Yoga instructor and business owner Christine Bosch, who has spent much of her career teaching at Life Time and running Aqua Vida, the city’s viral luxury floating yoga and wellness brand, is preparing to open her own brick-and-mortar studio.
“I had been writing in my journal that I think it’s time for me to start going out on my own. I kept having this calling, this nudge that it’s time for me to branch out, take the risk and go full force,” Bosch told Whatnow Philadelphia.
Casa Bandha, which began as a home-based yoga studio, will debut this winter at 3426 Conrad St., Suite 2 in East Falls.
“I came into the space, I saw all the lighting and I just fell in love. Something in my head just told me this is it, this is your space. It was just serendipitous,” she said.
In a full-circle moment, the landlord’s wife turned out to be a longtime client of Bosch’s at Life Time. She told Bosch, “I know you, I know your style, and I know what you create. I can see how excited you are about it and that makes us excited to have you here.”
Staying true to Casa Bandha’s roots, the studio’s interior will capture the warmth and comfort of a cozy home.
“Even though it’s a brick and mortar, I want it to feel like I’m in my living room doing yoga with my girl and guy friends. We’re all vibing, having a great time,” Bosch said.
The color palette will reflect Bosch’s Puerto Rican and Cuban roots, featuring rich greens, browns and earthy tones complemented by plenty of natural light. Rather than the traditional beige-and-white aesthetic, she hopes to bring more color into people’s lives.
Casa Bandha will offer a range of yoga and Pilates classes, including yin, a slower-paced practice focused on stretching and relaxation; power vinyasa, a more vigorous flow linking movement with breath; yoga sculpt; and mat Pilates.
“Instead of just being a yoga studio, we’re a house of mindful movement and conscious living. We want to create a space where people feel confident—explore their body, explore their breath and see what they can move through,” she said.
Bosch said one of the biggest misconceptions about yoga is that it should be easy. Instead, she views the practice as a way to work through “all the uncomfortable parts of your life.”
The studio will also offer children’s and family classes featuring a mix of movement and somatic practices, which use intentional movement to build body awareness.
Beyond its regular classes, the studio will host sound healing workshops and book clubs, along with community initiatives such as food and clothing drives.
The initial schedule will include a few morning, afternoon and evening classes, with plans to expand based on community demand.
Bosch looks forward to joining East Falls.
“I really just want to be a community home for people, a third space where they feel like they’re not just moving their body but they’re moving energy, they’re moving through grief if they have it, they’re moving through joy. We just want to be that space in East Falls,” she said.
Casa Bandha targets a Dec. 1 grand opening. Visit the website and follow along on Instagram for the latest updates.
