Featured Studio – Yogani

Featured Studio of the Month – Yogani
By: Deb Bobier (YogaBoundDeb)

Annie Okerlin - Yogani Studio Tampa, Florida

I first met Annie back in January of 2003. My husband and I left our careers and had been traveling the world for almost a decade. We love Asia so spent most of our time there studying, doing yoga, workshops, retreats and just hanging out.

While there I designed things and had them made. Or, bought really unique things I ran across. Then I would sell them when I was home. Annie was my first client in Tampa Bay. Although she had her hands full at the time building out the second incarnation of Yogani, she graciously gave me an appointment.

Our products were perfect. They were unique, high quality and affordable. And there were few if any selling what we had. Annie was enthusiastic, and supportive. And this was the beginning of not only a good working relationship, but friendship as well. I am so very grateful for that opportunity. And it is with pleasure that we feature Yogani Studio, Tampa Florida, as this month’s Studio of the Month.

A talk with Annie: 

Deb (me): In one sentence how would you describe what your Studio provides?
Annie: Yogani Studios provides a center for balanced wellness for the entire family, from yogis in utero to our beloved senior citizens.

Me: How long has the business been operating and how/why did you start it?
Annie: About six months after completing Bikram certification in 1999, the first Yogani Studios began offering classes. A small rented space in a local Tai Chi studio supported a few classes per day. I taught these along with several other classes in numerous locations around Tampa & St. Petersburg. Initially I went to Bikram teacher training to deepen my own practice, but soon realized that teaching was what I wanted to do with my life. After completing training and returning home to South Tampa, the doors to Yogani Studios were opened, and have been open ever since.

Me: What is your company’s mission?
Annie: Our focus has always been to keep our hearts open to support the growth of our students. To welcome the experience as it comes and to rediscover the equanimity we were born with. All of the team of Yogani staff and teachers are dedicated to supporting you on the journey on the mat.

Me: What does your company specialize in?
Annie: We specialize in creating an environment where people are supported and encouraged to explore new ways of promoting wellness in their own lives and within their community.

Me: Who is the founder or owner of the company. And what did you do before yoga.
Annie: I am the founder and sole owner of Yogani Studios. Yogani came into being in 1999 when I went to teacher training at the Bikram Yoga College of India in Beverly Hills, CA. The first day of training was Valentine’s day and three weeks in it became apparent that that this was going to be one of the best gifts I had ever given myself. I was in the music industry and office management before becoming a certified yoga instructor. This combination of living an art-filled life and running a business helped prepare me for the work I do today.

Me: What is your most popular class/workshop and why?
Annie: I would have to say Bikram as it’s a great entrance into the world of yoga for the Type – A personality and is accessible such a wide range of participants. It supports beginners through advance students as a lifelong therapeutic practice.

Me: What is the best compliment you received from a client?
Annie: “I have never felt so good in my body before”.

Me: What do you feel is the greatest benefit people gain from yoga?
Annie: Awareness to the connection of the breath which cultivates a deeper awareness of the body, mind connection.

Me: What has changed (industry wise) for the worse since you began and how do you feel about this?
Annie: It concerns me when students with special physical & mental considerations practice with an instructor who might not have the depth of knowledge to be as supportive as one with strong training through study, mentorship and experience.

Me: What has changed for the better and what other changes would you like to see?
Annie: Yoga and whole health healing have become more main stream which means our culture is taking charge of its own health!

Me: What do you see as the future of this industry?
Annie: A continued movement towards more therapeutic and restorative practices that will sustain us all for years ahead.

Me: How have you evolved because of what you do?
Annie: I have become gentler on myself, more aware of the beauty in all beings, and how we all need to be seen for that beauty.

Exalted Warrior

Me: Your work with Exalted Warrior is so beneficial and inspiring. Tell me more.
Annie: The Exalted Warrior Foundation facilitates an adaptive yoga instruction program that is designed for wounded warriors in military and veteran’s hospital facilities nationwide. We have worked consistently since March 2006 to serve all wounded populations with adaptive yoga techniques designed specifically for the wounded warrior, their families and caregivers.

In the military hospitals we work with patients as soon as they begin their physical therapy which is generally within days of stabilization. In the VA hospitals it varies depending on the nature of the stay; from being on a wing, Transition Unit or outpatient. Populations are served at all stages of rehabilitation and a broad spectrum of injuries supported: Orthopedic Poly-trauma / Amputees /Burn patients / TBI / Spinal Cord Injury / PTSD / Depression.

The class is designed like a regular yoga class (duration: 50 – 60 minutes) with lots of reminders for staying in the ease of the breath and discussion of modifications for each attending issue. All classes have physical, recreational or occupational therapists in attendance, who also assist the instructors. This allows many patients to use their hour of yoga towards their hours needed in PT.

Instructors are on staff for Semper Fi Odyssey program for wounded warriors at Major General T.S. Jones’, USMC (ret.) Outdoor Odyssey facility in the mountains of PA. There are 6-10 COMPASS’ per year. We are active in the local Veterans support groups which serves as great networking for reintegration and support upon leaving Military and Veteran medical facilities.

For more information, and to make a donation visit, www.exaltedwarrior.com

(From January 8th – 13th, Annie is one of the presenters at Kripalu for an advanced training on how to teach Yoga and Meditation in military communities.)

Favorite quote:

I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy. – Tagore

Background:
Annie Okerlin, founder of Yogani Studios and the Exalted Warrior Foundation, began practicing yoga in 1996. Intent on deepening her practice, Annie attended Bikram Yoga Training in 1999 and within three weeks she knew teaching yoga was her life’s passion. Yogani Studios opened in 1999 as a small one room studio. Since that time, Annie’s energy and compassion have led her to expand Yogani into a thriving community for yogis and yoga teachers in Tampa.

In 2005, Annie founded the Exalted Warrior Foundation and began a new path of working with wounded veterans. Through EWF, Annie teaches yoga to wounded populations throughout military and Veterans hospitals. Annie and EWF support nationwide programs assisting the re-integration of the wounded back into civilian life, and have begun documenting best-practices to present in teacher training programs.

Yogani Yoga Studio, Tampa Florida

The Studio

Yogani moved to their current location in 2005 and it is a beautiful space to practice with Solar and Lunar rooms, bamboo floors (bye bye carpet), a private room, two massage therapy rooms (do yourself a favor and book a massage with Annette), a retail area and full restroom & showers for all. Summer 2010 brought the Earth room addition to support the space needed for teacher trainings and longer immersion workshops. As a sidenote: The Ganesh in the lobby came from us.

For more information visit, www.yogani.com.