Yoga and beer creates new level of Zen

Date: 3/3/2016

Walk into a brewery and you may find your mind at ease.

Walk into a brewery with Caitlin Lavin and you can expect an experience that can bring harmony to mind, body and spirit.

That’s because Lavin has found a way to meld two increasingly popular forms of entertainment and release into a singular event – yoga and beer. The 31-year-old Ludlow native and Chicopee resident is the owner of Antilophy Yoga on Tap, a program that brings yoga classes to local craft breweries in an effort to break down some of the barriers that keep people from the practice.

“When I first started, I realized that a studio atmosphere is not for everybody; it can be a little intimidating,” she said. “This opens it up to others who haven’t tried yoga before or have and didn’t enjoy it and want to give it another try.”

Lavin said she understands the apprehension that some feel about yoga as she was not always a yogi and didn’t necessarily see herself as an instructor when she decided to learn yoga herself.

“I’ve always been involved in sports and working out and I reached I point where I felt I needed to work on my mobility and flexibility. I kept driving past this sign advertising for yoga instructing classes and I finally decided I would just rip the Band-Aid off and just do it,” she said. “I originally planned to do it for personal benefit and from there it turned into wanting to share the knowledge that helped me so much.”

As a 200-hour certified yoga instructor, Lavin then had to make a decision about how she wanted to impart her knowledge on others and wasn’t sure a studio was the place for her.

“I was talking with my sister and in that conversation, she said it would be great if I could do something with yoga and breweries,” she said. “We did some research and it turns out that we weren’t the first to think of it, but that it was also something no one in this area was doing.”

With a booming craft beer industry in the Pioneer Valley, Lavin decided to travel the area and gauge interest. Matt Tarlecki, owner and head brewer of Easthampton’s Abandoned Building Brewery, which was just over a year old itself, was the first to get on board with the fledgling company, hosting Lavin’s first yoga and beer experience in October 2014.

“With the resources we have with all of the breweries, it made sense to give it a try,” Lavin said. “Since then, it’s been growing in popularity and the number of spaces. I have a rotation of eight breweries and have classes at different places depending on availability and weather.”

In addition to Abandoned Building, Lavin also conducts classes at Fort Hill Brewery in Easthampton, Iron Duke Brewing Company in Ludlow, Powder Hollow Brewery in Enfield, CT, Brew Practitioners in Florence, Element Brewing Company in Miller’s Falls, and Rapscallion Brewery in Fiskdale. She also recently added Artisan Beverage Cooperative of Greenfield, which specializes in meads and ginger libations.

“And I only hope to continue growing,” she said. “It’s been really great. I’ve learned a lot and I think forged some relationships that are unique and special and have also started some conversations on other ways to create events and improve upon what we’re doing.”

As Lavin sings the praises of the breweries that have welcomed her, the brewers themselves also celebrate the collaboration.

“We try offering a class with Caitlin at least once a month, and the feedback we receive is always positive. Actually, her last class sold out pretty quickly,” Mike Marcoux of Iron Duke said. “Everyone seems to love the fact that they get to do yoga alongside the tanks and celebrate the hard work they put in with a free pint after the class. I’ve also been told it’s a nice way to kick off a Sunday fun day. Now we just have to get Brewmaster Nick [Morin] to join the next class.”

If Morin were to jump into the fray, he wouldn’t be the first. Lavin said the business model has attracted a wide variety of class-goers.

“It’s something that opens yoga up to people who might have been turned away,” she said. “Some people just didn’t think they’d feel comfortable in a studio and never tried it and I’ve talked to some people who did try it and didn’t have a great experience, but are now willing to give it another try in a different environment. We also get people who learn about it from their friends; I have even talked to a couple of men who said, ‘My wife convinced me to give it a try and I’ll definitely be back.’

“The response has been mind-blowingly awesome,” she added.

While the dates and locations vary across a large geographic area, Lavin said she’s found many are willing to travel to participate at multiple venues.

“I’m pretty excited about the fact that we have regulars,” she said.

She added in addition to the strong bonds she has formed with local breweries, she said she’s seen the same develop between members of her classes.

“It’s facilitated groups of people to forge friendships and you wouldn’t believe how happy I am to see that,” she said.”

Lavin’s upcoming classes include March 11 at Element, March 12 at Powder Hollow, March 13 at Brew Practitioners and March 30 at Rapscallion. Registration for these events is now open.

For more information, visit the Antilogy Yoga on Tap website, www.croseyoga.com, or its Facebook page, www.facebook.com/croseyoga.

Antilogy Yoga on Tap can also be found on Instagram at @not_your_average_yogi and Twitter at @yoga_and_beer.