From humble beginnings at the Kingsford House location, yoga studio in Oswego now features seven certified instructors and 100 participants
By Tom and Jerry Caraccioli
As you enter Blossom Yoga in Oswego the message conveyed on the wall can’t help but be seen. That is by design.
“We create a welcoming and inclusive space for our diverse students to discover the gifts of yoga by exploring a variety of classes. Our teachers aim to illuminate the many paths towards individual and collective growth on the yogic journey.”
Blossom Yoga and Wellness combines a philosophical and physical roadmap to the teachings of yoga that empowers and inspires students in their personal growth journey, physical recovery from injury and healing.
With seven certified instructors (Sandy Eby, Judy Osetek, Danielle Florio, Katie Stout, Debbie Drake, Kathy Schrecengost and Kristen Skinner), Blossom Yoga offers foundational classes built on the Bikram Hot Yoga practice of healing. The practice was cultivated and dates back more than 10,000 years from the ancient form of Vedic Yoga and is predicated on bringing balance to the body, mind, heart and spirit.
Offering a variety of classes, Blossom Yoga, located 161 W. First St., makes yoga accessible to all, including gentle yoga, hot yoga (Bikram style) both warm and hot, yoga flow (Vinyasa), and yin yoga that provide opportunities to experience both the yin and yang aspects of yoga.
Today, Bikram hot yoga as we know it helps build strength, tones muscles, sculpts the body and, of course, provides an outpouring of perspiration. Sweating, while may seem unpleasant, is an important element to this particular practice because it allows toxins to easily exit your body.
“I was originally drawn to yoga as a way to stay active after having spent my childhood through college playing competitive soccer and other sports,” Blossom Yoga co-owner and instructor Judy Osetek said. “Hot yoga was a challenge that I enjoyed, while at the same time reaping the healing benefits of the practice. Over time, my yoga practice has evolved to a much deeper level that focuses as much on the meditative and spiritual qualities as the physical.”
Blossom Yoga’s Bikram series is now officially called the “original 26 + 2,” even though a lot of people still confuse it with “hot yoga.” The original 26 + 2 derives its name from the practice that includes 26 poses and two breathing exercises, most performed twice in the exact same order, for 90-minutes.
Osetek’s mother, Sandy Eby, first started the business out of one room in the old Kingsford House on West Fifth Street in 2006. It didn’t take long before Eby’s classes began to fill and more space was needed. After moving into the “Ball Room” at the Kingsford House the popular classes prospered and grew.
“The business was started simply to share the gift of yoga with others,” Osetek explained. “We spent nearly 10 years at the Kingsford House location before my mom sold the house in December 2015.” Following the sale of the Kingsford House, Eby and her now certified yoga instructor daughter, Judy, moved to several locations before settling into their beautiful space on the river.
“We were inspired to change our name to Blossom Yoga and Wellness to reflect the evolution of our yoga journey and the symbolism of a flower’s beautiful transformation and resilience,” Osetek said. “If you have ever taken a Bikram yoga class, you may be familiar with the signature phrase ‘open your chest like a flower petal blooming.’”
As the business continues to grow because of the professional teachers and yogis that bring so much positive energy and joy into the studio, the mission of Blossom Yoga remains steady: “Create a peaceful and supportive space where yogis can feel free, connected and open to new ideas and suggestion, while always having a peaceful and supportive space to practice yoga and just be.”
And while some may confuse yoga with other Eastern religions, yoga is not a religion but a practice within Hinduism that predates Buddhism by 5,000 years. Yoga, mentioned in ancient, sacred scriptures of the Hindu religion, originated thousands of years ago in what is now India. The practice is designed to promote inclusion no matter what your level of experience.
“Absolutely no experience is required to start practicing,” Osetek exclaimed. “That’s the beauty of it – the only thing needed is an open mind and heart. At our studio, you never have to worry about being self-conscious as we encourage that yoga is not about what the posture looks like, rather it’s how it makes you feel when you do the posture with proper alignment and breath.”
The physical component of yoga — the asanas — is one minor part of the entire whole when it comes to a well-rounded and fulfilling practice. Yoga enables its practitioners to learn focus and calm, especially in challenging situations. In essence, yoga can serve as a tool to help yogis stay aligned and connected to what they view as the most valuable and desirous aspects of their lives. Ultimately, yoga helps cultivate a life of balance and harmony to the body, mind, heart and spirit.
Blossom Yoga also enjoys partnering and spreading the benefits of yoga practice with Peaceful Remedies, an organization started in honor of Mary Gosek with Pax Unum gentle yoga class. Peaceful Remedies’ mission is to provide holistic healing services to people suffering a life-altering illness. At the Pax Unum class, patients, survivors and caregivers come together to enjoy the benefits of yoga in a supportive and caring environment where friendships blossom. This like-minded community helps expand Blossom’s impact beyond business by offering more wellness opportunities that help improve one’s quality of life.
If taking a class at Blossom Yoga all sounds a little intimidating, it’s not.
“If there is any trepidation to start, then the best thing to do is realize that yoga is for everyone,” Osetek simply explained. “Whether or not you become a lifelong practitioner or every now and then or you simply decide it’s not for you, you will never know until you give it a try.”
And just like many things in life, the only thing you might end up regretting by not attending a class is that you didn’t go and try.
Tom and Jerry Caraccioli are freelance writers originally from Oswego, who have co-authored two books: “STRIKING SILVER: The Untold Story of America’s Forgotten Hockey Team” and “BOYCOTT: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games.”
