When Claudia Braun began using yoga and Shiatsu massage to heal her body and spirit from the stresses of her corporate job, she knew it was time to change careers. Braun opened Living Mindfully Yoga to help others become aware of their needs and to teach them to care for themselves through healthier living.

Classes take place in a large, open, sunny room where neutral decor calms the senses. Braun teaches yoga in the style of her guru, Vanda Scaravelli, who emphasizes therapeutic elongation of the spine and connection of pose to breath. Students who seek a more process-oriented, nurturing, internally-focused class will appreciate Scaravelli-style classes, which move rhythmically and focus on gravity to free the body's movement.

For an even more relaxing experience, book a Shiatsu massage session. When administering this 2,000-year-old therapy, Braun applies varying levels of pressure to the body’s acupressure points, helping to relieve energetic blockages to balance the body and restore its ability to heal. Braun also performs Akashic readings, which decipher your energetic record to interpret your past thoughts and decisions. Readings can help you understand your motivations and desires to guide you in making changes to your life.

Classes: Group yoga classes are held Fridays at 9:30 a.m.; drop-in classes cost $25, but pre-registration for a four-week session earns you an $80 package rate. Braun teaches mostly private sessions, available in the studio or in students’ homes, at $80 per hour or six sessions for $450. Braun also offers corporate programs like stress reduction, on-site massage and yoga sessions designed for the workplace.

Extras: Check the schedule for workshop opportunities like partner Shiatsu massage, partner yoga and working with essential oils, which Braun also sells: Sit for a free 30-minute consultation, and you may just find a plant-based cure for your troubling headaches or soothing relief for a nervous stomach.

Centerstage Reviewer: Julia Steinberger