In June of this year, local yoga instructor Vanessa Murray hosted the grand opening of her studio, Yoga By You Studio-A Yoga Collective, in downtown Niceville. “I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to take a 75-year-old space and fill it with good energy,” she says. 

Just a few months later, Murray has eight teachers on staff that boast extensive yoga, meditation, wellness education and yoga teacher training courses. 

“I wanted a collaboration of educators, students, and healers working together to improve the community, from the babies to the seniors,” says Murray. 

The studio offers three trademarked classes, including  Bee Holland’s Emotional Freedom Yoga, Dana Davis’ Brewmaste, and Murray’s own, Perception Yoga. “Perception Yoga is a way to immerse yourself in several different modalities of yoga, hitting all five senses,” Murray says. “I use a combination of lights, aromatherapy, refreshments, sound, chakra alignment and the natural elements to completely connect the student with their practice.” 

Yoga By You is also actively committed to their local community, offering monthly donation-based events for Twin Cities Pavillion, first responders, military personnel, animal adoption drives and school supply collections. Instructors provide heated, therapeutic, recovery and fitness classes for all ages, races, sexes and fitness levels.

“Yoga By You embodies a trauma-informed sense of inclusion, kindness and love in every class,” says Murray. “Truly a space for everybody.”