here at the studio AND home." Oh my gosh, I wouldn't have been able to take such a chance. "Our first yoga class was September 2nd, 2020." She smiles at the memory. "It was the most precious day ever." I bet it was. When we begin to talk about the future of Saha Yoga, Jen tells me she has plans for the studio. "I'd like to see a robust monthly schedule, where we offer various classes and events, with multiple teachers. I picture developing our community atmosphere over the next few years, becoming financially self-sufficient at the same time." She explains that Saha Yoga is a kinder, more gentle, slower, restorative practice. The teachers offer balance in what can sometimes be a crazy world. It sounds like Jen has a solid plan to help her studio grow. "If I could make it through these last few years," she tells me. "It's all good. The powers that be want me here." I suspect Historic Ballston Spa and the surrounding area does too.

You can connect with Saha Yoga here:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sahaballston Instagram: www.instagram.com/saha_yoga_ballston_spa Website: www.sahayogabspa.com SF