Holbrook, MA Indoor Activities

Owner Richard Lanza began Open Doors as a metaphysical healing center and store in 1992, and he carried that healing spirit into the yoga studio he opened in 2003. At Open Doors Yoga Studios, Richard's goal is to create a space where people feel empowered to explore their personal beliefs on a path toward self-healing. Thus, yoga instructors at the studio's numerous locations help practitioners achieve their personal goals through accessible classes, each designed to build core strength while quieting the mind and increasing body awareness. From slow-flow heated classes to unheated Hatha sessions, students can participate in a variety of yoga styles geared toward beginners, more experienced participants, and those who only feel comfortable in a 98-degree room.

If you had asked Brian Culkin years ago what he planned to do after an injury brought his professional basketball career to an end, he probably wouldn't have mentioned yoga. Culkin had graduated as the all-time leading scorer in the history of the Skidmore College basketball program, and he went on to play in the European circuit before returning to his native Boston to heal and recover his American accent. But despite success as the founder and CEO of a commercial and residential mortgage firm, Culkin felt unfulfilled. He abandoned his career in finance and moved to the renowned Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, where he studied meditation, yoga, and gestalt therapy from 2008–2009.

Inspired by what he had learned, Culkin then worked as a consultant and trainer leading workshops at the OpenMind Training Institute. He traveled the globe to speak on topics such as peak performance, creativity, and human potential, and opened Jai Yoga to share his vast knowledge with others.

In addition to relaxing Hatha sessions and heated power Vinyasa flow classes, Culkin and his team offer age-appropriate yoga classes designed specifically for kids and teens. They also lead strength and conditioning classes, fusion-style barre classes that combine ballet and yoga, and meditation sessions that promote self-awareness better than an afternoon spent trapped in a house of mirrors.

After a fast-paced 20-year career working in public television, Fay Sutherland shifted her focus to her other passion: yoga. Drawing from 15 years of practice and multiple yoga certifications, she opened Dancing Crow Yoga with her husband, aspiring to help others to increase their fitness level while striving toward inner freedom. Fay and her fellow certified instructors focus on the Iyengar tradition, teaching both Vinyasa and Anusara yoga styles that can be just as challenging for the body as they are nurturing to the soul. Vinyasa’s high-intensity series of continuous postures is linked by deep, mindful breaths, helping practitioners of all shapes, sizes, and Baldwin-brother preference to build strength and flexibility while achieving a state of serene relaxation. Anusara's heart-centered philosophy supports mental clarity and emotional growth, inspiring patrons to lead a well-rounded life of total wellness.

At Inner Strength Studios, seasoned instructors such as E-RYT 500 instructor Roman Szpond lead vinyasa yoga sessions for beginners, experts, and kids as young as five. Classes ranging from 60 to 90 minutes are held in heated rooms within Innerstrength's Boston studios, which were recently renovated after the Watertown location suffered fire damage. Aspiring teachers can take Innerstrength's 200-hour training program, which instills advanced yoga knowledge through classes, workshops, and a rollercoaster ride through a giant lotus. The studios also provide a slate of other services, such as personal training and massage therapy sessions.

Sean McCarthy challenges yoga enthusiasts from ages 3 to 73 inside his South Shore studio. With his mission to share the practice of yoga with Milton and surrounding communities in an expressive and playful way, the instructor offers a diverse range of classes for all skill levels. Certified as a registered yoga teacher at the 500-hour level, Sean leads the team of fellow certified yogis at Milton Yoga, where students of all ability levels hone strength, flexibility, and balance in hatha and Vinyasa-flow classes held in a heated studio. When not busy mapping guests toward off-ramps of inner peace, yogis also host guided meditation sessions and introduce youngsters to fitness with kids' yoga classes.