Little Haiti yoga studio reaches out to community

Inhale Miami, a new yoga studio in Little Haiti, is looking to get people into the fold by offering individual classes in November for $7.

Rikki Kamensky, who opened the studio in September, said she also is reaching out to neighborhood children, hoping their curiosity brings them in after school for classes.

“Yoga helps them understand their emotions instead of reacting violently or in anger.” said Kamensky, 28. “It also helps their busy minds relax while stretching their bodies and engaging them in ways they haven’t before.”

Kamensky, originally from Brooklyn, is a yoga instructor, licensed massage therapist, and entrepreneur. She fell in love with yoga during a transition in her life when she felt she didn’t belong.

Through yoga she met others who were in similar situations looking for a positive outlet. Kamensky said that she hopes Inhale Miami will be the place the “misfits” can feel they fit in.

Michael Swan, who attended an AcroYoga event at the studio, says engaging with different people is his favorite part. AcroYoga is a combination of partner acrobatics, yoga and Thai bodywork. It builds trust between both partners to lift and support each other while getting into different movements.

“I’m not used to touching a guy,” Swan said. “But here I don’t have those mental blocks or interference. I’m just sharing energy with another human.”

The studio, which transforms into an event space, will be offering a variety of classes and events to keep overhead and prices low.

Kamensky says at her studio it’s all about the practice and doesn’t want to drown out the message in heavy marketing or the pressure to wear fashionable clothes.

Angie Hernandez, who attended the AcroYoga event, said it requires a lot of trust.

“As long as you have good intentions, it’s great.”

This story was originally published October 27, 2015 at 2:18 PM with the headline "Little Haiti yoga studio reaches out to community."