March 20, 2017

Meet Natasha Snow Needles of SoHo Yoga in Downtown and Hermosa Beach

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Natasha Snow Needles.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Natasha. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was raised by a wonderful hippie woman who taught me to live with an open honest heart and to love hard. Growing up very poor, home schooled with 4 brother, in a small town in Idaho will give you certain type of charm and a lens on life that allows you to use humor. My mother taught me to use this glorious language of movement from the age of 10, teaching a prenatal aerobics class, yoga, ballet and Jazz at Silver Slippers Dance Academy in Idaho. Which was my Mothers Dance studio. From this point forward I developed a passionate love affair with movement and helping other beings to find their expression. After dancing with various companies I earned my BA in Dance and Theatre. During school I began teaching Pilates, ballet, modern and jazz. My pilgrimage lead me to a number of notable Yoga outlets including; Yoga at the Village, Yoga Works, Hot8 Santa Monica, Hot8 Beverly Hills. Which is where I met my two wonderful friends/business partners Richard Jefferson and Pete Niva. At the time they were my students (I guess they still are) and we became obsessed with one another. Pete and Richard actually came to me with the idea of opening a studio with me at the helm of all this crazy yoga goodness. I immediately I jumped on board with these beautiful people, because they are genuine, loving, honest, fair, caring and they work as hard as I do for the things they believe in. It all seems like such a flash looking back at it. And now I find myself in a much deserved position as Director of Yoga for SoHo Yoga Hermosa Beach and DTLA.

I’m also super proud repeat Lululemon Ambassador, there community is like my second family. Their hyper focus for connection and health runs right along with ours. I think one of the gifts that I contain is my passion for others discovery of self through my unique style of instruction. I try to lead with spirit, raw fire, awareness, compassion tranquility and love.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Life is struggle. So yes, but without struggle we wouldn’t know the sweet things. I was diagnosed with lupus 3 years ago; basically right before we opened up our first studio and it has been a massive struggle to maintain the energy that I need to work in the manner that I do. However, yoga has aided in managing much of my pain and keeps me sane.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about SoHo Yoga – what should we know?
Soho is a space for beings to come and decompress. To check out, to tune in. It is a place where we encourage everyone to be as vulnerable, open and sassy as possible. We want people to achieve their health goals while clearing the clutter and chaos that can get built up in the emotional brain space.

I manage/create all the content of our classes and teachers, hire and train our teachers, run our 200hr teacher trainings and teach a mean class. I spend much time on constantly educating our teachers so that we are providing fresh concepts and constantly staying fresh. I take great pride in the special people that make up our little soho family. Each one of them brings such authenticity, empathy and energy in their own way. I can honestly say that I am close to each one of our teachers and am 100 percent dedicated in developing them into whatever it is they are or are becoming.

I believe that I was put on this earth this time around to share my life lens with others and all I can hope is to be relatable and offer my whole heart every time I step on the mat. I have been told that I am good at connect to my students. That I am caring, I push people in a positive way through humor and support. I’ll jump in and kick my own ass in class. I am most proud of our community. Our goal (Pete, Richard and myself) was and is to create a space where people feel at home and loved. We wanted to provide a place where anyone at any point in their life (literally ages 3-199) can find what they love. That is exactly what we do, because it’s true, this. I think the diversity of our classes/teachers sets us apart. Our vibe is

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My employees, these glorious creatures keep me floating… I work so hard for them because they meet me with the same amount of energy and effort that I strive to exude. I live for them, they hold much trust in me and I value that intensely

My teachers; my mother Sylvia. Elyse Briggs. Carl Dawson.

My lulu family. This community is beyond amazing to me and SoHo. They believe in me tremendously and are there for me constantly. It’s hard to put into words the amount of gratitude that I have for these people individually and as a whole. Plus my booty looks fabulous always (wink). They are incredible to my teachers as well as to our front desk staff.

My partners are my biggest fans and supporters, I literally could not do this without them. These two men keep me laughing and inspire me. They’ve got my back through anything. Pete is my rock. He is co-owner/GM of our studio and literally keeps me breathing. This man treats everyone as if they have been friends for a life time. He looks at this world in a way that I admire and walks through it gracefully with the quickest wit. I have met few people in my life that work as hard as this man. He, Richard and I are incredible partners and like brothers.

My blood brothers and my incredibly aunt and uncle. I push myself to the max to show these people that anything and everything is possible.

All of this wouldn’t be happening if it weren’t for our wonderful members/students. These people… man, my eyes are watering up right now.

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