Walking up the stairs of Southtown Yoga Loft, assending to a large sunny room featuring hardwood floors and the soft light of paper lanterns, it's hard to believe the bustling streets of downtown are just a few steps away.

Which is precisely what owner Kristal Cuevas intended.

I get chills every time students tell me there's a special energy here, Cuevas said. It's a calm away from the hustle and bustle of downstairs.

Located on South Alamo, the funky new yoga studio offers a boutique along with a large open space for various types of yoga practice, including Ashtanga, vinyasa, karma yoga, prenatal yoga and even kids yoga.

Cuevas began practicing in 2007 and, after a stint in the corporate world, decided to open her own business.

I was inspired by my grandmother, Cuevas said. I saw her as inspiration you don't have to work in the corporate world. I was certified to teach in 2009 and decided to open up my own studio.

After discovering there were no yoga-focused studios in Southtown, Cuevas found her current space after searching through only a few places. It didn't take locals long to flock through the doors and claim a spot on the mat. Many students walk to classes.

I think Southtown Yoga Loft is a great asset to the community, student Leland Stone said, who has been practicing yoga for 10 years. There are multiple classes all day and they are well attended. It's hard to find a studio where the teachers are so good in their own way.

Stone also enjoys the fact that the atmosphere is calm, as he says often isn't the case in other studios. In other classes, the teacher will rush in when the students are waiting. It's very low-key here. The teachers are all happy. I come almost every day.

The popular variety of classes has lead to the studio purchasing a place next door, which will allow for even more classes and a larger boutique space.

Excerpt from:
Southtown Yoga Loft brings peace and energy