Our Story

Where we come from and what we stand for.

In Sanskrit, ananda translates to "bliss and divine joy," and shala to "home or abode." Therefore, Ananda Shala Healing is a joyous space for all beings to gather and enhance their body-mind connection through movement.

Ananda Shala Healing came to fruition as a love-filled response to the unprecedented times our society experienced following the COVID-19 global pandemic. In April 2020, owner, co-manager, and teacher Adrianna Naomi transitioned to teaching yoga online to support her student community.

In June 2020, Adrianna introduced rooftop yoga classes to her teaching schedule, expanding and strengthening her already built community. Come January 2021, and our yoga school took its first baby steps. Adrianna began hosting free bi-weekly community gatherings through Zoom under Ananda Shala Healing. Here, attendants were encouraged to express themselves about their present circumstances openly. These gatherings grew into something bigger…

With the assistance of co-manager Kimberly Marcotte, Adrianna led the first continuing education workshop that Ananda Shala Healing offered in the spring of 2021. In April, Ananda Shala Healing was officially incorporated as an LLC in New York City. Simultaneously, our yoga school's weekly class offerings expanded from rooftop and virtual classes to the addition of an in-studio location at Grand Street Healing Project.

At its core, Ananda Shala Healing is in service of its community. Today, we have three permanent teachers in our schedule. In addition, we offer monthly curated classes and events focusing on our students' journey. Each of our offerings places a strong emphasis on our students' innate capacity to heal through the conscious integration of body, mind, and spirit.