Nashville Yoga Tour

If “yoga is like music,” as B.K.S. Iyengar once said, then the best place to practice is Music City, U.S.A.

By Calie Shackleford

12 South Yoga

For many of its regulars, 12 South is more than a studio, it’s a center that caters to their therapeutic needs—whether physical or emotional. This Iyengar studio offers 27 classes per week in spacious, well-lit, and well-equipped practice rooms. Here, yogis find healing through the skillful instruction of owner K-Lea Gifford, who also has a certification in body-oriented transpersonal psychology. Gifford’s work carries on a family tradition; her mother, renowned local instructor June LaSalvia, was one of the first yogis in the Nashville area nearly 40 years ago. 2814 12th Ave., South; (615) 385-3600; www.12southyoga.com.

Yoga Source

Tucked away in a renovated train station, just steps from The Country Music Hall of Fame, Yoga Source is a sacred oasis amid the hustle of downtown Nashville. When the Ashtanga studio was being built, Tibetan lamas did a blessing and etched mantras into the concrete below the wood floors. “It’s our goal to provide a beautiful, serene environment that encourages and supports the community’s practice and study of yoga,” says owner Diane Avice du Buisson. Along with six other teachers, du Buisson offers 12 to 15 classes per week, as well as meditation classes. 209 10th Ave. South, #126; (615) 254-9642; www.yogasource-nashville.com.

Hot Yoga Nashville

Although Cassie Aitken had never been to Nashville, when she heard about the strong yoga community and the absence of a Bikram-style studio, she decided to leave her Florida home to open the area’s first and only hot yoga center. Aitken takes a minimalist approach to decoration but is serious about cleanliness—an important factor when students consistently practice in 105-degree heat. Sneak a peak around the room while you’re there, you just might find a local celebrity practicing next to you—hot yoga is popular with several of Nashville’s football, hockey, and music industry stars. 1907 B Division Street; (615) 321-8828; www.hotyoganashville.com.

Half Moon Yoga

Conveniently located in Cool Springs, the shopping and restaurant mecca of the greater Nashville area, Half Moon Yoga caters to a diverse collection of students ranging in age from 18 to 70. Despite its location in a business center, this Iyengar Yoga studio offers a quiet retreat from the world outside with its cream-and-white decor and tall windows. For co-owner Donna Coggeshall, the most rewarding aspect of teaching is watching people become self-aware while developing compassion for themselves and those around them. Restorative massage is also offered by appointment only. 3326 Aspen Grove Dr.; (615) 373-5367; www.halfmoonyoga.net.

Just4Bliss

A healing arts studio in the Bellevue area (about 10 minutes southwest of downtown Nashville), Just4Bliss offers hatha yoga, massage, acupuncture, and Reiki energy work. Though it’s one of the newest studios in the Nashville area, owner Bliss Wood has already created a vibrant community—on Friday nights you’ll find students gathered to meditate or chant, playing shakers and guitars. The deep purple walls and natural light contribute to the atmosphere of celebration, as does Wood’s positive outlook: “All yoga is great. You just have to find the style and studio that fits you.” 7087 Old Harding Pike; (615) 673-1013; www.just4bliss.com.

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