New to Austin: April 2015

Sukha Yoga  

2324 South Lamar Boulevard; sukhayogaaustin.com

A Sanskrit and Pali-derived word, “Sukha” means sweetness, bliss, and ease. And that’s exactly what co-owner Mark Herron and co-owner and director of Sukha Yoga, Erinn Lewis, hope yogis and yoga newbies alike find when they roll out their mat inside the South Austin studio. The 2,517 square-foot space consists of two studios, a vibrantly colorful and sparkly retail lounge, and locker rooms. If there’s one thing Austinites love more than yoga, it’s new ways and styles in which to practice. The Sukha Yoga studio offers students exactly that as it’s the only yoga operation in Austin with instructors teaching nationally recognized Lotus FLOW™ and Lotus FLY™ classes meant to bring added challenges your traditional practice. Other focal class offerings include Sukha Flow, Sukha Yin, and Sukha Surrender. For those students looking to transform their practice both on and off the mat, Sukha also offer a 200-hour teacher training program. An eye-catching question on the studio’s website might just be the selling point to propel you off the couch and onto your yoga mat. “Tell me,” the quote says. “What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

Rabbit Food Grocery 

2210 1st Street Suite #M; rabbitfoodgrocery.com  

This independently run grocery store is vegan heaven. While the doors are now open at the first brick and mortar location, Rabbit Food Grocery has been around since 2008 when owners and l

ongtime vegans Jessica Morris and Gabriel Figueroa first founded the store as a pop-up shop. The grocery store’s claim to fame: all their products are 100 percent vegan. The owners pride themselves on selling environmentally friendly goods that cause no harm to animals or people. Among the offerings of cruelty-free vegan products the store stocks are vegan snacks like organic lemon, vanilla, and chocolate macaroons. They also have pantry staples like vegan ketchup, body care products, household items like vegan-themed coffee mugs, as well as clothing items and pet food. Bonus: You don’t have to leave the comfort of your own home to give this grocery store a try. The store has an online market for fans both near and far away in search of their favorite vegan goods.

Austin Simply Fit

2906 South Bagdad Road Suite 300; austinsimplyfit.com  

The Cedar Park and Leander area is now home to Austin Simply Fit’s third location. The studio, located 25 miles northwest of Austin, opened in late March and will provide people in the area with a world-class strength training facility. Members will have access to 10 experienced personal trainers as well as a 5,100 square foot state-of-the-art fitness studio. Founder Mark Rogers, a world-class powerlifter and fitness trainer, opened the first location on Burnet Road in 2010. Austin Simply Fit’s methodology focuses on high intensity 30-minute workouts that, Rogers says, are proven to be more effective than low intensity 60-minute workouts. The studio offers one-on-one sessions with personal trainers, as well as small group classes and powerlifting programs.