New yoga center opens in Ben Lomond

Dr. Juko Holiday, a yoga teacher and mental-health practitioner, opened Ease Mountain Yoga and Wellness as a co-op, in Ben Lomond. “Ease Mountain Yoga is different in that it is not ‘owned’ by me or anyone else,” said Holiday, “We’re a co-op operated by a group of highly passionate teachers who share the studio space and support each other to provide yoga to everyone, regardless of age or ability.”
Each yoga instructor is solely responsible for her or his own classes and contributes to the maintenance of the space and the values. “It provides an opportunity for teachers who want to share their work but couldn’t afford a space before,” Holiday said. “I certainly couldn’t have done this on my own without their support and input. It’s a wonderful circle of people. 
“What compelled me to choose Ben Lomond for my studio was I saw the need and the space to bring these two practices together that I loved, psychology and yoga, and to make these practices accessible to people. Santa Cruz has a lot of exciting yoga happening but not up in the Valley.”
Ease Mountain offers affordable private classes for people who would like to learn yoga basics. The class “Yoga for Everybody” is specifically designed for all ages of people, young or old.
Classes offer individualized attention and pose modification to focus on what each person needs.
“I had a session with a 70-year-old man and we were able to work together at the wall and with a chair to carefully help him with his balance. I have a real calling to work with people who are not typical yoga students. I’m interested in helping the population who has disabilities,” Holiday said. 
Although currently no classes for kids are available, the co-op is looking for a teacher certified to provide that.
Holiday’s research and experience with yoga has convinced her that the body of evidence supports how beneficial it is for health, lowering stress levels, and actually addressing problems like mood, depression, and anxiety. She believes that intuitively people have known that for a long time
Open seven days a week, the studio offers varied class times with three to four classes a day. The website provides a survey that collects information about what times people want classes to be held.
Holiday’s private lessons are on a sliding scale fee starting at $15 and going up to $30. “We can do that because the co-op shares expenses. About half the classes I teach are donation-based.”
“The initial excitement for the yoga center has energized us. The next phase for me will be in the fall. I’m going to be offering therapeutic classes, using my background as a mental health practitioner, specifically for people who are recovering from trauma or experiencing high levels of stress, and mood changes. I’ll be partnering with psychotherapists and taking referrals, so this work can be an adjunct for those healing from mental and emotional illness. That’s the other big piece that is personal to me,” Holiday said.
If you are interested in finding out more information about classes or teaching visit www.easemountainyoga.com.
Ease Mountain Yoga and Wellness is located at 10090 Highway 9, north of downtown Ben Lomond.