We had the good fortune of connecting with Samantha Garrison and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Samantha, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
Balance is essential. It is an everyday, day to day, season to season, year to year, decade to decade dance. It is an evenness, an equal-ness, an interesting place to exist between effort and ease. In yoga and meditation, we practice this balance – sthira and sukha, “not too tight and not too loose” as my meditation teacher says. In all our postures and practices we ground and strengthen for steadiness (sthira) and align and breathe for comfort (sukha).

Bringing this balance off the mat into our lives where outside factors regularly upset this delicate equilibrium adds to the daily struggle*. As a mother, business owner, partner and more, I’ve come to find my balance in another essential – self care. Yoga and meditation are two of my primary tools but walks, baths, massages, even taking the time to read or garden have brought me back to homeostasis. In that space, I am clear, compassionate, efficient and open to possibility.

What should our readers know about your business?
The seed of Yogala was a community space for yoga and its surrounding practices and products. The studio feels like home; a space where all are welcomed, appreciated and able to be themselves. Often yoga is described as a returning home, to oneself, to connection. The space and all we do is designed to support people in finding that home within themselves and community.

Many of those who find benefit in Yogala appreciate this return to self and community, especially those who need to be deeply connected to create. Our students and teachers tend to be artists, writers, filmmakers, healers, teachers, actors, designers, musicians and other people who go deep within to draw out and share their gifts. These kind of people are infinitely interesting and inspiring and are what makes Yogala, Yogala:)

As I tell at some length in my chat with Chloe Park on her podcast HIGHER STATES, it was not easy building or keeping Yogala. It does however experience a FLOW that is essential to its continuation. The flow feels like a balance of effort and ease. It looks like tuning into what we need and an answer to that need arriving on our doorstep or in our inbox. It is also a dance of letting go/making space and of calling in/opening to possibility.

In that flow there is huge beauty, support and comfort and there are difficult times. Dealing with Covid and its fallout are among the biggest of them. I have also had to end relationships and jobs, have very challenging (and educational) conversations and experiences around wokeness and social activism and shift the business model to accommodate new state regulations to name a few. I have remained open to these, at times painful, changes and tackled them step by step remembering that 80% of the work is in showing up. It is actually doing it that matters. And when what you are doing matters to you deeply, getting it done is essential.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The Eastside is place to be! But it is less about specific places than the feel and lifestyle. Of course, we would take a class or several at YOGALA (now in Elysian Park but back in a space as soon as Covid permits)! I love to pair a strenuous vinyasa class with a guided relaxation or restore fully with a Yin practice and Soundbath. The green salad with chicken salad or the shiitake scramble and an iced matcha at VALERIE ECHO PARK for lunch (every day!)

The museums – The Getty, LACMA, MOCA. The gardens – HUNTINGTON and DESCANSO and parks – ELYSIAN and GRIFFITH – spend a few hours at the OBSERVATORY. Walk and shop on SUNSET BLVD in ECHO PARK and SILVERLAKE, HYPERION in Los Feliz especially SKYLIGHT BOOKS, YORK in HIGHLAND PARK.

Head up to Ojai for a few days – hike (COZY DELL is short and sweet), sulphur springs soak (ECOTOPIA), shop vintage and carefully crafted. Enjoy the Pink Moment sunset and stay at THE CAPRI, CARAVAN OUTPOST, RANCHO INN or sludge for OJAI VALLEY INN.

Back in LA take a day in VENICE strolling BROADWALK and ABBOTT KINNEY – get a MOON JUICE (I LOVE the Date Shake!) Return to YOGALA for a bodywork session with AMBER LEE or ROBERT BERRYMAN or for minimal fuss and expense go to one of the many Thai Massage spots. PHO from SILVERLAKE PHO for dinner and a movie at THE VISTA or ARCLIGHT. Cap the night with a wine at STELLA in SUNSET JUNCTION.

Definitely fly into and out of BURBANK or LONG BEACH AIRPORTS when possible.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Insights, inspiration and support, I am lucky to have in abundance. Although my family and husband provide ground as well as external compasses for me, much of the guidance I receive is from my peers – my co-workers, students, friends. I am open in a way that absorbs input: I share, I listen, I ask questions. With those conversations and ideas in mind, I lean into my own intuition. I tune into what feels right in my body, heart and mind. I sleep on it and move ahead.

In that way, I am grateful to the practices of yoga and meditation which tune me into clarity, trust and possibility and to the community surrounding and involved in Yogala who shares their insights with me. That they believed in me and the studio’s offerings is why I have made it this far.

Website: www.yogalastudios.com, www.lightandspaceyoga.com

Instagram: @yogalastudios, @lightandspaceyoga

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-jones-garrison-9b816a40/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YogalaStudios

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/yogala-echo-park-los-angeles-2

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC40ywPUjL_-NjNSYpUWzQUw

Other: Clubhouse @yogalastudios

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