Yoga has been a way for people to feel more relaxed, both for their body and their mind. It can give people a sense of calmness that can help them get away from day-to-day life.

 According to the Mayo Clinic, doing a relaxing activity can help reduce stress levels and can improve physical and mental health. 

Sacred Steps Yoga Studio opened in Muncie, Indiana, July 15, 2023. Studio owner and teacher Laura Mickler was a mortgage lender for several years but wanted to leave because of the stress. 

In 2015, Mickler underwent surgery and needed to stretch to help the recovery. This led her to try yoga and discover her love and passion for it. Eventually, she had the opportunity to open up her own studio.

“I started Sacred Steps as a place of rest and relaxation for busy people (specifically women),” Mickler said via email. “I also wanted to create a space for people who wanted to explore the mental and metaphysical properties of yoga in addition to the physical practice.”

Sacred Steps teaches three types of yoga. The first type is vinyasa yoga, which focuses on getting breathing to match movements. During vinyasa yoga, infrared panels heat the room to help sweat out any toxins in the body. Sacred Steps is not designed to be a studio with heat, so it does not include infrared panels in vinyasa yoga. 

Yin yoga allows the body to stretch for a longer period. Restorative yoga uses props, such as pillows, blankets and blocks to help the body feel supported.

Mickler enjoys practicing restorative yoga to feel calm and relaxed. She likes to teach restorative yoga, but she really enjoys teaching vinyasa yoga because of the movement and the cleansing experience the body goes through. 

“The breath work and movement of yoga can help to regulate our nervous systems, which can be overwhelmed by our everyday lives,” Mickler said via email. “Yoga also builds strength in our muscles, joints and bones, which is especially important as we age. The mental benefits of mindfulness are fantastic for our overstimulated everyday lives.”

Studio manager and teacher Martina Richter has been teaching classes at Sacred Steps since January. 

“I passionately want to help others find peace in this world that can be so stressful and fast-paced,” Richter said via email. “Yoga has been an adventure for me that helped me learn patience, peace, relaxation and overall body health. I hope I help spread as much love and joy through yoga that it has brought to me.”

Richter said she likes to practice restorative yoga, but she likes to teach vinyasa yoga.

“I love the meditation aspect and slow flow of restorative, but I love the sense of accomplishment I have after a vinyasa flow class,” Richter said via email. “You feel the workout, sweat and faster pace, then have this beautiful savasana at the end that heals your soul. It's an incredible mind-body connection.”

Cheyenne Reed has been taking classes at Sacred Steps since August 2023. She first heard about the studio from Mickler, who is also her friend. Reed enjoys the restorative yoga classes to help relax her mind and control her breathing.

“We all kind of get to make friends,” Reed said. “You meet people you would not normally get to 

meet. I really like that the environment allows for that.”

Sacred Steps sells vials of different crystals to bring feelings like peace and protection. They also sell bracelets, enamel pins, stickers and pictures of maps representing different cities in Indiana.

Recently, Sacred Steps introduced the Milestone Mat Club. Every time a customer reaches 25 classes attended, they can sign the yoga mat, along with the number of classes they have been to.

The studio’s classes are constantly changing, but for now, Sacred Steps has classes Tuesdays through Saturdays. vinyasa yoga is taught Tuesdays at noon and 6 p.m. 

Wednesday at 6 p.m. is when the Woo Crew meets, which is when a group of people meet to talk and learn about things such as crystals, tarot and meditation.

If interested in restorative yoga, classes are Wednesdays at 7 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. Teens can practice yoga Thursdays at 6 p.m. For those wanting to try Yin yoga, classes are available Fridays at noon. 

“Yoga can be intimidating for a lot of people,” Reed said. “Knowing they have a place to go to that is welcoming to everyone, no matter what level, is what sets [Sacred Steps] apart.”

A single class is $12. A monthly pass for Scared Steps classes is $40 and a 10-class pass is $100. For clothing, it is recommended to wear something that is comfortable and easy to move in. People are allowed to bring their own mat and water, but Scared Steps has extra mats for those who may need one. For any questions, contact Sacred Steps on their website.

Richter said the people who walk through the door are what make Sacred Steps Yoga Studio different from others.

“What makes Sacred Steps so unique and special is the connection that we all have here,” Richter said via email. “When you come to our studio you are part of something so personal. We all care so much about one another, and there's never a fear of judgment.”

If interested in yoga, Mickler suggests going to a beginner’s yoga class to learn each step of the poses and to not be nervous.

“No one is looking at you when you go to a yoga class,” Mickler said. “Everyone is so in their own space. If you can pluck up enough courage to get yourself in the room, the teacher will guide you where you need to go.”
Contact Lily Jones with comments at lkjones3@bsu.edu.

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