By Elsa Hasenzahl
Staff Writer

Students, left to right, Katherine Dunn, Rachel Willard, Renee Lorion and Starr Benson practice Power/Ashtanga an aggressive form of yoga.
Commons Photos by Elsa Hasenzahl

The aroma of incense burning is smelled through the air before even entering the doors of the Carrboro Yoga Company. Once inside, the senses are calmed by the soft lighting, sounds of trickling water, and colorful yoga related merchandise.
Carrboro Yoga Company was started by Carrboro residents Donia and Rick Robinson. They had an interest in yoga, with little past experience, and found an open spot for creating their entrepreneurship on the second floor of Carr Mill Mall, above Panzanella and Weaver Street Market.
“It seemed like an incredibly natural fit to have yoga right in Carrboro,” Donia Robinson said.
The location was ideal not just because of its proximity to Weaver Street Market, the heart of Carrboro, but because Carrboro itself is community driven. The Robinsons strive to have a business focused on relationships with their clients and community, and Carrboro was an ideal fit.

Yoga nothing new to area
Yoga was in the air long before Carrboro Yoga Company came around though.
About 10 years ago, Triangle Yoga in Chapel Hill brought yoga to the area.
Now more locations for yoga are sprouting up, finding their ways into gyms, such as Carolina Fitness in Carrboro, and even museums, such as the Ackland Art Museum. And many of these yoga instructors will teach at more than one location.
Yoga is good for the body and mind for many reasons. One of the more popular reasons in America these days for pursuing yoga is physical fitness, Robinson said.
“You get so much more from yoga than running on a treadmill in a gym,” she said.
Yoga, unlike exercising on gym machines, can have a sort of therapeutic power, Robinson said. Not only does yoga exercise the body, it helps to focus the mind and allows someone to find relaxation techniques that can help balance the weight of every day stress. This is part of the spiritual effect of yoga.
Robinson said even after just one yoga session many people feel better.

A unique high
The “high” or “buzz” achieved from yoga adds to its popularity. While yoga locations are all around, it is really about finding a unique energy in one of these locations that fits each individual.
“Can I hangout here? Does it feel nice,” Robinson said, regarding the questions people should ask themselves when at a yoga location for the first time.
Many people in Carrboro have found Carrboro Yoga Company as the right match for their yoga needs. Residents from Hillsborough, Cary, Apex, Pittsboro, and other surrounding areas flock to Carrboro on a regular basis just for yoga.
The company offers a wide range of classes, from Yoga 101 for beginners to the aggressive Power/Ashtanga to Prenatal yoga and kid’s yoga.
Robinson said the company provides a different style and level for each person. And Carrboro Yoga Company always offers assistance to help everyone find their perfect match through discussion of goals and ability, she said.

Carrboro Yoga Company offers a variety of products.

Increasing yoga’s appeal
Robinson is optimistic about the future of the company, as it works to appeal to a broader group of customers.
“It can only get better,” she said.
Carrboro Yoga Company continues to find ways to make yoga available to people who may not be able to afford it, as well to people in the community with language barriers.
Also, the studio will begin expanding on the merchandise end, selling American Apparel®, cruelty-free products and organic options.
As a way of appealing to students, the company offers a “Blue Plate Special” every day at noon for an hour at a discounted rate of $9.99.
“The idea is that student age is a good time to learn. Not only is it good for the body, but it teaches you de-stressing life skills,” Robinson said.

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