OUR WHY
Chris Chittenden is the founder of Sweetgrass Yoga, a Kunga-trained yoga teacher and student of many diverse life experiences. Just ask her. . . she’ll be glad to share!
In the early 2000s as a mom of littles, she needed her own space to move, to find quiet and to be still. Chris fell in love with the practice of yoga. Though through the years her fitness trends had a rhythm of “try something new-get hurt-quit,” yoga was something she always came back to. After a significant neck injury in 2018, she took time to reflect on what might best serve her fitness and wellness moving forward in the most sustainable way. Yoga, meditation, and mindfulness were the answers.
Chris opened Sweetgrass Yoga to create a much needed yoga space in Christiansburg, to gather exceptional teachers and to connect students who take their yoga off the mat and into our community. For her, the practice is about becoming present in the body and cultivating an open heart and a deeper connection with one’s self. As a teacher Chris encourages freedom and exploration as a way to empower her students and teaches from a place of inquiry, so everyone gets the chance to tap into their own inner wisdom. It is in knowing ourselves that we can best be in the world and be of service to others.
OUR CORE VALUES
We believe it is paramount that each person in any of our classes trust 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.
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.
We believe in caring for all sentient beings and will seek to use the least impactful products, foods and will support organizations that strive for the same.
OUR MISSION
The depth and breadth of a yoga lifestyle is far reaching and extensive. It is our commitment to our students to be ongoing students ourselves, dedicating ourselves to being open to new thinking as well as imparting all we learn from the thousands year old practice.
Each teacher's practice is based on their own unique style and each style is fused with personal experience, individual training and a practice that inspires and resonates with them.
We aim to cultivate a community of acceptance and accessibility to all levels of yoga skills through yoga, meditation, workshops, and events. The yoga practice we share is diverse and non-dogmatic, while still intentionally honoring the roots and history of the practice. Our vision of success is building true community and meeting each person where they are in their yoga experience.
