If you’re interested in starting or continuing a yoga practice, the Windward side offers a variety of studios featuring diverse class options.
Yoga instructor Leah Distad opened The Yoga Hut in her bucolic Waimanalo backyard three years ago.
Prior to opening The Yoga Hut, Distad ran her own yoga studio in Kailua from 2008 to 2010 and then taught lessons privately and for other local yoga venues.
Creating The Yoga Hut on her property three years ago seemed the perfect blend that allowed Distad to focus on teaching in the the nature-oriented atmosphere she desired for her students.
The Yoga Hut is a screened in space nestled among lush Waimanalo greenery. Voices of sheep, goats and chickens add to the soundtrack of every class. Distad’s dogs, Peanut Butter and Buddha, greet students with wagging tails and lounge placidly on the studio floor, belly-up, during classes.
“What’s really unique about The Yoga Hut is the setting that it’s in, in a farm/nature/jungle/country kind of setting,” Distad said “So it gives you a better chance to not only have your practice, but to reconnect with the mountains and the trees.”
Distad’s teaching style is organic and she rarely comes to the mat with a plan.
“I totally wing every class because I want to feel the energy in the room, take people’s requests and cater and adapt the class, where I’m not rigidly connected to a plan,” she said.
Distad strives for an atmosphere where people can express any emotion from laughter to tears.
“It is a space where people feel safe to be vulnerable and raw,” Distad said.
In addition to her regular class schedule at The Yoga Hut, Distad can provide classes for special events such as baby showers, bridal showers, or wedding days, on or off her property.
She and her husband, Dodge, recently added catering to their event repertoire and can prepare five course meals for events (with or without yoga instruction) for up to 12 people. All meals are farm to table or locally sourced as much as possible.
The Yoga Hut classes cater to all levels and include Vinyasa, Gentle Yoga, and Yin Yoga .
https://www.yogawithleahhawaii.com
CorePower Yoga
CorePower Yoga is a national chain with a studio in Kailua. The venue offers both traditional Vinyasa yoga classes and Yoga Sculpt, which combines free weights with cardio and yoga sequencing to boost metabolism and build lean muscle mass. CorePower also has a teacher training program.
https://www.corepoweryoga.com/yoga-studios/hawaii/kailua/kailua
Bella Kai Yoga
Bella Kai Yoga offers Bikram method classes, Barre classes and Yin Yoga classes for all levels.
Bella Kai has a philanthropic focus and has raised more than $10,000 for the Windward-based non-profit Huakailani School for Girls. The studio partners with national non-profit Warriors at Ease, an organization committed to making yoga and meditation relevant, accessible and welcoming for members of the military, veterans and their families. Every Wednesday, the studio offers free yoga classes for active duty, veterans, and their families.
http://bellakaiyoga.com
Hot Yoga By The Sea
Hot Yoga By The Sea offers a variety of heated and non-heated classes for all levels including Vinyasa, Restorative, Yin, and Mommy and Baby. It also offers workshops and a teacher training program.
http://www.hotyogabythesea.com
Aloha Yoga Kula
Aloha Yoga Kula has two studio locations in Kailua with a variety of classes including Vinyasa Flow, Gentle Yoga, Yoga Basics, Body Sculpting Restorative Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Senior Stretch, various workshops, and a 200-hour teacher training program.
http://www.alohayogakula.com
Photo 1: A class at The Yoga Hut in Waimanalo.
Photo 2: Leah Distad poses with some of her students The Yoga Hut in Waimanalo.