PINEAPPLE YOGA STUDIO is a project that arose from the heart. Owner Claudia Baeza and her partner Robert were both touched by yoga at different times in their lives years ago following circumstances that had broken them down emotionally and physically. They joined the yoga community not really knowing what they would find or how they would feel. What they found was a compassionate place for healing and spirituality, which inspired them in ways they never imagined. Claudia realized that she wanted to share her love of yoga with a broader audience, along with serving at-risk communities in an authentic and meaningful way. She has spearheaded a monthly program highlighting local studios every first Saturday at Bayfront Park with a free yoga class, which is booked through December 2017. Claudia’s vision is to offer a healing place for wellness and community as well as making yoga accessible to those that have not tried it or cannot afford it. Her studio offers a donation-based community class for men on Mondays and women on Wednesdays. Her goal is to offer yoga to those that are most fragile and in need. Anyone that is looking for a safe place to heal mental, emotional, spiritual or physical wounds is welcome, regardless of their ability to pay. Pineapple Yoga is a GreenZone Hero certified business and has hired a veteran who also is a yoga instructor. Quarterly, the studio offers its space to host fundraisers for Sarasota-based organizations that need support. This past November, Pineapple Yoga hosted a fundraiser for Southeastern Guide Dogs, giving 100 percent of the proceeds to support the training and placement of a guide dog to a visually impaired individual, free of cost to them. Sharing wellness and mindfulness with the community in a way that is accessible to all is a core mission for Claudia. She explains, “Yoga cannot x everything, but it offers an additional modality which anyone can add to their toolkit to find stability, wellness and a better quality of life.”

Pineapple Yoga Studio is a premier yoga studio located in historic Burns Court in Downtown Sarasota. Their mission is to provide a healing place for wellness, community and spirituality. Their passion is to bring awareness to good causes in the community using yoga and fitness as a platform. The studio provides a wide array of yoga classes, teacher trainings, workshops and events at their beautifully designed yoga studio and outdoor patio. Owner Claudia Baeza is certified yoga instructor and personal trainer specializing in finding and improving the asymmetries in the body. She weaves a strong knowledge of anatomy and alignment into her spiritual practice. She and all of her instructors are seasoned professionals who ensure that you find what you need in your yoga journey.

Read Article online at SRQ Magazine Giving Back Roundtable December 2016.

CREDITS: GIVING BACK ROUNDTABLE | SRQ Magazine | December 2016