Photos Courtesy of THE BRIDGE YOGA
When Kelli Sammis arrived in College Station in 2013, she noticed the lack of community for people interested in yoga. Having a safe place to practice this form of meditation and physical movement was important to Kelli, who has incorporated the practice of yoga into her daily life since high school.
After becoming the director of teacher training at a local studio in the Brazos Valley, Kelli, who worked in education for 30 years, says she realized she wanted to open up her own studio that could exemplify all eight limbs of yoga. With a little help from her husband, she opened The Bridge Yoga in April of 2021.
“We opened a studio that would reflect the mission of what I see this yoga lifestyle to be,” Kelli says. “It's really great that somebody goes to a gym and learns yoga and learns the postures and anatomy, and the physical healing this practice brings. But I want people to get the whole scope of it, of what mindful practice scan really do for your life beyond just the physical benefits of it.”
Sanskrit is an ancient Indian language which is used in the teachings of yoga and played a large role in the naming of the studio, Kelli says. There are seven chakras, or energy centers, in your body: three above your heart, and three below. Right in the middle lies the heart chakra, or Anahata, which is seen as abridge to create connection.
“Anahata is the bridge between the physical parts of you, and the emotional, mental, spiritual parts,” Kelli says. “We're going to give you the physical experience, but we're going to provide you with connections to your higher self. Whether you define your higher self as connecting to God or to nature or the universe; we want to provide you a bridge to that connection.
Kelli also wanted to be the bridge between Bryan and College Station, which is why the studio is conveniently equally far apart from both. Open seven days a week with a staff of 16, the studio offers 32 different classes in an attempt to offer something for everyone, Kelli says.
Yoga for kids, dudes and moms and babies are available, along with virtual classes. Each instructor specializes in a different form of yoga from Hatha to Vinyasa to Yin, which all start with the same anchor — the breath.
“Breath is something that can invigorate you,” Kelli says. “And so how I breathe with my folks first thing in the morning at sunrise looks different than the kind of breath I do with folks coming from the workday at seven o'clock. But no matter [what] the class is or who the instructor is, we're going to start with breath.”
Hectic jobs or college courses can make for stressful weeks, but Kelli says she strives to ensure that The Bridge is a soothing space with peaceful music and an aromatic diffuser that hits your senses the second you enter.
“From the paint on the walls to how we create the schedule to the people who sit at the front desk, we want people to walk in [and] from the very instant, feel the energy that's in this space, feel the calm,” Kelli says. “Whatever traffic or workday or whatever you've encountered when you walk in, hopefully something feels different. And that's not just once you get on your mat here, that should start from the minute you walk in the door.”
To ensure that yoga is being taught correctly across the board, Yoga Alliance created a standard for all instructors. This governing nonprofit body over yoga created three levels of certifications, two of which can soon be completed at The Bridge, Kelli says.
People interested in teaching or just learning more about yoga can get their 200-hour certification through The Bridge’s teacher training program. After completion, people can also take the Mantra, Movement, and Meditation 300-hour program launching in January of 2024. Combined, these programs will give you the 500-hour certification, which Kelli describes as the master’s degree of yoga.
“Yoga is a Sanskrit word,” Kelli says. “When you translate, it means union. Yoga is not physical calisthenics on a mat. Yoga is mind, body, spirit, union in one, united as one thing. We use very specific sequencing of postures to make that happen.”
In the future, Kelli plans to open a full holistic center, with resources such as Ayurvedic nutritional coaching, massage, acupuncture therapy, yoga therapy, and maybe even a tea shop! And of course, there will be plenty of yoga!
“I think our community needs it. I know our community needs it,” Kelli says. “Because there are a lot of ways that you can heal yourself without having to always rely on something external. And if we can teach people to do that, I think lives will just be healthier and happier. And then our community will be safer and a better place for everybody.”
Different membership levels at The Bridge include student discounted memberships, class passes, year-round memberships and more. Private sessions can be booked in advance for individuals, weddings or corporate events. Kelli invites everyone to come in regardless of if they think yoga is for them or not.
“You should never be made to feel that yoga isn't accessible and it’s not for you,” Kelli says. “I am very committed to making sure everyone realizes yoga is for them.”
The Bridge Yoga is located at 702 University Drive East Suite 102D in College Station and is open seven days a week at varying times. To learn more about the studio or to check out the classes offered, visit thebridgeyogabcs.com or call (979) 485-9190.
