When the former owner of a yoga studio in Powell pulled out recently, yoga teachers and students decided to combine their efforts to keep the studio operating.

Under its new name, the Yoga Center now is a cooperative venture spearheaded by five certified yoga instructors and eight students at the center.

A grand opening will take place at 5 p.m. Friday at the center, located 163 N. Clark St.

The students stepped up and wanted to keep it open, said Helena DeFina, one of the teachers at the center. We have each agreed to pay a certain amount each month to keep it open ... Its been a breath of new life.

They would like to extend that concept to make it a community-owned center. Theyre making it easy; anyone interested can join the center for $5. The first class is free; after that, classes cost $7 each, or $50 for 30 days of unlimited classes.

The center offers a pleasant, relaxing environment in which teachers and students can tune out the world while they focus on body, breath and mind.

To me, yoga brings in the breathing element, and that just sort of separates it from regular exercises, said Rowene Weems, one of the eight students who spearheaded the partnership.

Yoga is not a religion; its a system of health, DeFina said.

Its not just physical, she said. Whatever helps you calm the mind is what you need. (The Yoga Center) is an environment to help put you in the right place.

Thats why it was so important to keep the center open, she said.

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Yoga Center re-opens as community partnership