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Angela Hanson above and her husband Brian have opened Empower Yoga after spending the last six months doing some major renovations at 311 E. Second St., The Dalles. The business just recently opened and a ribbon cutting is planned for Thursday, Oct. 13.
A look inside the first of two yoga rooms in the building, each with infrared heat when needed.
Angela and Brian Hanson have been hard at it.
Angela is a yoga instructor, and Brian works at Peterson Cat.
And the two have poured themselves into Angela’s workspace, Empower Yoga, which opened three weeks ago and will hold a ribbon cutting on Thursday, Oct. 13 at 5:15 p.m.
The studio is at 311 E. 2nd St. in The Dalles, just west a few doors from Klindt Booksellers.
You can rent a locker or a yoga mat or both at Empower Yoga. The facility also features a shower for those wanting one after class.
Angela called the design of the new studio “Industrial Farmhouse Chic,” with a laugh.
Shades of grey and black ceilings combine with wood floors. Sliding barn doors in grey stain offer inviting entrances down the hallway.
Massive black framed glass folding doors hide behind veils offering a peak into the first studio as you come through the front door.
And the shiny venting system runs through the ceilings of the two yoga rooms, which are fitted with infrared heaters that provide a sun-like warmth.
Large foldable doors at the front of the first yoga room offer and expansive view and can be opened to provide a welcoming space for those coming through the front door. Rumor has it, this is where the champagne fountain will be for the ribbon cutting.
Plants hanging in macrame add life.
What is more impressive is the function of the 2,400-plus square foot space.
The Hansons designed it with smart controls for heating, lighting and music, so Angela can dial in the ambiance at the touch of her cell phone.
It also has a ton of parking out the back entrance making it easily accessible when Second Street is jammed.
The studio is the culmination of a dream since Angela took her first yoga class at age 25. She said her first pregnancy with daughter Emily caused her severe back pain and a physical therapist suggested yoga some 20 years ago.
It was intimidating at first.
But the more she practiced yoga the more it blossomed for her, giving her a boost in energy and a sense of well-being.
“I went from the corner in the back of the room to the front row next to the teacher,” she said.
Since then she has acquired her 200-hour Vinyasa Yoga Certification at the Daya Foundation in Portland. And she is working toward her 500-hour certification or E-YRT. She is also a Master Level 2 Barre instructor.
“There is always room for improvement,” she said of getting additional training. “And you discover something new in yourself. That’s what’s so amazing.”
And why does she teach?
“I get to empower people and their wellness,” she said.
She is currently offering classes seven days a week, which include Warm Sculpt, Hot Power, Warm and Cool Vinyasa, Cool Cardio, and 26 & 2 Yoga classes. Learn more about all of their offerings on her website here .
Angela, who is originally from Salem, said she has been coming to The Dalles for years before moving here in her 20s. Her grandparents are Shirley Holmes and Tom Teutsch.
“My grandma used to fly a Cessna, and I remember her pointing out where she lived when we flew over The Dalles,” she said. “She was a great woman. She would be proud that I was working downtown and a part of the downtown community.”
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If I’ve learned anything from this year’s Get There Challenge, it’s that getting anywhere in the Gorge…truly is a challenge. But luckily there’s plenty of friendly faces that are willing to help you along the way.
Angela and Brian Hanson have poured their heart and souls into Empower Yoga in downtown The Dalles with the idea that the new business can bring strength to the community through wellness and movement.
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Columbia Community Connection was established in 2020 as a local, honest and digital news source providing meaningful stories and articles. CCCNews’ primary goal is to inform and elevate all the residents and businesses of the Mid-Columbia Region.
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