Annie Girvin at Whole Sky Yoga in Stone Ridge NY

We Are Upstate NY With Annie Girvin of Whole Sky Yoga

By inside + out | August 12, 2024

We Are Upstate NY With Annie Girvin, Director and Owner of Whole Sky Yoga in Stone Ridge, NY. The Hudson Valley is abundant in food and wellness, so it was only natural that after 15 years working in the food, wine, hospitality, and wellness industries in Napa Valley, CA, Annie would be drawn here to work, play, and teach. Annie Girvin is a strategic marketer, entrepreneur, and lover of food, yoga, friends, and life. Her love of yoga led her to NYC for an advanced 300-hour yoga teacher training. She eventually opened her studio, which passed its first anniversary in June. We caught up with Annie between classes to learn more about her practice, teaching, life in the Hudson Valley, and journey to get here.

INSIDE+OUT: Where are you originally from, and how did you wind up in the Hudson Valley?

Annie Girvin: I’m originally from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. After college, I lived in Brooklyn for seven years (after a brief seven-month relocation to London, UK), then moved to Napa Valley, CA, where I lived for 10 years. While there, I worked for the Culinary Institute of America’s California campus as the head of consumer marketing. I took the occasional trip to the Hudson Valley throughout the years. Oddly enough, that’s not what brought me here! During the pandemic, my sister, who had been visiting the area for over 15 years, bought a house. I said congrats and asked, “Can I move in with you?” I missed my family and the East Coast, so it worked out great. It’s been over three years, and I love it here.

What inspired your yoga practice, and how did it lead to a business?

When I was a kid, I was a competitive gymnast and diver (springboard), so I’ve always been interested in artistic/athletic movement. I started taking yoga classes in my 20s because I wanted to explore movements like gymnastics and diving. I have to admit, I didn’t love it at first. I was confused. I felt awkward, and I didn’t understand the teacher’s instructions. I kept trying new teachers and found an excellent teacher in California – now my dear friend Maria. And she really sparked my interest in yoga. As I learned more about yoga – beyond physical movement and more into the history and teachings – I became hooked. It’s now my lifelong path. I’ve run my own marketing business for the past four years and have an entrepreneurial mindset. Fast forward to 2022, when I took my advanced 300 hr teacher training at Three Sisters Yoga in NYC, and at the same time, I became more ingrained in the local community in Ulster County. I started envisioning running my own studio, and then the opportunity presented itself when Sara Trapani, former WSY owner, decided to sell the business.

Tell us more about your Stone Ridge studio and your business vision. Do you plan to expand to other locations in the Hudson Valley?

Whole Sky Yoga is in the Marbletown Multi-Arts building on Main Street in Stone Ridge. The building has such a rich history in the area as a community center and, way back in the day, as a church. It’s an incredible building, and I might add, with incredible energy. You feel relaxed yet awakened walking into the space. My hope for Whole Sky is to be seen as a community resource and safe space for all. I want the studio to be a place where you come, see your friends, connect with your neighbors, learn about yoga, and practice yoga – all of which is already happening – but continue building this community aspect and becoming a resource for knowledge of yoga. I don’t have plans to expand in the Hudson Valley for now, but that idea is never out of the question!

What styles of yoga does Whole Sky offer? Tell us about your teachers.

We offer a variety of yoga styles, including Hatha, Vinyasa, Restorative, Yin, and Gentle, as well as Qigong, Barre, and Pilates classes. We also offer workshops and events in Ayurveda, Sound Healing, Alignment, Yoga Nidra, Yin, Pranayama (breath work), and Yogic Philosophy. Our aim at the studio is to be welcoming to all levels of practitioners. Our teachers come from different backgrounds and experiences, and they bring their individuality to their teaching and presence at the studio. I am constantly in awe of Whole Sky teachers. They are incredibly talented and caring and have vast knowledge of yoga and other healing modalities.

You do so much other than classes—you’re a teacher, business owner, and marketing professional and host workshops, retreats, and teacher training. What drives you, and how do you keep yourself organized?

I love being busy. My boyfriend and I joke that neither of us can really relax; we like to do things (though I can relax a little more than he can!). I also like being productive. I find it fulfilling to have a vision for something, then map out the plan to get there, and just go for it. Success comes with a lot of failure and bumps along the way, but I try to remain patient, even if there are times when I’m freaking out a bit. LISTS. Make lists. I love lists. I make handwritten lists with little boxes, and checking off those boxes is so satisfying.

