Unpacking. 4 Years in the Making

by Jodh Kaur

​In July 2011, we stepped into the dusty indoor market on Granville and Broadway in Chicago to create our first space.  With the help of our community, we hung tarps to create walls, we swept the dusty floors best we could, laid out the mats and brought flowers for our altar. In this pop up market - Urban Yoga Chicago was born.  We offered Kundalini Yoga Saturday morning and Mantra Meditation Sunday morning each weekend for the rest of the summer.

Over the next couple of years, we chanted and cooked together, we did flash mob style meditations in the mall, on the Metra and in the park and we popped in on yoga classes around the city.  In 2013, we rented space at another yoga center in Chicago and offered our first Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training and it was during this training, we found our home in Evanston. If you have been to our center, you have seen the crockpots and teapots in the kitchen. Each weekend of teacher training we would pack those crockpots (and the food that would go into them), the tea and all of our supplies for the weekend and head to the yoga studio where we would unpack and set up.  All of that work motivated us to find a home of our own - something we hadn't before considered.  

We moved into UYC in April 2014 and officially opened our doors in May.  It has and continues to be a tremendous journey filled with lessons, laughter and personal growth. Through all of this Savitree and I have forged a relationship and partnership that is based on direct communication, mutual love & respect, understanding & appreciating each others' gifts and allowing each other to lead through our strengths.  Each and every day we are uplifted, empowered and sustained by our shared love of this practice, of this community, and in our mission to hold space for each of you, in your spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional growth and development.  We hold space for you to be the light and that part of Special that only you can be. 

In celebration of you and the UYC community, we invite you to our Anniversary Open House and Celebration on July 14 from 12-4pm.  We are offering mantra, sound healing, food & community time and drums & dancing.  Register for one event or stay all day and if you happen to be busy that day, we would love for you to swing by for a quick hug and a Sat Nam -we would love to see you!

Please click here for a description of the day's events.  We ask you to register for each event individually so we know how many to expect throughout the day. 

We are so grateful for each and every one of you. Thank you for being a part of this community and for your love and support over the last 7 years. 

With absolute love and gratitude,
Jodh

PS In April, we were featured on the Podcast Ready.Aim.Empire where we shared a portion of our journey. We invite you to listen to that episode here (it is also available on iTunes, episode 206).

PSS Stay tuned for our special July offer!