Silent disco yoga and more at new Sonoma studio

For 10 years Sheila Martin’s mother suffered from a breathing illness that would eventually take her life at age 69. During that time, Martin worked in the corporate wine business and felt the anxiety and stress about layoffs and whether her job would exist from one day to the next.

“Yoga and meditation helped reduce my stress during these incredibly difficult times,” said Martin. “These experiences shaped my desire to create a health and wellness community.”

Martin, who graduated from Sonoma Valley High School in 1989 and later from the University of San Francisco, decided to head back into the classroom to complete Santa Rosa Junior College’s 200 hour Yoga Alliance Yoga Teacher training and to open her own studio.

Last month, Martin began offering an array of classes and retreats that include yoga, meditation, breathing, sound healings, cold therapy and silent disco yoga (practicing yoga while listening to music on a wireless headset).

Martin said that during her yoga teacher training, she researched the impacts of yoga on patients with breathing disorders and learned that yoga and meditation showed marked breathing improvements for patients.

“Had I known then what I know now, my mom might have lived longer or had a better quality of life,” she said. “Today, businesses and corporations are realizing the benefits of adopting yoga and meditation in the workplace.”

At her private studio, the Sweet Spot, Martin offers weekly silent disco yoga, meditation, and yoga for weddings, events, corporate groups and retreats. She also partners with various practitioners to bring their expertise to the Sweet Spot.

“I’m grateful for the experiences that have led me to this place on my journey,” said Martin. “Yoga is a journey of the self, and I tell people, you really only need a slightly flexible mind to do yoga.” yogasweetspot.com