Lighthouse Opens For Springtime
Jared McCann’s Lighthouse Yoga School recently opened at 202 Grand St. in Williamsburg. The idea came to McCann, the 2012 USA Yoga Champion, who has studied Bikram, Forrest, Dharma, and Ashtanga yogas, and has taught at Pure Yoga, Daya Yoga, and The Three Jewels, because he wanted a place where he could teach all his students together.
Looking around at real estate, he fell in love with this space when he first saw it. Newly constructed, it would allow him to bring his own light and energy in.
McCann decided on the name because “the lighthouse is a guide to safety, to home.” He adds that he wants to help people find their own inner guides—their true homes within themselves. “As long as we stay connected to the light within, one can never be lost.”
The studio—and McCann—are very much about the sacredness of the practice, so he thoughtfully put in minimal distractions. For instance, there are no greeters at the front desk. Students arrive for class to find mats and props already laid out so all they have to do is choose their space and take one of the iPads lying on the floor nearby to silently sign themselves in.
There are no locker rooms or showers, (bathrooms, of course.) The whole is very simple with one main room lined with a wall of large square-mirrored cabinets concealing all the props further adding to the clean look of the studio.
It is all focused on getting directly to the yoga, and some pretty serious yoga happens here. McCann’s teaching is very physical, but the meditation, pranayama, and other subjects he’s been studying make his classes about much more than just asanas.
He teaches a little fewer than half the classes, with instructors like Allison Sloan,
Courtney Mace, Michael Guiou and Rose Erin Vaughan adding their own styles and talents to the schedule. Class times range from 75 to 90 minutes.
Class styles include Hatha, Light Vinyasa, and Master classes that incorporate meditation and pranayama as well as integrating Kriya work that McCann has been exploring recently.
Weekday class times are 10am, 12pm, 6pm, and 7:45pm. Weekend class times are 10am, 12pm, and 5pm. Drop-in rates are $22 for a single class and $140 for the monthly, or 10 class packages for $195. New students can pay $60 for an unlimited first month.
As the weather gets warmer, McCann plans to open the doors at the back of the studio and use the outdoor space to allow class to move outside, and even for students to enjoy a post-class juice. They’re already starting landscape this urban sanctuary.
To learn more, click here.
—Allison Richard
Richard is a self-care coach and yoga and meditation instructor who teaches private and corporate clients as well as leading retreats worldwide. Visit her website or follow her on Instagram.
