Via Community News Service, in partnership with Vermont State University Castleton for The Rutland Herald.
The prayer flags swaying in the wind, hung above the door at Sol Luna Yoga in Fair Haven signal a sense of warmth and welcome before you even step inside.
That same energy is echoed in its owner, Sasha Martin, whose journey to opening the studio was anything but ordinary.
Martin, a Fair Haven resident, never imagined she would one day run a yoga studio. Instead, yoga was simply something that helped her through different phases of life.
She often practiced on her front porch, drawing the curiosity of passersby.
“A lot of people walk in this town,” she recalls. “I kept getting questions from people walking by, like ‘What are you doing?’ And I thought, wow, they don’t know what yoga is,” Martin said.
That curiosity planted a seed.
For over a year, the idea of opening a yoga space lingered in her mind, reinforced by what she describes as “divine guidance,” signs from the universe pushing her toward the endeavor. But there was a practical challenge: there were no available spaces for rent in town.
Then, one day, Martin drove past a storefront in the center of Fair Haven with a “For Rent” sign that had just gone up.
“I called immediately,” she says.
The space needed work, but she was undeterred. With the support of the community, she transformed it into Sol Luna Yoga.
The name, Sol Luna, meaning “Sun and Moon” in Spanish, came to Martin naturally.
“It’s always resonated with me,” she explains. “The energy of the sun and moon together, like a yin and yang, fully encompassing.”
Opening the studio was one thing, but getting people through the door was another challenge.
Martin turned to prayer, asking the universe for guidance. Soon after, she met Laura Pedroni and Anna Vito, two newcomers from Oregon. Laura, an experienced yoga instructor who had opened multiple studios on the West Coast, wasn’t looking to start a new business but was eager to contribute.
“She has a lot of business experience,” Martin says. “I’ve taken a lot of guidance from her, and she’s helped shape what Sol Luna has become.”
Since its opening in March of 2023, Sol Luna Yoga has grown into a vibrant community space, offering a variety of classes, from vinyasa flow and restorative yoga to kickboxing and bootcamp. Martin, Laura Pedroni, and Anne Vito work as a team, to offer such a diverse range of practices.
The studio’s Full Moon Meditation class is a favorite of Martin’s.
“We do journaling, meditation, stretching, and work with crystals,” she said. “At the end, we write down things we need to let go of and release them into a small fire pit outside. Then we look for the moon. It’s a wonderful community experience,” Martin said with a smile.
For many patrons, the studio is more than just a place to practice yoga, it’s a place to connect.
Aspen Wood appreciates the sense of calm and community that Sol Luna Provides.
“I was really excited when it opened in Fair Haven because there’s not a lot going on around here,” she says. “It’s great for bringing people together.”
Clarena Renfrow, who recently turned 60, sees yoga as a way to maintain her health.
“Yoga has a lot of good benefits as you get older, and I want to stay healthy,” she said.
Others, like Jennie Kendall, have been attending since the studio opened.
“The sense of community and wellness, and just overall how good I feel taking care of my body—it’s why I keep coming back,” she said.
Haiyan Liu echoes this idea saying, “I feel energized and relaxed every time I take a class here.”
Sol Luna Yoga continues to grow, but Martin remains focused on its core purpose: creating a welcoming space where people can feel connected and cared for.
“I want people to leave here feeling revitalized, feeling in their body,” she says. “More than anything, I want them to feel like they are part of a community, loved, and welcome back anytime, no pressure.”