Day 12 of 30 : Black Lagoon Gallery

DAY 12 OF 30

Name of Studio: Black Lagoon Gallery
Date: June 22, 2015
Style of Class: Private Lesson // Forrest Yoga
Instructor: Caroline

Art gallery + yoga studio = Dream come true
What an incredible space to do yoga!! Due to being the only student in class, I got lucky and received a private lesson from Caroline, a goddess of yoga and body work. She recently moved to California for graduate school but there are a plethora of teachers to chose from. If you dig art and you practice yoga, this is like heaven. Singer and David co-own the studio and are devoted to sharing good art and good vibes with Austin.

I had never done Forrest Yoga before and I must say, it’s incredible. Forrest Yoga created by the one and only Ana Forrest “teaches you to go deeper to find your truth, and encourages you to take these gifts you have earned beyond the mat and into the rest of your life. It honors and celebrates the beauty of life and the power of Spirit. It is an inspiring yoga practice that builds flexibility, intelligence and strength while helping deepen the relationship with your authentic self. Accessing your intuition – the voice of your Spirit – builds personal strength and ushers integrity into your daily interactions”.

LESSON LEARNED:

Oftentimes the easiest things in life are only easy because we allow them to be so. Chose the path of most resistance.

ABOUT THE STUDIO:

Vision: “Black Lagoon has been offering a truly one-of-a-kind yoga space in Austin since 2012. Offering a variety of all levels yoga classes, we promote the arts + wellness in an intimate and comfortable environment”
Location: 4301 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78751
Number of Studios: 1
Natural Light: Yes
Showers: No
Mirrors: No
Floors: Sealed concrete

Interview with Singer Mayberry

Co-Owner, Art Lover, Yogini, Musician

“Singer Mayberry grew up in Austin, where she currently teaches Restorative and Hatha Yoga. In addition to being a local yogini, she spends her time playing guitar in her dark-pop duo (Bitter Birds) with her husband, co-owning the art gallery/yoga studio “Black Lagoon: Art + Yoga”, and being a fun and loving mother to her 7 year old daughter. As co-owner of Black Lagoon, Singer’s vision of bringing Art + Yoga together under one roof has continued to grow since the first Saturday morning classes began in 2012 at the gallery space. Every year she is amazed by the continual growth of this yoga community that has been built over the years with the help of her many friends and fellow teachers. Singer continues to attend yoga workshops and trainings, seeking inspiration and knowledge to deepen her practice.”

Zuzu: Tell us about yourself.

Singer: As a musician and artist, I love to create inspiring yoga experiences for my students. Always paying attention to the details, I find value in “curating” everything from my music playlists, to incorporating the use of essential oils to help even out the energy in my classes. The practice of yoga has brought balance to my life, nurturing my body, mind and soul. My practice helps me to live in a state of calm and consistency, even during times when my life seems utterly chaotic. Through my classes, I hope to share many valuable moments of calmness and clarity, encouraging balance in all of my students lives.

Zuzu: Talk a little about having a collective space with both art and yoga.

Singer:

They definitely complement each other – its great brining the energy of the art on the walls and the students practicing all together under one roof.

Zuzu: Where, when, and how did it all start?

Singer: In 2012, after being open for 2 years as purely just an art gallery, a friend suggested we start hosting a saturday morning yoga class in the space. I was just getting back into yoga, and so this sounded like a great idea. We started promoting the Saturday class to our art patrons and people in the neighborhood, and it was a hit right away. Students starting asking if we would add more classes. So we added a few more and have slowly gone from around 5 classes a week to 20 a week offered in the space.

Zuzu: How often do you change exhibits?

Singer: Every two months

Zuzu: Tell me about owning the studio with your husband/life partner

Singer: Its great having the support and someone to share your ideas and fears with. David is very creative when it comes to building things and making the space work for both the art and yoga – for example, our yoga prop cabinet that looks like an art installation when it is closed up.

Zuzu: Plans to expand?

Singer: Not really planning to expand – I love the limited schedule we have right now. More focused on building a following for the classes we currently have, and to continue to offer classes taught by some of the best yoga teachers in Austin.

Zuzu: Three words to describe BLG?

Singer: Intriguing, Inviting, Idealistic

Zuzu: Favorite thing about Austin?

Singer: All of the green spaces