BEIRUT: Unlike capitals in North America and Europe, where yoga studios are almost as common as corner stores, local practitioners have to do a bit of searching to find the studios of Beirut, mostly tucked away in converted living rooms and unlikely spaces.

But this is beginning to change, as new studios open, teachers bring new styles from abroad and the yoga community grows significantly.Nok Yoga Shala is one such dynamic new space. The studio, located in Saifi Village, was opened by the founder of the New York-based Nok Foundation, Nigol Koulajian. Koulajian, who is of Lebanese origins, and local architect Hisham Hert opened Nok based on a dream for a yoga and wellness community center in the heart of Beirut.

Its a not-for-profit center, were just here to offer a space for the yoga and Eastern philosophy community to get together, bring teachers from abroad and have a space where all different types of tradition are given equal playing time, explains Erin OHalloran, manager of Nok and a yoga teacher.

Every week Nok offers a range of yoga classes (updated on the Nok Facebook page) from vinyasa flow and tantric yoga to the more traditional hatha and ashtanga approaches and holds frequent events and workshops led by teachers from abroad to introduce various aspects of Eastern religions, as well as meditation traditions.

At the moment the yoga community in Beirut is functioning off of a number of individuals who are all trying to eke out a living offering classes in their homes or doing private lessons. Its really grassroots, which is something that I love about the community here youve got to be intrepid, youve got to be a self-starter, youre not in it for the money because there isnt really money to be had, continues OHalloran, who has been based in Beirut for three years and teaching at a number of studios.

One of the ideas behind Nok is to take some of the burden off of teachers, says OHalloran.

We are really hoping that this can be a space to benefit yoga teachers in Beirut as much as the yoga community in terms of students.

Though Nok promises to be a hub for yogis in Beirut, many smaller studios and teachers operating out their own homes are seeing an influx of students and introducing different yoga styles to the country.

Danielle Abisaab, who has operated a boutique studio out of her home in Mar Mikhail for more than seven years, has recently brought aerial yoga to Lebanon.

Aerial yoga is a practice using a silk hammock to elevate and support the body as the person moves into different asanas (poses), using the force of gravity to help with alignment. Abisaab fell in love with the practice last year in New York City and obtained her certification.

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Grassroots yoga studios bloom in Beirut