On Monday, September 25th, 2017, Perennial Yoga & Meditation opened their doors to a small group of Elite Yelpers for a night of restorative yoga and tasty treats from Surya Cafe.
First up was a complimentary Yin/Restore class taught by Ken Kloes. The studio was warm and inviting with paper lanterns, dark hardwood, and floor to ceiling windows overlooking prairie and marshland. Soft music played while everyone grabbed bolsters, blankets, sandbags, straps, and blocks and settled onto their mats.
The class began with some focused breathing and moved into some gentle poses like cat cow and table top. The focus moved onto legs with a strap assisted stretch of the hamstrings and some light bodywork. A deep settle into pigeon pose finished the progression while Ken continued to draw focus back to mindfulness. After honoring each other and the practice the group packed up and headed into the meditation room for a chat with manager Clare Bornemann and Surya Cafe chef Lauren Montelbano.
The meditation room follows the studio’s theme of floor-to-ceiling windows and features a small library along with tiered bench seating. The Elites in attendance were treated to some Heavenly Date Bars to snack on. Lauren also calls them her “Bad Day Bars,” since the combo of a coconut and oat crust topped with peanut butter and date filling and a snappy chocolate shell brings a smile to everyone’s face. Ingredients for the bars and other cafe items are plant-based, natural, unprocessed, and locally sourced when possible.
Clare shared a bit about the history of the studio and her personal approach to yoga; her upbeat and sunny nature is reflected in her Funk Flow class that incorporates music ranging from hip hop to oldies. Lauren also shared how her background as a nutritionist and former chef of Green Owl Cafe led her from the yoga mat to the kitchen.
After the small group chat a few Elites stuck around to order some delicious dinner from the cafe and continue to bask in Perennial’s calming atmosphere. All left feeling rejuvenated and restored and looking forward to their next experience. Head on over to the Be a Poser event page for reviews and photos from the night. Interested in getting up close and personal with local businesses? Nominate yourself for the Elite Squad.
Thank you to our event partners:
Perennial Yoga & Meditation – We offer a wide range of classes at Perennial including Therapeutic, Restorative, Yin, Vinyasa, Hot Yoga, meditation and teacher training. Our aim through our almost 70 class offerings per week is to help you unite mind, body, and spirit and live your life with greater ease and well-being. Everyone at Perennial, teacher and student alike, is on their own practice path. Our teachers are all approachable, kind and willing to answer any questions about yoga, meditation, or your specific practice.
Surya Cafe – Surya, (the Sanskrit word for sun), celebrates the very principles with which we operate. The sun is the center of the universe, granting us nourishment and energy, so we look to it as the vital source of our health, vitality and well-being. We choose our ingredients with deep integrity and high regard for our planet and lovingly offer you wholesome plant-based meals that will leave you feeling satiated and energized. Chef Lauren and her staff artfully prepare fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains and legumes with balanced nutrition and the season in mind.
