A LETTER FROM SHAKTI FOUNDER, LISA BLACK
DECEMBER 2021
As I write this letter, tears of gratitude are coming down my face. I just finished watching the videos from our closing class and ceremony of Shakti Vinyasa Yoga Bellevue, the final of the three yoga studio spaces to close on May 22nd, 2021. Seeing the faces and hearing the words of our Shakti teachers reminds me of the past 18 years of service and positive impact that we have offered the yoga community all around Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, and beyond. Since I founded Shakti in 2003, Shakti has been my vision, my home, my passion, and my offering to the world.
Since closing the doors of our beautiful studios, our dedicated team of Shakti instructors have been teaching daily live-stream classes and continue to serve our community. We have had a small yet dedicated group of students who love our classes and continue to show up online even after almost two years of zooming. We are so grateful to each of you for being willing to be flexible, open, and adaptable to practicing in this new way.
I have worked hard over the past two years with my management team to find a way to continue Shakti in this new shifting environment. I have held on for so long and it is time for me to let go, release, and close two decades of service with our Shakti Vinyasa Yoga studios. I recognize that in letting go, we can all step into new possibilities and create the next successful chapter and whatever that leads us to. Let’s celebrate what we’ve created together and welcome what is opening for us ahead.
As you know, when we close one door, we open new doors of possibility. I’m very excited and inspired about announcing this new partnership for Shakti! We are collaborating with Sarah Goble, the owner of SOL yoga in the Leschi neighborhood of Seattle. Sarah is a gem and I respect her teaching and her leadership. I’ve enjoyed teaching at her beautiful studio space over the past several months and look forward to teaching more there in the year ahead. The students have welcomed me there with open hearts and minds.
I invite each of you to continue to practice with me, and with Evi Watson, one of our beloved Shakti teachers as we both will be teaching in the SOL Yoga studio. I hope that you will join me, Evi, Sarah Goble, and the other teachers for both in-studio as well as live-stream classes at SOL Yoga. One way that you can continue with us is to sign-up for the new special Shakti-SOL memberships. This is an amazing opportunity to continue to practice with quality instructors and to feel the support of a positive, dedicated yoga community.
Each and every one of you is so important to me. I feel deeply grateful for your continued support of Shakti, my vision, and the next evolution of this Shakti-SOL partnership.
I will be teaching in person at SOL Yoga Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at 9:30 am I look forward to seeing you in the warm studio and to our continued friendship and yoga journey together.
Namaste,
Lisa