Do you have any special events coming up that you’d like readers to know about?

For the past 3 summers, I have been teaching yoga at the Spring Farm Trailhead Pavillion at the Mohonk Preserve. You can’t beat the view or the ambiance. It is truly a special place – I feel so so lucky. It’s every Tuesday (until Sept) at 6pm. People can sign up using the Mohonk Preserve website. The last class this season is Tuesday, September 10.

Also, I recently celebrated the 1 year anniversary of taking over Whole Sky, but it was a quiet celebration doing what I love best… teaching. Our Yoga Teacher Training kicks off this September, so if you or anyone you know has ever wanted to become a teacher or deepen your own practice, we’re here for you! I’m passionate about helping folks find their path, and I’m always happy to answer any questions about the training.

We have a variety of workshops and special offerings coming up in the fall, including Back to Basics: Yoga Therapy for Hips and Back on September 21 and Archetypes and Asanas: A Tarot and Yoga Workshop on October 5.

How do you personally define wellness and self-care, and how does your yoga practice contribute to this?

To me, wellness means caring for yourself, the people around you, your community, and the earth. I think of my own wellness journey as putting on an oxygen mask before helping others: getting yourself in order so you can be present for the world.

My daily yoga practice is one of the most important things I do, and it allows me to care for myself so I can care for others. From the Bhagavad Gita: “Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.” We do our practice so we can bring our practice to all. And I’m only human, so I have to keep working at it! We all do.

“Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.” – Bhagavad Gita:

What is one question you constantly ask or the biggest misconception about your business?

“Do I need to be flexible to do yoga?” No! We do yoga to become more flexible, both in our bodies and minds. Every person can do yoga, but yoga may not be for every person. “I’m not good at yoga.” It’s not that you’re “not good at it.” There is no “good at it” in yoga, so we call it a practice! We show up as we are and where we are. That’s how we welcome you to the studio where you are.

What is the most rewarding and most challenging part of your job?

The most rewarding part of my job is bringing joy to those around me. It’s the ability to provide a space for the community to enjoy and express themselves in – to create connections through the studio, through our amazing space. The most challenging part of my job is accepting that I can’t make everyone happy and some decisions. In contrast, they make sense for the business and don’t always resonate with the greater public. Again, I’m only human.

What impact does your business strive to have on your community?

My mission focuses on fostering a welcoming environment that provides people from all walks of life with a safe and welcoming space to explore their practice, whatever that may be, and connect with their community members. “Connection” and “Inspiration” are the two main impact goals. I was tightly connected to my community and community organizations when I lived in Napa Valley. I saw how these connections created more connections and eventually created great collaborations and pure magic. I saw how the community uplifts one another, and I see the same sense of community here in the Hudson Valley, which is why I love this area so much. People care for one another, and they root for one another. It’s inspiring to see!

What local businesses do you rely on to be successful?

Some very important businesses that are huge partners are Mohonk Preserve, Hasbrouck House, Ulster County Chamber of Commerce, Ulster Savings, and, of course, MaMA and Ev Mann. Additionally, I will say I need to eat well to be successful, and there is no shortage of great restaurants. The Roost has been the host of many important breakfasts and lunches. Hash also doubles as a great meeting/breakfast spot on the go. Upstate Taco is an incredible local spot that has fed me many meals. Sanderskill Farms & Market and Davenport Farms have been staples of mine since moving to the region for fresh produce, sandwiches/salads, and donuts. New to this area, Harana Market has become a go-to place for lunch and groceries! Thanks for keeping me fed and happy.

What is missing in the area that you wish we had?

A spin studio would be KILLER.

Tell us something about yourself that people might be surprised to learn.

I do improv comedy! When I lived in Brooklyn, I took classes at the Upright Citizens Brigade and had my own improv team, Taco Knight. When I moved to California, the comedy stopped (no one has a sense of humor in California ; ) I kid, I kid. Recently, I started taking improv classes with Hudson Valley Improv, and I’m having the best time! It’s been 13 years since I’ve performed, so that was a little scary, but I am so happy I started back up.

What is your current state of mind?

Today, I’m feeling really proud. Over the past year, I have accomplished so much with the business – rebranding, a new website, registration software, programs and offerings, and so much more. I don’t often celebrate or see my successes in real-time. Everything I do is for my students and my clients, and my goal is to create something beneficial for folks in the community and the community at large. This is my heart’s work, and I feel so lucky every day. Pinch me!

+ + +