New business: Yoga, wellness service opens in Monongahela
Studio Current Yoga Wellness Community instructor Ilene Baker teaches a class in the yoga studio in Monongahela on Wednesday. Studio Current Yoga Wellness Community opened this week and offers private instructions as well as open sessions for the public.
Holly Tonini
Holly Tonini
Sarah Schumaker, co-owner of Studio Current Yoga Wellness Community, stops for a portrait inside her new business located at 1115 W. Main St. in Monongahela. Schumaker is partnered with Brian and Janice Britza through the Entrepreneur in Residence program.
Holly Tonini
Studio Current Yoga Wellness Community instructor Ilene Baker (far left) teaches a class in the new yoga studio in Monongahela. The business is co-owned by Sarah Schumaker (far right). Joining the class are yoga student Maribeth Paglia of Monessen (left) and co-owners Brian Britza and Janice Milliner Britza.
The room is lighted only by candles and soft music sets the mood.
In the serene setting, students follow the teacher’s instructions as they slowly, methodically go through the peaceful regiment of a yoga lesson.
The drawn shades provide cover from the sunshine outside as well as the bustle of downtown Monongahela.
The opening this week of Studio Current Yoga Wellness Community is the realization of a dream for co-owner Sarah Schumaker.
“I’ve wanted to own my own business since I was 12,” said Schumaker.
But it is also a sign of the community meeting the needs of a growing millennial generation that has discovered Monongahela and is moving into the city.
“The percentage of senior citizens is going down and what is making up for it is all of the other ages groups, including millenniums,” said Terry Necciai, executive director of the Monongahela Main Street Program.
“We’re probably going to have the first increase in population since 1950 on a 10-year census in 2020. When you see young people buying big houses in the city, that’s the millenniums.”
Located at 1115 W. Main St., Studio Current Yoga Wellness Community is a full-service yoga studio open six days a week. It offers private instructions as well as open sessions where the public can walk in.
“Yoga is all about aligning the mind, body and spirit,” said Janice Britza, who co-owns the business with her husband Brian as well as Schumaker.
“It’s a meditation process. Your body is a temple that is honoring your spirit. We have many good intentions, but it’s all about discipline.”
The business is beginning with yoga and PiYo, which is a mixture of Pilates and yoga.
“People are starved for a chance to make healthy choices,” Janice Britza said. “We’re providing something people wanted but did not realize they wanted.”
Leaving a class Tuesday, Chrissy Zellie of Fredericktown said she works overnight shifts as a nurse at St. Clair Hospital. She said finding a yoga class that fits her schedule was previously difficult.
“There was nothing around for a mom who puts her kids on the bus and has all day to do something,” Zellie said. “They were able to tweak the schedule.
“I was seeking a way to deal with anxiety in everyday living and to do something for myself for a change.”
Maribeth Paglia of Monessen works in sales for General Mills. Her flexible schedule allows her to fit a yoga session in. She used the studio’s Mind/Body App to download the class schedule.
“It’s overall mind and body wellness, and it’s something for myself,” Paglia said.
Schumaker admits she never thought she’d be operating a business by age 25. She started yoga about three years ago “and fell madly in love with it.”
Her mother-in-law worked as a receptionist at a yoga studio. Schumaker was encouraged to try yoga.
“I went in and it was the most wonderful experience,” Schumaker said.
She received her teacher registration a little over a year ago.
While Schumaker was a yoga coach with no previous business experience, the Britzas had business experience but no yoga in their past.
With a goal of helping young people who want to go into business in the city, the Britzas created the Entrepreneur in Residence program.
The studio and their partnership with Schumaker is the first venture for the Entrepreneur in Residence program, “helping young entrepreneurs to realize their dreams.”
“We just wanted to share our experiences,” Janice said. “Our goal is to help others with what we’ve been through.
Shannon met the Britzas through a mutual friend nearly a year ago.
“I’m not a yoga teacher, but visionaries don’t see obstacles. They reach past them for a dream,” Janice said.
Janice said by sharing their business experiences, they are sharing a sense of community.
And Monongahela is a community that its newest business owner is calling home.
“I love this town,” Schumaker said. “I just want to see it blossom and grow.”