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Angela Glaz, Owner of Eka Yoga

Eka Yoga (“Eka” meaning “one”) opens as the first Ayurvedic yoga studio in Seattle, Wash. Eka Yoga is owned by Angela Glaz, who has been teaching and practicing yoga since 2002.

Angela once wanted to be an international business woman. She wanted to travel the world and wheel and deal. After a horrible semester of Spanish and the realization that pantsuits are not comfortable, Angela switched her major to education. Not because she wanted to work with kids, but because “[she] didn’t know what [she] wanted to do and it seemed like a “safe” choice.” During this unknown and stressful time, Angela found yoga (out of all places in Whitewater, Wisconsin AKA “cornfield city”) and since then, everything has snowballed into where she is today at Eka Yoga in Queen Anne.

Angela first began her practice of meditation and yoga in 2002 to alleviate chronic back pain and symptoms of depression. She stumbled into teaching when she was asked to teach a yoga class without prior training. She developed her own style of yoga, offering a midwest flair to west coast yoga. Since then, Angela has been lucky enough to travel to India twice to study Yoga and Ayurveda and deepen her own practice. Angela has been continually inspired by the ways she has seen Yoga and Ayurveda transform the lives and bodies of her students, as well as her own. She has a genuine passion for teaching and finds joy in encouraging her students to explore their individual gifts. That passion and belief in honoring every individual’s unique qualities is what drove Angela to create and open Eka Yoga.

Seattle Yoga News connected with Angela to understand exactly what an Ayurvedic yoga studio provides. If you’re unfamiliar with Ayurveda and the doshas, you may have questions too! Check out our interview with Angela below to learn more about the combined practice of Ayurveda and yoga at Eka Yoga.


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    This way to Eka Yoga!

    Why is combining the practice of Ayurveda + yoga important?

Ayurveda and Yoga are sister sciences that were traditionally developed together in India. When explored together, they offer us the opportunity to get to know and understand our own unique qualities, which in return allows us to find balance on and off of the mat and foster greater health and vitality.

  1. How did you come to find this location? Can you tell me about the work and investment it took you to create such a wonderful space?

Good Karma! I had been actively searching for a space for over a year and was just about to give up when I found Eka’s home. Prices were getting more and more outrageous and the people that owned the properties seemed to be getting more and more crazy. When my broker sent me the details for the space, I almost didn’t even go look at it because I was feeling so defeated. Boy, am I glad I did! Finding a home for your business is like being in love. When you know, you know.

I had begun my plan for Eka about five years prior to opening. My business plan started as journal entries and my business background began by taking any and every learning opportunity I could get my hands on. I listened to business pod casts, worked with a mentor and took classes with the SBA. I did A LOT of work for free, so I could gain the experience.

As for the investment, I was able to get a small business loan, but most of what was invested came from me. I dedicated a solid 5 years to working a full-time job, teaching 6-10 yoga classes per week and being frugal.

  1. Tell us about your staff? Their qualifications? What about your team stands out from the rest?

Eka’s staff is amazing! When I take their classes, I feel so proud that I almost start to tear up. They are truly some of the most humble and gracious individuals I have had the opportunity to work with.

All of Eka’s teachers hold at minimum, a 200 hour teaching certification. Some instructors are Reiki masters, Ayurvedic Wellness counselors, nutrition educators, certified in kid’s yoga, prenatal yoga, Thai massage, you name it! They are an eclectic group and are true educators and healers.

Eka’s team is not only qualified to teach general yoga classes, but they have also spent a lot of time studying the wonderful world of Ayurveda and they believe in it’s benefits when integrated with yoga.

  1. What makes this place stand out from the other yoga studios in the area? 

Eka yoga teaches yoga classes to balance the 3 doshas (body types) of Ayurveda. Our goal is to not only make students feel happy and healthy on the mat, but we also want to give them the tools the need to continue to do so off of the mat. This is where the Ayurvedic aspect of our studio truly comes into play. You can familiarize yourself with Ayurveda and doshas with Jodi Boone’s Expert Series article.

We also offer Ayurvedic Wellness Consultations, provide a self-practice room (open M-F 1pm-6pm), and we hold regular retail hours (M-F 1pm-6pm). Our retail area is a yogi’s dream come true. We have apparel, books, journals, teas, Ayurvedic supplements, essential oils, and much more. It’s also organized by dosha type!

  1. What are your future aspirations for the studio? 

I would love for Eka to be a complete wellness center and one day be able to accept insurance.

  1. What do you want to offer that has never been offered before?

All of what is listed above, as well as the following:

  • 20 hour continuing education teacher training based on Ayurveda. Ayurveda is such a large part of the yogic lifestyle – I would love to teach teachers how to sprinkle some of that knowledge into their classes.
  • I’ve been working with kids just as long as I’ve been teaching yoga, almost 10 years. I’ve seen some great things happen from yoga and mindfulness being implemented in the classroom. With this, I would like to offer a Kid’s Yoga TT, specifically geared toward school teachers. I want to give them the tools they need to easily bring yoga and mindfulness into their classrooms.

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Inside Eka Yoga Studio

If you’re curious and would like to check out Eka Yoga, take advantage of their “Newbie Special” – For only $30 you get TWO WEEKS of unlimited yoga!

Check out our partner, Sukha Design & Photography’s dosha yoga sequences.

 

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