OUR WHY
Athena Spencer is the owner of Sweetgrass Yoga, a Kunga-trained yoga teacher, a scientist by trade, and a lifelong fitness enthusiast.
Initially drawn to yoga to improve flexibility and support her endurance running, Athena quickly discovered its deeper gifts — the ability to quiet the mind and create space for stillness. Over time, yoga transformed her life beyond the mat, helping her respond more thoughtfully to life’s stimuli and cultivate greater compassion.
As an original member of Sweetgrass Yoga, Athena deeply valued having a yoga space in Christiansburg. When the opportunity arose to purchase the studio, she knew she wanted to carry forward the strong foundation Chris Chittenden had built. To Athena, Sweetgrass Yoga is more than a studio — it is a community.
As a teacher, she delights in watching students explore variations — or even entirely different postures — during class, knowing they are truly listening to their bodies. She believes deeply in the power of syncing breath to movement and creating a practice that supports each student exactly as they are.
OUR CORE VALUES
We believe it is paramount that each person in any of our classes trusts they belong, in celebration of how their body moves, what they look like, how much money they have, what they believe, or who they love. Whether you’ve never done yoga or have practiced for years, you belong here.
We believe it is our responsibility to be in service to others and will seek out opportunities as a yoga community and in the community at large to do so, through the sharing of our time, talent and finances.
We believe in laughter, taking things as they come and finding joy and learning in our experiences on the mat.
We believe in being authentic with what we know and do not know. If we do not know an answer, we will seek the correct one for each situation.
We believe in collaborative work with other yoga studios and teachers in our community. There is much to share and when we arrive in life with this open mindset, the Universe will make space for all of it.
We believe in nonviolent communication and will strive to communicate with our students and fellow teachers as such, offering our best listening in an effort to understand the perspective of others.
OUR MISSION
At Sweetgrass Yoga, we're all about creating a space that's both sacred and full of joy – a place where everyone, and we mean everyone, feels welcome no matter where they are on their yoga journey. We blend mindful practice with sprinkles of laughter, nurturing a community as diverse as the poses we practice.
We're committed to walking the talk – constantly learning and growing ourselves so we can share the deep wisdom of yoga, both ancient and new. By empowering each other to embrace our authentic selves, practice gentleness, and prioritize self-care, we're not just doing yoga – we're living it.
Come as you are, leave a little more you. That's the Sweetgrass way!
