Starting on August 1st, one uniquely named little yoga studio with a big heart is opening up in downtown West Chester. eat. drink. Om…YOGA CAFE will start holding classes at 117 W. Gay Street, and they hope to feed souls in more way than one.
“I had been going to yoga for years and one thing I wasn’t seeing is a diversity of people coming to classes. It seemed like yoga had a mystique to it, that only the elite people and skinny little dancers could do it,” said eat. drink. Om… owner/yogini/foodie Susan Sluk. Susan wanted to create a space for people of all ages and abilities to practice yoga while finding their center.
Eat. drink. Om…YOGA CAFE’s intimate classes are modified based on the students’ needs and fitness levels. Eat. drink. They offer scholarships for participants and 10% discounts for students, emergency workers, West Chester business owners and seniors. The yoga menu is on a flexible “click and pick schedule,” perfect for people on a busy schedule looking for a taste of yoga.
Yoga is about mind, body and spirit. Susan’s students started to ask about ways to improve their bodies off the mat so Susan brought in local health coach and The Simple Kitchen owner, Jen Harniman Crangle. Jen will lead individual and group health/nutrition coaching. She will also teach a three part class for expecting and new moms and a special teen program designed by Jen and Susan. Every week, she will feature a refreshing smoothie to try with locally grown ingredients (from honey to veggies and fruits) that will be offered as a weekly special.
Every trip to eat. drink. Om…YOGA CAFE will provide visitors a new “foodie” adventure, because their breakfast and lunch items (all available to go) are made from local and seasonally-based items. Even though they don’t have a set menu, they are committed to using organic ingredients with no processed sugars or artificial ingredients.
Annmarie Cantrell, owner of Cucina Verde and co-owner of Maysie’s Farm, will be creating healthy snacks like coconut date rolls, orange walnut muffins, honey tahini cookies and more at the cafe and eventually will serve quinoa salads and nourishing sandwiches.
While there, you can refresh yourself with coconut water, kambuchi tea, coffees or a mug of Pureblend tea. Steep in relaxation with one of Pureblend’s five blended flavors, made from organic and fair trade teas. This local loose leaf tea company can be found in local farmers’ markets and by the bag at the Cafe. Pureblend’s owner, Kari Dandrea, is another instructor at the studio.
Looking for a refreshing lunch break? Take in a yoga short shots, a half hour class that is only $5 and can be done in your work clothes. You can spend the rest of your lunch hour enjoying a healthy bite from their cafe, sitting in the outdoor patio (complete with a stack of classic books for a relaxing lunch).
Eat. drink. Om…YOGA CAFE strives to be environmentally-conscious and community-oriented, whether its using biodegradable bags and compostable cups to finding fresh local produce. The studio offers “Drop and Dine” or “Drop and Shop” enrichment classes, where parents can enjoy a shopping trip or dinner in town, knowing their kids will be receiving healthy snacks while doing activities that enhance their minds and little bodies.
Join the members of eat.drink. Om…YOGA CAFE on Wednesday, August 17th for a free concert and social mixer with Float Parade, a four-piece South African band who is on their first world tour. Whether you are one or 101, a master yogi or novice, eat. drink. Om…YOGA CAFE invites everyone with open arms to try their yoga, health classes, and local foods. You will be hooked faster than you can say om.
