Yoga fusion: Sonya Costello co-teaches a yoga and chocolate workshop for women

Photo by Becca Bond

Like proverbial peanut butter and jelly, yoga pairs perfectly with other healing modalities, according to several local yoga teachers. With countless yoga classes being offered daily in studios and public spaces around Asheville and Western North Carolina, these creative yogis are diversifying.

Xpress talked with five yoga teachers who have infused their yoga classes with complementary healing or movement practices to create a unique yogic experience. Sonya Costello teaches a regular workshop at Asheville Community Yoga that brings together women to enjoy yoga, chocolate and sisterhood.

Sonya Costello — women, yoga and chocolate

Xpress: How do you blend yoga with women’s issues (and chocolate!) to create a cohesive workshop?

Costello: The workshop starts with mindful eating, yes, enjoying the delicious chocolate. We then go into a sweet warm-up to get the body moving, followed by chanting and singing together to settle into the space, calm our minds and sync our energies to gracefully move toward journaling and setting our intentions.

As we finish up with the journaling, we move through a heart-opening flow practice, finishing up with yoga nidra to seal in our intentions.

What inspired you to create this class?

Costello: Women, yoga and chocolate just make sense. Women love to connect with other women, and most women love chocolate — especially really good, healthy chocolate. Bringing us all together in a sacred, safe place to practice feels supported and empowering. … Ultimately, it is a time for women to connect, support other women, nurture themselves and feel nourished after taking two hours just for them.

SISTERHOOD OF YOGIS: Sonya Costello and Becca Odom teach a class that focuses on women and chocolate.
SISTERHOOD OF YOGIS: Sonya Costello and Becca Odom teach a class that focuses on women and chocolate. Photo by Becca Bond

To watch all these amazing women gather to support and hold each other in a safe and sacred space is empowering and absolutely beautiful. There was a lot of love in the room.

Costello will teach the next Women, Yoga and Chocolate workshop with Becca Odom at Asheville Community Yoga Sunday, May 17. Visit ashevillecommunityyoga.com for more details.

Stay tuned for more interviews with local yoga teachers.

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About Lea McLellan
Lea McLellan is a freelance writer who likes to write stories about music, art, food, wellness and interesting locals doing interesting things.

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