A sad situation. Here's the article from the Albany Times-Union.
Jai Bhagwan,
Vibhusha
Yoga center closes its doors after 33 years
Kripalu in Albany cites financial reasons behind decision to shut down
By ALAN WECHSLER, Business writer
First published: Thursday, August 2, 2007
COLONIE -- Judi England 's last words to her colleagues as she left the Albany Kripalu Yoga Center on Wednesday were: "Let's close with grace."
It figures that the 33-year-old school, which has taught flexibility and peace of mind to hundreds of yoga practitioners in the region, would seek the calm at the center of the most difficult of decisions: to end a generation-old business.
Kripalu had lost nearly a third of its membership in the last three to four years. Competition has grown as more for-profit yoga centers opened, and more YMCAs and other health clubs offered yoga classes, said England , a senior teacher at Kripalu.
Officials had hoped to sell the nonprofit center to a new owner, a local businessman. But when that deal fell through last week, the organization's end was assured.
"We just ran out of money," said Dave Ferrill, president of the Kripalu board of directors. "We couldn't make it financially."
On Wednesday, Ferrill and England were helping to clean out the offices at the center. Mats and blankets were still piled together, as if waiting to be used. In a room where members could come in and meditate all day long, a teacher helped take down the Hindu-style shrine that was the centerpiece.
Kripalu, located just off Wolf Road in Metro Park , held yoga classes for the last time Sunday. Many members knew the end was here. More than 60 people came -- about three times more than normal -- so many that some students had to do their poses in the hallway.
Kripalu also told the center's 500 members it wouldn't be able to refund any class fees they had paid.
Instead, it would consider them contributions to be used to pay down liabilities. Members would at least be able to take a tax deduction.
"This may help remove a small portion of the financial sting of this event," a letter from the board said.
Kripalu, named for the swami who encouraged this school of yoga, began locally in 1974, with practitioners meeting in each other's basements. After some growth, it moved to Central Avenue in Albany and then to Niskayuna . The center has been at its current location for a decade.
During its prime, the center grew with the popularity of the mystical practice that has its origins in India . Yoga combines breathing techniques, meditation and stretches of ever-increasing difficulty to help practitioners overcome stress and negativity in their lives.
It's a skill that has come in handy in Kripalu's last weeks.
"It was my home away from home," said Colleen Hassett, a nurse from Slingerlands who has also taught yoga at the center for six years. "It was very sad to hear that it was closing. A piece of myself feels that it's missing."
The center is associated with the much larger Kripalu center in Lenox , Mass. Over the past few years, the local center had branches in Schenectady , Delmar and Albany , and sponsored classes elsewhere as well.
Kripalu leaders say they don't know what will happen next. But they hope to see the center return, in true Hindu fashion, in a different incarnation.
"We need to have a good ending with this," England said. "To exit the building, not exit the practice."
Jai Bhagwan,
Vibhusha
Yoga center closes its doors after 33 years
Kripalu in Albany cites financial reasons behind decision to shut down
By ALAN WECHSLER, Business writer
First published: Thursday, August 2, 2007
COLONIE -- Judi England 's last words to her colleagues as she left the Albany Kripalu Yoga Center on Wednesday were: "Let's close with grace."
It figures that the 33-year-old school, which has taught flexibility and peace of mind to hundreds of yoga practitioners in the region, would seek the calm at the center of the most difficult of decisions: to end a generation-old business.
Kripalu had lost nearly a third of its membership in the last three to four years. Competition has grown as more for-profit yoga centers opened, and more YMCAs and other health clubs offered yoga classes, said England , a senior teacher at Kripalu.
Officials had hoped to sell the nonprofit center to a new owner, a local businessman. But when that deal fell through last week, the organization's end was assured.
"We just ran out of money," said Dave Ferrill, president of the Kripalu board of directors. "We couldn't make it financially."
On Wednesday, Ferrill and England were helping to clean out the offices at the center. Mats and blankets were still piled together, as if waiting to be used. In a room where members could come in and meditate all day long, a teacher helped take down the Hindu-style shrine that was the centerpiece.
Kripalu, located just off Wolf Road in Metro Park , held yoga classes for the last time Sunday. Many members knew the end was here. More than 60 people came -- about three times more than normal -- so many that some students had to do their poses in the hallway.
Kripalu also told the center's 500 members it wouldn't be able to refund any class fees they had paid.
Instead, it would consider them contributions to be used to pay down liabilities. Members would at least be able to take a tax deduction.
"This may help remove a small portion of the financial sting of this event," a letter from the board said.
Kripalu, named for the swami who encouraged this school of yoga, began locally in 1974, with practitioners meeting in each other's basements. After some growth, it moved to Central Avenue in Albany and then to Niskayuna . The center has been at its current location for a decade.
During its prime, the center grew with the popularity of the mystical practice that has its origins in India . Yoga combines breathing techniques, meditation and stretches of ever-increasing difficulty to help practitioners overcome stress and negativity in their lives.
It's a skill that has come in handy in Kripalu's last weeks.
"It was my home away from home," said Colleen Hassett, a nurse from Slingerlands who has also taught yoga at the center for six years. "It was very sad to hear that it was closing. A piece of myself feels that it's missing."
The center is associated with the much larger Kripalu center in Lenox , Mass. Over the past few years, the local center had branches in Schenectady , Delmar and Albany , and sponsored classes elsewhere as well.
Kripalu leaders say they don't know what will happen next. But they hope to see the center return, in true Hindu fashion, in a different incarnation.
"We need to have a good ending with this," England said. "To exit the building, not exit the practice."
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