By Renata Shanahan
I have been teaching yoga out of the iconic Stanwell Park CWA for the past six years but have longed to find a space for a dedicated studio. My friend Britta was moving her shop, The Unlikely Item, a mainstay alongside John and Frances Vander’s Articles Fine Art Gallery for the past few years, and so it seemed, the planets had aligned.
It was the beautiful light and warmth of shop no. 4/111 Lawrence Hargrave Drive that sparked my interest in yoga classes here, so with a new coat of paint, lighting upgrades and a new floor, The Park Studio is now up and running.
I took on my teacher training and began teaching yoga when, as a mother, I found it hard to find time to fit in studio visits due to the add-on of travel time north or south to a class. My inspiration was to offer classes ‘down the road’ for the local community. The benefits of yoga have been life-changing for me, not only the physical strengthening and lengthening of muscles and structural alignment, but also the breath work and meditation to calm the mind and deepen awareness and connection to self and others.
The Park Studio will grow its weekly timetable over the next few months to offer classes most mornings, evenings and times in between. There will be classes for all levels of experience and I have found an incredible group of local teachers to give a mix of classes, from Dynamic Vinyasa classes to Gentle/Chill Yoga, Hatha and Yin sessions, suitable for beginners and experienced yoga students alike. Keep an eye out also for yoga and meditation workshops, sound baths, and other special creative experiences.
The Park Studio will be having a launch day in July. Visit the website to find out more. We look forward to welcoming you in.
Follow @theparkstudio_stanwellpark on Instagram and visit theparkstudio.com.au
About the writer
Renata Shanahan lives in Stanwell Park with her husband and three children. After having a regular yoga practice, she undertook teacher training to provide classes for the community. Having taught yoga from the iconic CWA Hall for the last six years, Renata now runs and curates The Park Studio in Stanwell Park.