Idaho Yoga Co-op on a mission to bring wellness to east Idaho
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IDAHO FALLS — Some are willing and able to travel far and wide to reach optimal wellness — to learn from the best teachers and find the best practices for holistic living.
But when wellness opportunities are located in your own backyard, even more people can benefit.
That’s what was on Daysha Hampton’s mind four years ago when she started Idaho Yoga Co-op, a non-profit group with two locations in Idaho Falls and one in Victor, called the Idaho Teton Yoga Co-op. As an Idaho native, she had a passion to bring wellness to east Idaho.
While “yoga” is in the name, the Idaho Yoga Co-op has come to encompass so much more. In addition to several forms of yoga classes, it also offers a variety of dance classes, Zen meditation, Pilates, tai chi, qigong, massage and more. It also offers a variety of workshops on things like essential oil, homeopathy, nutrition and wellness, massage modality, foot zoning, acupuncture, astrology, juicing and raw foods.
Joe Siuda has been teaching tai chi at the Idaho Yoga Co-op since the group first started and has seen it grow to what it is today.
“Although commonly thought of as an exercise for seniors, tai chi has so much to offer people all ages,” he said. “My affiliation with the Co-op has allowed me to introduce tai chi to a wide cross-section of the Idaho Falls community.”
The Co-op also offers yoga instructor classes through the School of Yoga with Yoga Alliance, which has helped to expand the Co-op’s yoga class offerings. Carrie Cornish completed the course last year and now teachers beginning yoga at the Co-op.
“I just wanted to take the course to learn more,” Cornish said. “Yoga was why I felt so good. I was able to get off blood pressure medication. Yoga is a safe place I can go and it is quiet. It has a good, positive vibe. Now I want to share yoga with other people.”
The Co-op has regular teachers like Siuda and Cornish, but it regularly brings in instructors from all over the world so people right here in east Idaho can learn from the experts in topics of wellness.
Hampton has taught and studied yoga and meditation all over the world. She said that there is nothing quite like the Idaho Yoga Co-op anywhere.
“Our model is really unique. I think it’s the best model in the country,” Hampton said.
She explained that the Idaho Yoga Co-op is broader that other co-ops as it has three components: Number one, it’s nonprofit, number two it has local for-profit partners, and number three it works with other non-profits throughout the world. Many Idaho Yoga Co-op members realize how lucky they are to have this in their own backyard.
“I also think it is more valued because there is nothing like this here,” Hampton said.
Keeping costs down is at the heart of what they do, she added, so that more people can learn and grow from the classes and workshops.
“If we can bring in everyone from construction workers to cowboys, we are doing something right,” she said.
Lisa Arnold teaches yoga and offers massage and a form of energy work called reiki through the Idaho Yoga Co-op.
“The Co-op is just absolutely an amazing place,” she said. “Great ambience with awesome people from all walks of life. All working to be healthy and possibly to manage pain. The Co-op is a true community non-profit serving its purpose and going above and beyond so that people can practice yoga while taking care of their bodies affordably.”
The main Idaho Falls location is at 740 West Broadway, and the wellness center is located at 477 Shoup Ave., Suite 106. The Victor location is at 170 N Main Street.