New yoga studio highlights the physical and mental benefits of exercise | Local ways of life

“Sometimes you need to be alone in your thoughts, to feel a stillness take over your body, and to learn how to breathe again,” the certified yoga instructor said minutes before her class.

It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that the studio Corbett shares with fellow certified yoga instructor Joanne Keane is called Breathe Yoga & Meditation Center.

However, its location – inside the administrative office of the Boys and Girls Home and Family Services, Inc. at the Indian Hills Mall – makes the space very unique.

Founded in 1894, the Boys and Girls Home is a nonprofit social service agency serving children and adults in Siouxland.

From its beginnings as a home for orphans and children in need of temporary care, the agency has evolved to care for children and adults struggling with emotional, behavioral or psychological issues.

Yet the overall mission of the Boys and Girls Home is to improve the lives of children and families by restoring hope and becoming an innovative community leader in restoring hope and creating connections.

“We received a grant from the Delta Dental Fund to create a space that would benefit the physical and mental well-being of our entire community,” explained Boys and Girls Home President and CEO Art Silva. “A yoga and meditation studio was the perfect way to use the grant money.”

Although the studio will eventually introduce residents of Boys and Girls Home to the benefits of yoga, it is also currently the site of twice-weekly sessions open to the general public.

From 5:30-6:30 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday, instructors Corbett and Keane offer one-hour yoga classes that focus on physical health and mental well-being.

“As you get older, balance and mobility become much more important for everyone,” Corbett said, adding that yoga can be a form of preventative medicine.

Equally important are the meditative qualities of yoga.

“There’s so much going on in the world and there are times when you just want to relax,” Keane added. “Only positive vibes are allowed in our yoga class.”

Silva had known Corbett and Keane, who were both longtime spa professionals before becoming certified yoga instructors, for years.

“Joanne and Lisa are wonderful for students just starting out in yoga as well as more advanced students,” Silva said.

It was something that was important to Corbett.

“Yoga classes can be daunting if you don’t know what to expect,” she said. “We want to be as user-friendly as possible.”

Indeed, soft blocks and pillows are available for students who need help in certain poses.

Additionally, the studio is filled with signs with words of encouragement like “Kindness Matters” and “Do All Things with Love.”

Since opening a few months ago, Breathe Yoga and Meditative Center has already attracted a cohesive group of participants who follow the gentle instructions of Corbett and Keane.

Although classes are free, a free donation is encouraged.

But Silva thinks having a yoga studio in North Sioux City will help Boys and Girls Home and Family Services better integrate into its new location.

“People know about the Boys and Girls Home, but they don’t always know everything we do,” he said, noting that facilities at his Indian Hills mall include a residential treatment center, a opportunities, a family center and even a consignment store. on its vast campus. “A yoga space is just one more benefit we can offer the community.”

“Every positive action can have a positive reaction,” she said. “If you are willing to do good, it will be rewarded every time.”