About Yoga Shanti - Sag Harbor Yoga Studio
Yoga in sag harbor
Founded by Colleen Saidman and Jessica Bellofatto, Yoga Shanti is a full-time, year-round, East End Yoga studio in the Hamptons offering oppurtunities for every kind of student. We are located at 23 Washington Street off of Main Street, in the heart of Sag Harbor.
Yoga Shanti is long established as the place to practice yoga in the Hamptons, and has been featured in The New York Post, Dan's Hampton Style, The New York Times and New York Magazine. A recent review called Yoga Shanti, “The Hamptons yoga studio. You will never waste your time at Yoga Shanti. No matter if the class is Hatha or Astanga, beginner or open, the teachers are always amazing.”
Students come on a very regular basis from all reaches of the East End of Long Island - including Bridgehampton, East Hampton, Montauk and Southampton - as if it were a home away from home. Shanti is truly a place where one can go and feel a real sense of community. Nurtured by the quality of the teachers as well as by the space itself, painted in lush shades of red and orange, our yoga studio's atmosphere is as warm and welcoming as our teachers. Yoga students of all levels find a place to practice yoga here.
The principal objective in founding Yoga Shanti was to emphasize the spiritual aspects of yoga in addition to the more obvious physical benefits. Aside from asanas (physical postures), classes may include chanting, meditation, and philosophy instruction, drawing from ancient Yogic and Buddhist scriptures such as the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, The Bhagavad Gita, The Dhammapada, and more. Yoga Shanti’s aim is to help individuals increase their awareness of who they are, influencing how they relate to the world.
Our teachers are experienced and compassionate, bringing years of knowledge and training from such varied traditions as Jivamukti, Iyengar, Kripalu, Sivananda, Astanga, Integral and Anusara.
Yoga Shanti Founders
Yoga Shanti was founded in 1999 by Colleen Saidman and Jessica Bellofatto, graduates of the intensive, year long Jivamukti Yoga Teacher Training Program in New York, which was developed by David Life and Sharon Gannon.
Jessica and Colleen teach a style of yoga that is deeply grounded in their Jivamukti roots, incorporating yoga philosophy, bhakti (devotion) and dhyana (meditation). They are both constantly furthering their study of yoga and related disciplines, firmly believing that a good teacher is first and foremost a good student. Over the years they have also been influenced by the teachings of B.K.S. Iyengar, Rodney Yee, John Friend, Angela Farmer and Victor Van Kooten, as well as Genevieve Kapuler. They have also studied Sanskrit with Manorama (Thea D'alvia), who has taught them both about the beauty and mystery of Shabda (sacred sound as light). In addition, they bring to their classes a background in such healing arts as Shiatsu, Reiki and Thai massage.
Jessica and Colleen are known for their devotion to their students, their warmth and sense of humor as well as their approachability. They are committed to serving the needs of all the students who walk through their door, both in and outside of the classroom.
In addition to managing their studios and teaching, Jessica and Colleen are never far from their greatest teachers – their children. Whether riding the waves at the ocean or strolling down Main Street in Sag Harbor, you are likely to find Jess taking a run with kids in tow (Jack 7, and Uma 3 months), and Colleen arm and arm with her daughter Rachel (12).
They also host regular workshops and amazing yoga retreats in the Hamptons and various locations around the world, such as Mexico and Costa Rica.
What Is Yoga?
Yogash citta, vritti nirodhah. Yoga Sutra I.2
“ The state where nothing is missing” Sri Brahmananda Sarasvati
“ You are happiness personified. You are joy” Sri Swami Satchidananda
Frequently Asked Questions?
How do I know what class level is appropriate for me?
Yoga Shanti offers classes for all levels of students in various traditions. You may, in the beginning, try out many different teachers and styles to find what works best for you. We recommend that brand new students start with our beginner classes. However, all levels are welcome to attend Open classes.
Can beginners attend?
Please inform the instructor before class begins if you are just starting out so that s/he can offer you suggestions for how to modify your practice to suit your level. If you would like more specifics on class styles and teachers, feel free to call the studio and speak to someone directly.
How should I prepare for class and what should I bring?
It is best to practice asanas on an empty stomach, so not eating for about two hours before class is a good idea.We recommend that you wear comfortable clothes to classes. Natural, breathable fabrics are a plus. Mats and all other props are provided for use in the studio. We have water for sale in the boutique. You may want to bring a small towel if you tend to perspire.
What does the chanting mean? Do I have to chant?
Most classes include chanting. These are primarily ancient Hindu and Buddhist mantras, repeated phrases uttered to transcend the mind and honor the divine aspect that connects us all. Mantras are most often chanted in the highly vibrational language of Sanskrit, a classical Indian language. Thus the experience of them, and their true meaning, is realized in their utterance. When one begins to surrender to the sound experience of mantra, they are brought that much closer to unity with their true nature. “As we think, so we become.” Though certain mantras speak of deities in the Hindu pantheon, they are meant only to reveal aspects of ourselves and are not meant to be a religious practice. Chanting is entirely optional. Please feel comfortable asking for a translation if the teacher did not translate the mantra during the class.
