SOMERS POINT — A new yoga studio has come to town, focused on comfort, support, healing and community.
Strengthening Souls Yoga & Wellness, located off the bike path at 10 W. Connecticut Ave., held its grand opening Oct. 14 and offers more than just yoga.
Somers Point resident Desiree Hopkins said she opened the business as a way to connect with people and give back to her community.
After her oldest son Wyatt passed away unexpectedly, Hopkins found peace and comfort with yoga and used it to help herself get back on track.
“After losing Wyatt, I felt such extreme anger and it was bad for a while. It took around two and a half years before I started working out again and knew that I had to pick myself back up for my other son,” Hopkins said. “I wanted to become the mom I used to be before the grief took over. I found yoga online and started getting into it. When I got serious about it, I fell in love with it and the way it helped me.”
The unique name and story behind the business reflects her hope to offer strength and help to others. Hopkins wants her space to provide good vibes and a place where people can feel better about whatever may be going on in their lives.
“If anyone needs healing, I hope to give that space to them,” Hopkins said. “Even if it’s just one person who is grieving that I can help, it will be worth it.”
As a resident of Somers Point, Hopkins said she chose to open in town to give the community something it was lacking. Since there are no other yoga studies in town, she thought it would be a good idea and the location has the added benefit of being near home for whenever her 7-year-old son Cash may need her.
Strengthening Souls will offer classes for beginners to experts. A donation-based class will be held the first Wednesday of every month for anyone who is grieving. The class is her way of giving back to a community that helped her through her toughest time.
Hopkins, who also operates Local Farm Stand at the Somers Point Farmers Market, which is organized by her husband Rob Hopkins, also has experience running the Wyatt Strong Foundation in honor of her son.
The 4-year-old was out trick or treating just a few hours before he died Halloween night 2017 of myocarditis. Later that night she found him unresponsive; paramedics were unable to revive him just a few days before his fifth birthday.
They operate the Wyatt Hopkins Blue Christmas Toy Drive and other events each year to keep their son’s memory alive.
Hopkins said she always wanted to be her own boss and while she never expected to open her own yoga studio, she is proud that she accomplished that goal.
“This place can we used to help people along the way, give a space to people who want to get into working out and just a way for people to feel good in their own skin,” Hopkins said.
Her main goal when designing and getting the space ready was to create a good vibe the instant anyone enters the building.
“When I designed the space, I wanted people to feel calm and peaceful as soon as they walked in,” she said.
Hopkins wants her studio to stand out from others in the surrounding towns by being more personable. She wants anyone who comes in to let go and truly lose themselves in the classes and atmosphere.
Yoga can help people mentally and physically and can really bring people together, which is exactly what Hopkins said she wants for her soon-to-be clients.
Opening a business is new for Hopkins and with it comes the fear of failing. She said she hopes that within the first few weeks of being open, people check it out and get to know her purpose and story.
“I just want to help strengthen other people’s souls and help anyone who may be grieving,” Hopkins said. “It’s an honor to now be able to teach yoga and share it with my community.”
By DELANEY CRAWFORD/Special to the Sentinel