Yoga is for every body

POULSBO — Two sisters transplanted from California have blossomed in Poulsbo. Eve Cho and Michelle Cho Gip have developed their niche in introducing yoga to the masses through their studio, Well Being Yoga on Jensen Way.

“A lot of people think you have to be super flexible and super fit to do yoga,” Cho said. “That’s a common misconception.”

The two opened the studio as an expansion of Well Being Health Clinic, which sits next door to the studio. The clinic offers a trifecta of yoga, massage and chiropractic services.

Though the space has been expanded to accommodate more yogis, they do keep class sizes on the small side so each person can receive one-on-one instruction if necessary.

While Cho serves as the all-around administrative guru, Gip — who earned a degree from Life Chiropractic College West in Hayward, Calif. — takes care of the chiropractic services. She also is a certified yoga therapist candidate.

“As a chiropractor I always work on people who come in with aches and pains,” Gip said. “I can help them, but what I found is that they really need to strengthen their bodies.”

A firm believer in yoga, Gip realized that tapping into the therapeutic value of the exercise — it helps with chronic back pain, stress, respiratory problems and arthritis pain — strengthens the body and soul by helping people get more in tune with their bodies.

Yoga often strikes up images of handstands and pretzel-like poses; Gip said that is not the case at Well Being Yoga. The classes range from beginner to active yoga, with an “itsy bitsy” class for the little ones added in for good measure.

And they’re not averse to taking their show on the road, either, with the message that yoga is for everybody — and every body — from babies to Baby Boomers. They often host classes for the Poulsbo Parks and Recreation Department and teach a yoga class for students at North Kitsap High. They sometimes host classes to fundraise for local services like North Kitsap Fishline or StandUp for Kids.

The studio classes are for people of all health ranges, including those who are wheelchair-bound, Gip said.

“We don’t want anyone to get hurt so we have to adjust them in the clinic,” Gip said.

In addition to chiropractic services, the clinic also employs Michelle Clemens, a licensed massage practitioner.

For those who are interested in giving yoga a try, Well Being Yoga will have a restorative yoga workshop from 5:45-7:15 p.m. March 15. Registration is $15 and space is limited.

Well Being Yoga

19347 Jensen Way NE Poulsbo

(360) 697-6100

www.wellbeing-yoga.com

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