Just to avoid confusion we should start with the basics; you’re not on a normal yoga studio website right now. We don’t have anything to sell you. You will find no purchase links, no intro deals, none of that stuff.
Second Circle isn’t a business, it’s a collective. You might think of it as a club. It’s operated entirely by members who volunteer their skills and time in service to the community. We collectively “own” the space, set the schedule, and define the rules of our group.
This collective is not exclusive. In fact, we would positively love to have you join us.
There are thousands of yoga studios out there in the great big world. We love them. We think they are great and we support their existence. We practice with them and train with them and generally are grateful they’re around.
So why did we start a yoga club?
Second Circle was once a pretty standard yoga studio business, like the rest. We sold class packages and trained teachers and held weekend clinics and displayed our branded merch at the front desk in the lobby with the computer and the coconut waters. It was great and we loved it dearly. And, as happens sometimes with businesses, it eventually closed down. So it goes.
But a funny thing happened then. Our community decided Second Circle was more than a business, it was a place where friends and neighbors and loved ones could gather. Our practice gave us a ritual for connection, beyond simply tending to our physical wellness. And plus, our yoga had evolved and kind of become its own thing that wasn’t really being taught elsewhere. (Not to say our practice is superior or perfect or whatever, it was just ours.) Essentially, we all came to realize that the important stuff – our practice together, our friendships, our gatherings over coffee after an early morning class – didn’t require profit. They just needed people to keep showing up.
We just needed a place to show up. And as luck would have it we found an absolutely ideal spot for our studio at 209 College Street. It’s small and warm and personal and tucked away, and on Saturday mornings it smells like bacon because Stone Soup makes bacon on giant sheet pans in giant industrial ovens all morning long. And it’s right in the middle of downtown. There’s a wine bar across the street, and two good spots to buy vinyl right there on the block. We love wine and vinyl. We love downtown Burlington.
So we signed up. And our members – our people – got a new home. Yoga is now both a physical routine and social glue. It keeps us well and holds us together. And, wonder of wonders, not a single one of us is trying to sell anything to the others. We all own it and we all run it and we see each other through life. (Is that weird to say? “See each other through life”? It’s true but maybe it sounds strange these days…) We have gone on vacations together, thrown birthday bashes and organized weekend trips to some place off in the woods. We ski together and play mahjong and pull the lotto cards apart in great screaming hordes at the Saint Johns’ Club. We have been through illnesses and deaths together, breakups and divorces. We’ve welcomed each others’ newborn children and just-adopted puppies.
Basically, this is an actual community. Which, we don’t know, maybe that sounds weird. Maybe it feels kinda culty? That would make sense, if you felt that reading this. But it’s just what it is. And we believe – each of us – that this world could really use more things like yoga club. See, everyone out there knows how hard it is to feel a sense of community these days, but not many of us really know what to do about it. What we’ve found out is: your best move is to start a club.
Among what I love about my Yoga club is the variety of classes we offer. When members wanted to incorporate weights into their active lives, I drew on my CrossFit coaching background and developed a dumbbell class. As a longtime runner, I felt the need early on for foam rolling and recovery work, so I created roll and restore, a gentle yoga practice that incorporates myofascial release techniques using a foam roller. Our offerings continue to grow because our teachers bring their own passions and expertise to the studio. Kyle has integrated tai chi into a yoga flow practice, and Chris now teaches a Kripalu class. At our core, though we remain grounded in both our foundations class, and our more athletic seven salutations practice. The space itself is personal, functional, and comfortable. It is an oasis in the heart of Burlington. On Saturday mornings, we can smell bacon cooking downstairs as Stone Soup gets ready for its customers. There’s something wonderfully real and community-centered about that. I could go on, but what makes this place special is that it continues to evolve while staying true to its roots. It is a community shaped by the people who practice, teach and gather here.
We are a diverse, tight-knit multigenerational collective of experienced yoga teachers and practitioners with a shared commitment to intimate fellowship, evolving yoga practice and lots of laughs.
I love the diverse collection of kind, thoughtful, and open-hearted souls in our club. I feel like I belong in our community rather than simply fitting in. That is distinct and very much valued by me. I also appreciate the variety of classes on our menu, flexibility and willingness to adapt (Full Moon Yin or walking meditation instead of something that was planned), potlucks and parties, and having all of your birth data!
Second Circle has been a perfect place to grow as a yoga teacher. When I’m watching yoga videos online or taking classes at other studios, something often grabs my attention— a pose sequence that seems unusual, or an interesting modification of a pose that we often do, and my mind starts to churn about how I can bring it back to my classes at the club. It’s that process of tweaking around the edges, exploring and sharing together, that has been so valuable to me as I have learned the syntax of yoga poses and constructing yoga classes. I love being able to test ideas out in a supportive space where I can pause mid-class to ask for honest feedback.
And it’s also great to walk in the door running on empty, and have your friends say “You look tired, let’s just talk about plants and tarot and drink beer instead of doing yoga”. That’s something other studios can’t offer.
