Who We Are, Our Story.
Where we came from.
Shine was built out of proof that yoga works.
Shine’s founder, Sara, had gone through a rough couple of years. She was diagnosed with cancer at 38 years old. The size of her tumors forced a specific treatment approach and timeline, which, a year later, left her unable to lift her arm, along with bone-deep exhaustion and mental mud. At the same time, her husband lost his job.
With a two-year-old, lots of worries, and financial instability, Sara made the decision to move back home to Hamburg, after 20 years of being away.
Yoga became a key part of her recovery. She brought an intensive daily practice into her life, and one day she could lift her arm, and then a month later, she had feeling in her shoulder again, next her pec muscle engaged and the Lymphodema in her arm shrunk.
When she did yoga, she ate better. She took her dog for walks, she made decisions that brought her joy. Her family was happier. The deep fear of a recurrence softened its grip. She could sleep.
High quality classes and the personalized programs that Sara developed are the cornerstone of Shine. But more than anything, Shine is a reflection of Sara’s heart—who she is and what she wished for people.
She was guided by things she learned from yoga but also from her parents and grandparents, her teachers and friends. Things like ahimsa ( kindness and gentleness), satya (authenticity and truth) and dharma (dedication to your life’s calling).
How we grew.
At first, Sara’s teaching was very anatomy-based. The physical effects of yoga were profound in her own body. She had learned so much about body mechanics, strength, and flexibility from her own limitations and the training she did with Yoga Medicine. She wanted to share that.
As a result, Shine’s first home was in a progressive, research-focused chiropractor’s office that largely served Buffalo’s Professional Athletes. Sara taught four classes per day and held private therapeutic sessions for over a year.
During that time, she realized the value of teaching body mechanics, so that everyone could live better in their bodies and grow in their yoga practice. She also learned that what people needed more than anything was permission to rest. Both of those things continue to drive Shine’s approach to yoga.
When Shine moved to The Grange, two years later, it got bigger. Both physically and conceptually. We had a beautiful old theater space to grow in. Shine added more teachers and worked to support their passions and visions alongside Sara’s.
We also held our first Yoga Teacher Training.
Where we are now.
Like so many small businesses, we suffered during the pandemic.
And we lost our home.
We worked hard to keep offering yoga and trainings. We did our best to respond to what we saw our students needed during this hard time in their lives. We kept showing up.
But we needed a real home to offer the unique safety and support that Shine is known for.
Sara bought a Historical Victorian, built by the owner of Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company in 1896. It was Hamburg’s first library and hosted the area’s suffragette meetings. It had seen better days, had been empty for a long time, and was in foreclosure.
It’s taken nearly a year and a half of non-stop renovation to bring her back. We replaced all of the floors with beautiful red oak, repaired and replaced plaster and woodwork, put in a kitchen for us to gather in and cook together. We also did the things you can’t see. We replaced all the electricity, plumbing and heating systems. We brought her back to the beautiful landmark she had once been.
Our studio is a special place, full of light and warmth.
The perfect place to return to our origins, Sara’s heart.
This space will be filled with smaller classes built and taught with intention.
This space is devoted equally to education and healing.
This space is built on the foundation of kindness, authenticity, and dedication.
This space is a place of safety and growth for everyone who comes through our doors.
This space is home.
Join Us.
Get started by getting a complimentary Yoga Prescription, a customized schedule and suggestions for lifestyle support.
Meet with Sara, Shine’s founder, for 15 minutes to get the most out of your experience. We can meet in person, zoom, or even text.