Sometimes, discomfort can be the harbinger of radical transformation. That’s precisely what happened to yogi and mother of three, Anne Marie Wyatt, who went from feeling unfulfilled to running a successful studio, Sana Yoga, in the Edge District.
The Memphian’s on-and-off yoga practice of over twenty years changed in 2017 when she was looking to get back into shape after the birth of her second child.
Discovering Sana Yoga in East Memphis felt like a godsend. “I fell in love with the studio from the first class. I practiced daily, feeling all the changes physically and mentally.”
Around this time, Anne Marie was feeling out of balance, growing tired of working in the corporate wine and spirits business, which was adding more stress and less time with her kids. “I had an awakening when I hit 40; I started asking myself, ‘What am I doing if I’m not happy? I was going through the motions,’” of her general feeling of disconnect from everything.
Anne Marie credits Sana Yoga East Memphis studio owner Amy for inspiring her to register for Sana Yoga’s Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) in 2021, which was a significant catalyst for her growth.
“You learn so much about yourself,” Anne Marie says of the three-month immersive program that has students spending ten hours a day, thrice weekly, with like-minded people studying and practicing yoga. “It felt good to start learning how to listen to my body and intuition and follow that.”
So, when Amy was ready to expand her brand and open another Sana Yoga location, Anne Marie leaped at the opportunity to collaborate. She signed a license agreement and rental lease, quit her job six months later, and officially opened Sana Yoga in Edge district’s doors in January 2024.
“I really just went in deep and started working on myself and envisioning the life I wanted and went after it.”
Sana Yoga’s welcoming and genuinely inclusive environment separates it from other studios. “We really know our students, value them, and are happy to see them. People feel that connection,” Anne Marie says of their all-level classes designed with the beginner in mind.
Sana is famous for their Signature Class, which is an intelligently designed, set sequence that allows yogis to enter a meditative state, much like sequential Ashtanga Yoga, which is also offered at Sana Yoga. Other studio classes include Yin Yoga, Flow, and Hot Pilates. The rooms are heated by Infrared panels with added humidity for health benefits.
Showers equipped with towels and an array of toiletries provide a spa-like feel for patrons. Paired with bright teal accent walls, full-length mirrors, and large windows, the studio has a bright, organic, and clean look.
Anne Marie hopes patrons of Sana Yoga get more than just a good workout. “It’s a moving meditation to get out of your head and into your body. It’s not only asana but also breathwork and living a peaceful and kind lifestyle. You’ll find your inner glow when you get to know yourself better through that process.”
NEW STUDENTS: Two weeks unlimited for $39 or VIP unlimited membership 135
CLASS SCHEDULE: Sanayogastudio.com
IG: sanayogastudios
By Shlomit Ovadia
Photo by Tindall Stephens
