A ‘Yoga House’ for all is set for Dutchess County

From left, Amy Reed and Joyce San Pedro, owners of The Yoga House, strike a half-moon pose at the groundbreaking for their new Poughkeepsie location. Site photographs courtesy Impact PR & Communications.

Building on the success of The Yoga House’s two Ulster County locations, co-owners Amy Reed and Joyce San Pedro have announced the groundbreaking for a third, in Dutchess County. The Yoga House’s Poughkeepsie locale, at South Road Crossing on Route 9, will open in the spring – anchoring a variety of businesses, including Sleep Number, Buff City Soap, Jersey Mike’s Subs, uBreakiFix, Smoothie King, Home 2 Suites by Hilton and more.

“Amy’s and Joyce’s dedication and incredible business model, combined with the regional draw of this location, will surely make The Yoga House’s third studio a resounding success,” said Kevin Langan, leasing and development partner at Cameron Group LLC.

From left, Amy Reed and Joyce San Pedro.

“Joyce and I first met in Poughkeepsie, so it’s serendipitous to return to our roots,” said Reed, who purchased The Yoga House with San Pedro in 2020, at a time when people were often running from entrepreneurship, not toward it. (With more than 20 years combined experience in the discipline, the pair was not making an idle move. The global yoga market size was estimated at $107.1 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.4% through 2030, according to Grand Market Research.

“We’ve built such a strong community in Ulster County,” Reed continued. “People often tell us that coming to The Yoga House feels like coming home. We’re both ready to thoughtfully cultivate a similar ‘family’ in Dutchess County.”

The approximately 1,400 square-foot space, designed by architect Jay Diesing, supports the owners’ concept of “yoga for every body.” That includes commuters and others on the go, as the bathrooms will feature showers. Of course, yoga – an ancient Indian discipline whose poses, or asanas, are designed to prepare the body for seated meditation – offers a counterweight to the go-go American lifestyle.

In addition to a full schedule of classes of various kinds of yoga, The Yoga House’s Dutchess studio will feature strength-building and conditioning – such as Pilates, barre and TRX, or total resistance exercise.

The Yoga House is designed for every body type, co-owner Joyce San Pedro stressed. Here the classic triangle pose. Courtesy Jessica Jameson Photo.

“When we say yoga for every body, we mean it,” San Pedro said. “Our classes are not one-size-fits-all, because we believe in encouraging each individual to find the practice that best suits them, at any particular moment or state of their yoga journey. If you have a shoulder injury, we’ll offer variations of poses for you. If you’re beginning your journey, we’ll encourage you to find your own pace and comfort level. We want people to explore their bodies, quiet their minds and, most importantly, connect to themselves. There’s no one way to do that.”

As a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and LGBTQIA+-owned business, The Yoga House is particularly attuned to the needs of the individual – regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background or body type, the owners said. It encourages customers to “work in,” rather than work out, emphasizing the importance of mindfulness and healing from within alongside establishing strength and flexibility. By encouraging patrons to live well, The Yoga House prepares them to age well, creating pathways for practice during any stage of life. As a result, the owners said, those who live or work in Dutchess County can anticipate not only a yoga studio but a gateway to wellness.