Our Story
A Space for Healing & Growth
An intimate, non-competitive, community- and family-oriented space where everybody is welcome to explore movement, stillness, and connection.
Where It All Began
Born from a Need to Heal
In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, Cathy Calderon saw her Prospect Heights community struggling to process grief, anxiety, and uncertainty. She believed that yoga and movement could offer what words alone could not — a path back to the body, to the breath, to each other.
What began as a small yoga studio on Washington Avenue quickly grew into something more. Students brought friends. Friends brought family. Dance classes were added, then kids programs, then meditation circles. The studio became a gathering place — a second home for hundreds of Brooklyn families.
Cathy's founding principle was simple: yoga is for every body. No competition, no judgment, no prerequisites. Just a warm room, a compassionate teacher, and the willingness to show up. That principle guides everything we do to this day.
Carrying the Torch
Deanna's Vision
Deanna Green first came to Shambhala seeking relief from chronic back pain. She had tried everything — physical therapy, medications, ergonomic chairs. A friend suggested yoga. Skeptical but desperate, she walked through the studio doors and onto a mat for the first time.
Within months, her pain had eased. Within a year, she was hooked. She completed her 200-hour teaching certification, then her 500-hour. When the opportunity came to take over the studio, Deanna saw it as a way to honor both Cathy's original vision and her own late mother's legacy of community service.
"My mother taught me that the greatest thing you can do is create a space where people feel seen, heard, and held. That's what Shambhala is."
— Deanna Green, Owner & Lead Teacher
Experience what Deanna has built. Start with 3 weeks of unlimited classes.
$69 New Student Special →Under Deanna's guidance, Shambhala has expanded its offerings while staying true to its roots — adding African Dance, Kundalini, breathwork, and Reiki while keeping the intimate, non-competitive atmosphere that has always set this studio apart.
Meet the teachers who carry this vision forward
What We Stand For
Our Values
Every Body Belongs
From chair yoga for seniors to prenatal for expecting parents — 14+ class styles so everyone finds their fit. Modifications always offered, never required.
The Sham Fam
Students become friends. Friends grab coffee after class. Prenatal parents form lifelong bonds. This is a gathering place, not just a studio.
Movement in Every Form
Yoga, African Dance with live drumming, Salsa, Bellydance, Reiki, meditation — since day one, Shambhala has welcomed movement traditions from around the world.
I have been practicing at Shambhala for a long time. I love the sense of community, the variety in teachers and the comfortability of the space.
Stefanie
Shambhala Student
Our Home
The Space
Located at 691 Washington Avenue in the heart of Prospect Heights, our studio offers two thoughtfully designed rooms for practice and exploration.
Jade Studio
Our main practice room. Spacious and filled with natural light, hosting our most popular yoga and dance classes.
- Bamboo floors with cushioned sub-layer
- State-of-the-art sound system
- Natural light and full mirror wall
Garnet Studio
Our intimate second room. Perfect for workshops, meditation circles, Reiki sessions, and small-group classes.
- Warm, ambient lighting
- Soft earth tones and natural materials
- Intimate space for deeper practice
Reception
Community