Meet this week's guest editor, Suzanne Burns, owner of Humble Haven Yoga! Suzanne is here to deliver her recommendations for celebrating community in the River City. In addition to being a mom of three (or four if you count her adorable pup), Suzanne founded Humble Haven Yoga in 2013 and opened its first brick and mortar location in Shockoe Bottom in January 2016. Suzanne lives her purpose through creating equitable opportunities in education, employment, wellness, and beyond for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Take it away, Suzanne ...
A Tablespoonfull
of Sugar
I’ve been working with the special needs and diverse ability community since I was in high school. Fast forward to the present and I’m lucky to be a mom to my four-year-old daughter, June, who has Down syndrome. I’m a strong believer in building and supporting local businesses and organizations that prioritize equitable employment opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities.
One of my favorite weekend activities is to visit Tablespoons Bakery with my family. You can grab some cookies, muffins, and coffee and sit on their patio or venture into their enclosed playground. If you’re a cookie dough fan, try their cookie dough cone!
I’m a strong believer that movement and community are two very important ingredients to the recipe for feeling well and joyful in your day-to-day life. One of my favorite places to visit outside of Humble Haven is The Well Collective located at 13 S 13th Street in the heart of Shockoe Bottom.
The Well Collective is a space for conscious community that offers intergenerational wellness, equitable healing modalities, educational workshops and an apothecary. Check out Heated Power Yoga with Charles on 5/11, Asana Pranayama and Meditation, or Heated Move + Breathe on 5/13. Can’t make one of those? Check out their schedule and hours for another time to visit.
Vitals:
Heated Power Yoga with Charles / The Well Collective / 13 S. 13th Street / Thursday, May 11 at 6:15 pm
RVA
Big Market
My family and I live in the Northside of the city and venture often to the RVA Big Market at Bryan Park on Saturdays. If you’re traveling in from other parts of Richmond, Bryan Park offers lots of parking within the park or even in the surrounding neighborhoods where you can take a short walk in.
Two of our favorite vendors to visit are Ryba’s Pierogis and JAMs Cakery. You won’t be disappointed with anything you order, but when visiting our friends at Rybas, try the pastrami and swiss pierogis and one of their made-to-order breakfast sandwiches. When visiting JAMs, the chocolate chip cookies are our go-to faves.
Vitals:
RVA Big Market / Bryan Park - 4308 Hermitage Road, Richmond / Saturdays, 8 am - 12 pm
More About Humble Haven Yoga
Humble Haven aims to bring together diverse groups of people to experience something outside of routine life — offering flexibility and expression as a way of living through versatile daily classes and community events. Located just west of the city in the Reynolds Crossing shopping center (corner of Glenside Dr. and Forest Ave.), Humble Haven offers a combination of yoga and strength-based classes that compliment one another in style of movement and strive to meet each individual where they are on any given day and at any phase or stage of life.
Next month, Humble Haven is expanding to add an additional room where they'll hold daily Bootcamp classes to build strength, weekly Yin classes to slow it down, and they'll be launching a program specifically for children and young adults with special needs - the first of its kind in Richmond. Class offerings for individuals with developmental disabilities will range from one-on-one instruction to small group. These offerings will be available late summer and early fall. Visit the studio and follow along on their social accounts (@humblehavenyoga) for the latest!
