Yoga You4ia students take part in a SUP class made possible thanks to a Business Innovation Grant (Tiffany Goodwein/ CHAT NEWS)

By Tiffany Goodwein

SUP: Local yoga studio gets paddling thanks to business grant

Aug 9, 2020 | 4:53 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB- Imagine taking your Downward Dog or Warrior pose floating above pristine waters. One wrong step and your body could take the plunge into the chilling waters of Echo Dale, reinforcing the virtue of balance and mindfulness in yoga.

On a given day, participants at Yoga You4ia are doing just that, taking part in the ancient craft of yoga, and testing their limits balancing on a paddleboard.

“ We are on out paddleboards on the water. We paddle around to get used to the board and then you set down an anchor so that you are secured in one spot and then we do yoga and, it’s very unstable and the chances of falling and getting wet are great, but we just want to have fun,” said Salli Siewert, owner of Yoga You4ia.

Some yoga poses, according to Siewert are easier to do on the board than others.

“ Things that are symmetrical movements are easier but anything, where you are a little off-balance, is much more challenging, so you have to move very slow and controlled it is a very different way of moving,” Siewert said.

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The initiative was made possible thanks to a Business Innovation Grant spearheaded by The City of Medicine Hat and Community Futures.

“ It was a way to create new revenue streams for our business and over the summer months. It’s quite quiet in the studio and so we got the grant. It pays for the trailer, we got 12 boards and all the supplies we needed to rent them out so that we can offer classes and board rentals.” Siewert said.

During the pandemic, Siewert was forced to suspend in-person classes, and could only offer classes virtually, until the restrictions for gyms were lifted.

“It was something we wanted to offer. We didn’t know of any rental places in Medicine Hat anymore, and we love the classes everyone that does the classes loves it but it is really hard to get boards, it’s kind of affordable they are hard to move, and so this just creates something fun during those summer months when it is quiet,” she said.

The Business Innovation Grant, according to a news release put out by the City of Medicine Hat provides up to $2 million in grants for local businesses. Phase one of the program aims to provide assistance for businesses in trying to adapt to the new public health measures put in place by the province, such as PPE and contact-less payment methods.