Word on the Street: Coil Yoga relocating in Fresno in October

Coil Yoga is planning to move from downtown Fresno to a new home that it hopes will be quieter and more peaceful — the campus of Second Church of Christ Scientist on Shaw Avenue west of Blackstone Avenue in Fresno. It’s the campus of buildings with lots of trees and grass that contrasts with the many offices along that stretch of Shaw.

Coil Yoga plans to move to the church’s former reading room in October, although no date has been set. Two employees and 15 independent contractors who teach classes will make the move. For 13 years, downtown Fresno has been the studio’s home at 764 P St. Suite 102 near the Amtrak station.

The new studio at 292 W. Shaw Ave. near Fig Garden will host a grand opening week at some point in October and a celebration that will include music, raffle and the opportunity to showcase the new space.

Owner Katie Flinn, said the analogy she uses with the studio is that she’s the mom. She doesn’t call herself the boss or owner, and the staff is a family.

“It’s time to let the 13-year-old grow up a little bit,” Flinn said. “We have a really strong group of teachers that are all very close to each other so everyone is on board to go over there.”

The new space will have a similar layout with two practice rooms and a lobby. Flinn said new features will include an outdoor waiting area where people can hang out under benches and trees. There are about 200 free parking spaces, which she said is an improvement because parking downtown is a challenge.

The schedule will expand with the addition of other types of fitness classes including: Clubbell Vinyasa Flow, pilates and other hybrid classes that Flinn said will complement what their yoga classes offer. Those courses will include: meditation, body work, health coaching, and ayurvedic massage, a type of Indian massage.

Flinn said she isn’t moving because of negative perceptions of downtown. Rather, she wanted a location that was more visible and easier to get to, while also maintaining a peaceful sanctuary for students who practice yoga with her staff.

Coil is an acronym for Conscious Open Integrated Living, and Flinn said her studio offers a physical practice that leads to personal development and adds to people’s consciousness.

Coil Yoga is open seven days a week, and classes vary. The schedule is updated daily at coilyoga.com. You can also find them on Facebook.

This story was originally published July 2, 2015 at 6:07 PM with the headline "Word on the Street: Coil Yoga relocating in Fresno in October."