Three powerful “Oms” begin and end the hour long yoga practice on Saturday mornings at The Leadership Studio. After the familiar “namaste” greeting, honoring the light and the love within each other, the room breaks into applause celebrating the last hour that they spent together on their mats.
Joey Nunzi, the daughter of Allie and Ray Nunzi, founders and owners of the Leadership Studio
Throughout the hour, the energy has increased along with the temperature. It’s now 95 degrees in the room and there is a sweaty smile on everybody’s face. This is Baptiste style yoga at The Leadership Studio. Baptiste yoga in and of itself is a powerful practice that transforms lives well beyond the physical realm of the mat. At The Leadership Studio, it’s so much more than yoga. Eastern philosophy of yoga has brought sustainable wellness to individuals all over the world. The Leadership Studio brings that practice to the heart of Atlantic City. The primary teaching in the practice of yoga is to bring together the fragmented parts of oneself, to make whole. True positive change in any community begins with the individuals living there. Internal healing is experienced in the studio where meditation, self-inquiry-and total body health are encouraged and cultivated. After hosting a few “yoga in the park” events in Atlantic City, aiming to create a safe space for Atlantic City residents to come together, Kathy Whitmore along with Allie Nunzi and their team were pleasantly surprised at the turnout and the desire for more yoga experience within the city. They began to look for places to practice yoga during the winter. Through that quest to bring more yoga to the city, they were connected to the Tennessee Avenue Project – a project launched in February of 2017 to revitalize the Tennessee Avenue block with thriving businesses that serve the community. That’s when the nonprofit organization, The Leadership Studio was born. The Leadership studio exists to empower individuals to see the greatness already within them. The team of volunteer yoga instructors, teachers, and leaders are committed to helping individuals thrive in life on and off of the mat. In doing so, they offer free community yoga classes on Mondays and Saturdays open to anyone at any level. The classes are warm and welcoming and provide a safe place to be loved on and encouraged. In addition to the yoga sessions at The Leadership Studio, you can also find community healthy living educational discussions. After some of the practices, those that attend class are invited to gather in the next room where they are taught new ways to make healthier lifestyle choices. There is also a new series called, “At The Table” – a community podcast potluck conversation where real life topics are brought to the table for an open and honest community conversation. These events are held monthly and topics vary month-to-month. The Champions of Youth program for Atlantic City youth is a partner of The Leadership Studio doing such amazing things that they have an article of their own. Check out the Champions of Youth article in this edition! The Leadership Studio is always creating, always expanding, and always growing. Go visit, try a class, and be a part of a thriving community. The studio is open to those living on and off of the island. Stay in the know by following them on Facebook and Instagram at “The Leadership Studio” or visiting their website at theleadershipstudioac.com
Through that quest to bring more yoga to the city, they were connected to the Tennessee Avenue Project – a project launched in February of 2017 to revitalize the Tennessee Avenue block with thriving businesses that serve the community. That’s when the nonprofit organization, The Leadership Studio was born.
