On a quiet stretch of NW Westover, just a block from the bustle of NW 23rd, Shine brings a therapeutic focus to yoga. Which only makes sense, as the studio is an outgrowth of Shine Integrative Physical Therapy. Together, the two businesses provide physical therapy, acupuncture, massage, yoga classes and other wellness services to the neighborhood and beyond.
Being one of those East Portlanders who needs a good reason to lure me across the river, I only became aware of Shine when my friend Ginny Kauffman (former owner of Exhale and an awesome yoga teacher) began to manage the yoga studio. She invited me over for a tour last week and we talked about Shine over lunch at Thai Noodle Etc. Which, by the way, made us some excellent vegan Thai noodle dishes.
Physical therapist Emily Soiney, who has a doctorate in physical therapy as well as extensive yoga teacher training and experience, owns Shine. She’s a local gal from McMinnville, an OSU grad who likes dogs and playing the ukulele. One thing that makes her facility special is Shine’s emphasis on something called the Postural Restoration Institute approach, which works to balance the body’s asymmetries.
As for the yoga, Ginny says this will not be another vinyasa studio. “The studio started with a mission to reach out to people who want yoga for therapy,” she said. In other words, Shine is more about repairing damage from physical trauma and injuries than getting the yoga butt. While people of all ages are welcome, Ginny especially wants to make older people feel comfortable at Shine. “It’s hard for people in their fifties, sixties and seventies to find a place to do yoga that caters to them,” she said.
Ginny is currently revising Shine’s class schedule. She expects they’ll offer about 20 classes per week, including yin, restorative and other accessible choices.
