It’s yoga, but perhaps not as you know it.

A new yoga studio in Metung is doing things a little differently and attracting a whole new audience of people to this much-loved wellness pastime.

When Poeta Hope opened House of Yoga in Metung earlier this year, she immediately set about exploring new ways to break the mold of the typical yoga studio and attract new people to give it a try.

“Yoga can come in many shapes and sizes,” she says. “We’ve created a range of different classes and events because we know that people are different and we want to make yoga accessible to a wide variety of people - everyone from kids and first-timers to experienced practitioners.”

Among the menu of options at House of Yoga is a restorative yoga class that includes essential oil relaxation massage in each pose.

Yes, you heard that right - yoga and a massage at the same time!

“Stressed? Anxious? Human? This class is for you,” Poeta laughs.

There’s also a high energy ‘Flow to Funk’ class with music, classes for children, and even a monthly donation class where participants pay what they want and House of Yoga donates the proceeds to a local charity.

Local business collaboration opportunities

Poeta said there is a burgeoning interest in East Gippsland for wellness and relaxation experiences.

“I’d love to see more entrepreneurs and businesses working toward building our local area as a successful wellness destination,” she said. “We are very interested in teaming up with other local businesses in supporting each other and offering unique experiences.”

Poeta said the East Gippsland Winter Festival provided clear evidence that wellness and relaxation tourism is a big opportunity for East Gippsland’s visitor economy, particularly if businesses can think creatively and work collaboratively.

“During the festival, House of Yoga collaborated with Metung Hot Springs for some incredible events, including ‘Luxe Yoga’, Yin & Gin and a Children Wellness Adventure,” she said. “And our ‘Slow and Soulful’ event during the festival sold out - it’s clear to see the interest from locals and visitors for more regular seasonal events like this.”

COVID has brought new entrepreneurs to East Gippsland

The silver lining on the undoubtedly dark cloud that was the COVID pandemic is that it spurred many creative and hardworking people to leave Melbourne for the more peaceful and nourishing environs of places like East Gippsland.

Poeta was one of those COVID refugees that has made a welcome home here.

“Coming to East Gippsland before the first lockdown to retreat at a family holiday house on Raymond Island, gave us the time to evaluate the essence of how we wanted to live,” she said. “It was easy to fall in love with the area and all it has to offer, including the slower pace that as a yoga teacher I felt drawn to practice more of what I was preaching.”

And Poeta says that, just as the pandemic was an accidental inspiration for her and her family to make a fundamental shift in their lives, so too she could see that it was driving big lifestyle changes in others.

“However uncertain and unsteady this time was, it really shed a light on the importance for everybody to reassess their own care of their health and how they can support themselves in uncertain or difficult times,” she said.

Businesses like House of Yoga are responding to this greater focus on self-care, mental health and relaxation, and highlighting the enormous potential for wellness services in East Gippsland.

The future remains to be written.