Today, we’d like to introduce you to Felice Austin.
Hi Felice, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I moved to Elk Ridge, Utah, in 2021, and since Elk Ridge has no actual stores, I had to go down the hill for everything to either Payson or Salem or further–much further for many things that I valued. One day, when I was on Historic Main Street in Payson, I noticed a building that was not being used. I peeked in the window and saw that it was full of what most people would call junk.
It looked like a great place to open a yoga studio, an art gallery, and maybe even a poetry pharmacy. Then I saw the metal Tree of Life over the front door, which seemed like a sign. The Tree of Life was a part of my business name for 12+ years. What business is that you ask? Well, for 14+ years now, I have had a private practice as a hypnotherapist and Christ-centered shaman (treeoflifehypnosis.net), and I am also a kundalini yoga teacher and trainer (treeoflifekundaliniyoga.com). Most of my work was online (Yes, I was teaching yoga and doing therapy online ten years before Covid) except for retreats and trainings. I was longing for more in-person community as I assumed many others were after Covid.
I asked about the building. I was told it had been empty for decades, and the owner wasn’t likely to rent it anytime soon. But I called them up, and it must have been the right time because they decided to clean it out and rent it to me. Thus came into being Tree of Life Studios & Poetry Pharmacy. It’s a magical space. We offer yoga classes in our yoga studio, and we have 30+ local and regional artists in our gallery. Everything from wall art to wearable art, jewelry, home decor, pottery, sculpture, and more. The vibe is a cross between Sundance and Ojai, California.
There is literally nothing like it for miles and miles around, and I feel like it fills a big hole that this area needed to be filled. We provide a place for conscious community and spiritual growth outside of but compatible with religion. We also provide a space for local artists to sell their work and for local people to have more exposure to different types of art.
The Poetry Pharmacy is my own pet project because I am a poet and writer, and I have always loved the idea of having a poetry pharmacy. It grows out of my belief that poetry can literally heal the world. People can come in and get a poetry prescription for what ails them or to help them in a time of transformation or celebration. We also host monthly open mics with a featured poet of renown from somewhere in Utah and sometimes outside of Utah when we can get them.
As far as yoga goes, we now have about ten classes a week, and at least once a month, we have a special sound bath and other workshops and special events, like breathwork, drummaking, successful gardening, crystal gridding, and so much more. We are also adding kids and family yoga soon. And we just got our online studio up and running, too! (I couldn’t forget my roots or neglect people who can’t come in person).
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth road. Opening a business that is bringing the future before the future is there is not for the weak. It takes a lot of grace and grit. Essentially, we have been attempting to turn an old cowboy town into a place for art, yoga, and consciousness (cowboys are welcome).
The response was not as overwhelmingly positive as I had hoped. I still feel like not many people in the area understand what a gem they have right in their midst. For the first year it was only people from out of town who came in and bought something or went to a yoga workshop. Literally, people fly in from all over the country to take workshops here, but the locals have no idea.
So it has taken some time, but more and more people are starting to find out about us and come in for the good vibes, the free Yogi Tea, and one-of-a-kind gifts and experiences.
Sometimes, people tell me it’s the best yoga studio they have ever been in in their lives. Others get emotional and tell me that they have been waiting for this kind of place and thought it would never come… That’s what keeps us all going. I am happy to be of service.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
So many people helped to get Tree of Life Studios open. First and foremost, my husband, Fred. Also, Dale Bigler helped us get that old building in shape, and so did Martin Dennis and a whole lot of people from our online yoga community who happened to be in Utah. Some people donated time, and some sent money or other things to our wish list. I am grateful to all the artists who started with us and the artists who have joined since then and trusted us with their work.
The yoga teachers are an essential part of our community. I have a few core teachers like Alexa, Tammy, Crystal, Fred, and Mariah, who helped us from the beginning. I love and am grateful for everyone’s part. We painted a Tree of Life mandala on the floor in the back, and we had everyone who wanted paint their own little mandala fruit on the tree. It’s a beautiful symbol and reminder of how many people were involved.
Pricing:
- First class: $9 Drop in $15 Workshops: $20-45
- 10 Class passes $130-140
- Unlimited Memberships $65-85/mo
- Online Membership $44-54/mo
- Poetry Night: Free
Contact Info:
- Website: www.treeoflifestudiosutah.com
- Instagram: @treeoflifestudiosutah
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/treeoflifestudiosutah/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/treeoflifekundalini
- Yelp: https://www.google.com/maps/place//data=!4m3!3m2!1s0x874da5d1c1f2c715:0x4a50003c64965ef5!12e1?source=g.page.m.ia._&laa=nmx-review-solicitation-ia2
- Other: www.treeoflifehypnosis.net
Image Credits
Michelle Magdalena Maddox and Felice Austin
