Leggy Bird Designs Now Home to Yoga Studio

For the owners of Leggy Bird Designs in downtown Libertyville, the shop already represents everything they want their customers to get out of life: energy, friendship, beauty, happiness.

Now, the "Leggy Life," as they call it, is expanding into new territory: yoga.

Leggy Bird Designs is now home to a yoga studio with classes taught by the newest "Leggy Bird," Samantha Doughty. 

"You're not just designing your home, you're designing how you feel about yourself," Doughty said of Leggy Bird Designs and the "Leggy Life." "You start your day with a beautiful yoga class and even if you don't leave the store with a single thing, you get inspired."

Doughty said the idea came about through one of the Leggy Bird owners, Laurie King. King is one of Doughty's students.
 
Doughty met all of the other Leggy Birds at the shop during Let's Wine About Winter in February and they all agreed that they should open a yoga studio.

"The Leggy Birds are huge about setting intentions. They decided, 'Sam should be here,'" said Doughty. 

'The Library' is Born

Fast-forward to May 21, when the Leggy Bird owners and Doughty decided that rather than renting a space elsewhere, they should open the studio at the back of the store. By May 30, the studio was up-and-running.

"We're calling it 'The Library,'" said Doughty. "It's a studio for yoga, but it's also a space for learning."

Doughty teaches vinyasa yoga, a practice that has changed her life. Doughty said she started practicing yoga when she was pregnant with her daughter. She found that the yoga made her feel better, so she started attending more classes.

"It made me feel better about me," said Doughty. "This practice is what truly changed the direction of my life."

She decided to start teaching vinyasa yoga classes when she realized that what she'd discovered was so amazing, she wanted to share it with others. She incorporates strength-training moves into her yoga practice, and participants can burn 500-600 calories per session.

"You're moving," said Doughty. She added that participants gain mental strength, too, because they have to focus on where their arm or leg is, for example, rather than the problems they have in their lives.

Sense of Community

The classes also create a sense of community, Doughty said.

"When you come into class, you're seeing friends," she said. "Those small interactions are priceless. They really make you feel good about yourself."

She's a fan of playing upbeat music in her yoga classes. Participants can expect to hear everything from Pearl Jam to Jay Z. 

"I want to really take you out of your head," said Doughty. 

She insists that anyone can practice yoga. She said the biggest limitation is coming up with reasons to not attend a class. Moves can be modified, she said, based on a person's ability level.

"It's your personal journey," Doughty said. "You have your own mat because it's you connecting with you."

Doughty plans to offer 15 classes a week, including vinyasa flow, vinyasa power, hatha yoga and even vinyasa by candlelight. She'll also teach teen classes, along with "mom and me" classes.

She also plans to bring in speakers, including a woman who lost 50 pounds doing yoga and now talks about how to create healthy, tasty meals.

Here is Doughty's class schedule from Aug 15-30: 

• Monday: Advanced vinyasa flow, 9:15-10:30 a.m.
• Tuesday: Vinyasa flow, 9:15-10:30 a.m.
• Wednesday: Advanced vinyasa flow, 9:15-10:30 a.m.
• Thursday: Hatha yoga, 9:15-10:30 a.m.; Advanced vinyasa flow, 6:15-7:30 p.m.