MANHATTAN — A yoga studio devastated in a recent Inwood fire is able to resume its adult classes — with the help of a little divine intervention.
Bread and Yoga has found a temporary location for its adult yoga classes inside Holy Trinity Church with its first class scheduled for tonight. The business was already able to reopen its after-school program following the the three-alarm blaze at 4945 Broadway on Jan. 3.
“We are thrilled to be able to announce that we have found a temporary space for our adult classes,” wrote the business’s founder and director Marcela Xavier, in an email addressed to friends and neighbors. She labeled the church building at 20 Cumming St. as “beautiful” and thanked the organization for opening its doors
The first class is scheduled to begin today at 6:30 p.m. By Monday morning, Xavier told clients to expect the studio's regular schedule at the satellite location.
In the email, Xavier shared her experience following the fire that destroyed nine businesses, including a pet store, pharmacy, hardware store, a laundromat, two banks, and offices of a dentist and a lawyer.
"The days following were pretty much a blur,” wrote Xavier, who was notified by a friend’s email that her business was ablaze.
“I can tell you it was heartbreaking to watch my beloved studio succumb to the smoke, water and eventually fire that night, and to realize that I had to prepare myself for a time of transformation.”
The studio was able to reopen its after-school program, which includes music, art and cooking at the Muscota New School a few blocks from its former location. With 50 families depending on the service daily, Xavier put this as a priority ahead of the adult yoga.
Since the fire, Bread and Yoga has benefited from an outpouring of community support, including from musicians Dana Hanchard and David Ellenbogen who organized a fundraiser with within 24 hours of the disaster.
"I feel very blessed to have helped build a strong community that will be there to make a new vision happen again," wrote Xavier.
