June 19, 2012 — Lassen County is full of little-known gems hiding in plain sight.

Last spring, Dirk and Cas Ellena, of the Best Western Plus Trailside Inn, tapped into the treasure of the growing local yoga movement when they opened the Lotus Path Yoga studio at the hotel.

Thalia Ellena is the primary owner of the Best Western Plus Trailside Inn.

Birthed out of a need for alternative healing, Cas began doing yoga several years ago.

“I developed some life-changing health issues that western medicine determined could best be treated with hard-hitting drugs. This prescribed treatment only made things worse and I started looking for alternatives,” said Cas. “I changed many things about my life but nothing helped me more than yoga.Yoga puts my body, mind and spirit at rest; it is a holistic healing.”

Cas became a certified yoga teacher in the spring of 2011 and today she is proud to call herself a yoga addict. Cas is not alone in her healthy addiction. She said there were many people interested in and already doing yoga throughout the community.

“The love of yoga was already here but the yogis had no centralized accessible location,” said Cas.“My husband Dirk and I have both experienced the benefits of yoga …Yoga is an amazing instrument for health and well being.”

With firsthand knowledge of the health benefits of a regular yoga practice, the couple decided to offer up an available space in the hotel for public use. Currently, Lotus Path Yoga has five instructors, six classes and more than 150 students. They offer all levels of classes with modifications to every class routine. Cas encourages beginners to try all the different classes to find the style of yoga that best fits their needs.

“Our instructors are all dedicated yogis, each wonderful in their own way,” said Cas.“They all teach a different style of yoga, offering different benefits and perspectives.”

Cas said they plan to add T'ai Chi classes this summer and possibly a Zen Weekend, which may include yoga and T’ai Chi classes, meditative nature walks, music and more.

Jordan Clary, who teaches Yang style T'ai Chi (also known as Tai Chi Chuan), which is the national T’ai Chi practiced throughout China, will teach a six-week class Monday evenings beginning June 25.

Cas said they might need to expand the studio space and add more classes if interest continues to grow. The studio is located up the first stairway at the Best Western, above the office.

Classes are on a drop-in basis and fees are by donation only. The suggested donation is $5 to $10 per person. Instructors are not paid hotel staff.

For more information about Lotus Path Yoga, email casellena@gmail.com or stop by the Best Western lobby. Class schedules are also available online at uptown.massagetherapy.com.