Second Circle is collectively owned and operated by its members. We all do this together. There are no salespeople and no customers, no bosses and no clients. No one is in charge of anyone else. It’s kind of magic and truly rare. The only requirement for membership at Second Circle is that you abide by our Community Standards.
Becoming a member happens in conversation at the studio.
This is not a profit-making enterprise. Second Circle is a group of people who are passionate about practicing yoga together. Membership fees go directly to pay for rent, utilities, and incidentals, and full members are entitled to a say in how any extra funds are spent. We share the responsibility to keep this club running.
As a club, our members all contribute to the function of Second Circle. Some of us teach; some of us clean; some of us build things; and so on. Consider how you can help sustain the group and keep an eye out for members who might need your assistance. Second Circle is a place for everyone, regardless of identity structure or background. When you’re here, we ask that you treat everyone with dignity and respect.
At Second Circle, we are committed to the understanding that our practice is a living method. Members are invited to be curious, to question and discover both in and out of class, and to share in an open and ongoing conversation with the group. We expect our community to evolve and grow.
Students are expected to take responsibility for their own experiences. This means signing up for class ahead of time on Google Sheets and sharing your needs and expectations with the group on our message board. We also have a monthly meeting where full members share their thoughts about the club functions and class.
No cellphones or fancy internet watches in the yoga room. We remain respectful and quiet once we enter the yoga room. The practice area is small and sometimes classes are full, so minimize strong perfumes or odors. Wear appropriate clothing and be aware of the space around you during class.
We honor the commitment of our members, while being open to guests and newcomers. The only standard for membership is participation and abiding by the community standards.
Practice is not a test. Members aren’t expected to be flawless students or have magical mobility powers when they practice. They don’t have to prove anything. We simply try to practice in whatever way arrives for us as individuals on a given day. We try to discover what our best effort looks like, learning about ourselves along the way.
Fundamentally, we believe that the practice of yoga is meant to draw us closer to the beauty and fullness of life. Joy and discipline are not mutually exclusive; in fact, they deeply support each other. We explore the balance of lighthearted engagement and hard work. When we allow ourselves to open into a joyful practice, we give others permission to do the same.
Currently Second Circle has a few dog members. They all have voting rights and unlimited classes and are probably the ones in charge.
aka “Takezo” aka “Tomato” aka “Bean”
Kayzo is a puppy mutt doofus. He is regularly in the studio, demanding you throw him a tennis ball. Sometimes he gets the farts, which we are all not super psyched about. But he’s very cute and affectionate and floppy and does these full-body stretches that are just the best, so we let it slide.
aka “Baybee”
Hudson is perfect. He’s the most handsome dog in the history of dogs. It’s not even right, it shouldn’t be possible. He’s like if Cindy Crawford was a Velveteen Bear. He’s like if a Cherubim was a Water Buffalo. He’s like if the soft orange glow of the harvest moon was also a Manatee.
Gus and Posa are the wonder twins, a yin and yang of canine affection. Posa is red lightning in a seltzer can. She’s the boss. Gus is an oversized cuddle-goof whose food motivation is matched only by his effort at manners. They’re a great team.
Bodhi is the newest member of our club dog pack. He is fluffy and loving and guards Robert’s deck with wiggling ferocity. He wants to be on your lap, please.
Mae is not a dog. Mae is a cat. She does not bark or lift her leg to pee (which she considers gauche) or dig holes under the raspberry bushes. Mae gets under the covers and climbs her tower and has eyes that can perceive Asgard. Mae is perfect.
River is a pisces. He doesn’t come to the studio much, because he is a mystery and a shadow and by the looks of it a little stunned to even be on the internet. But River takes great care of Amy, so we love him dearly from afar. Thank you, River.
Dog privileges are sadly for members only. That being said, it’s super likely you will be practicing with or near some kind of canine while at Second Circle.
JJ was a rescue pit bull from West Philadelphia. His wisdom and guidance were unparalleled. He was a master (RYM-5000) of emotionally manipulating people friends.
We said goodbye to JJ at the end of 2021, but he was and will always remain an important part of our team. Yoga friends were always his favorite. He made the room better every time he walked in.
Floyd was a sage. He was filled with wisdom and sniffles. He guarded the fire and the deck and the warm soft places around Shelburne Point.
We said goodbye to Floyd in the spring of 2023. Our lakeside deck yoga classes are now held in his memory.
Shiva was the guardian and spirit guide of Mallett’s Bay. She watched over us when we practiced in Colchester, and safeguarded a certain sacred hot tub. She could not be contained, wandering across property lines and into the homes of whomever she pleased. This is because Shiva was the actual boss.
Nano & Pico were two of the original spirit animals of Second Circle. They were instrumental in baptizing the studio and filling it with that special warmth only floppy Goldens can provide. They are loved and missed and their legacy is carried on by their copper descendants, Gus & Posa.
