Dedicated to fostering ecological consciousness, reverence and action in the Yoga community.
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Creating An Eco-Friendly Yoga Studio:
An Interview with David Lurey
By Laura Cornell
Ashtanga Yoga teacher David Lurey recently renovated
the old carriage house in his backyard, turning
it into an ecologically-friendly yoga studio in
San Francisco. Laura Cornell, founder of the Green
Yoga Association, spoke with David recently.
Laura: What inspired you to build an eco-friendly
studio rather than taking a more traditional approach?
David: I grew up in the mountains of Western
North Carolina, which are beautiful and just covered
with trees. I spent so much of my time outside
that I’ve always had an affinity towards nature
and our inherent connection with it. As I began
to practice yoga I wanted to integrate my
body and mind and spirit into this environmental
scope. In my teaching and philosophy I always
bring the elements of our bodies into play, including
earth, water, fire, and air.
When I was able to create a studio in my own
backyard, I knew I wanted it to benefit my own
practice as well as that of my students. I have a
pretty diligent environmental standpoint that’s ingrained
in me, so it seemed totally natural to incorporate
that into the studio.
Laura: What are some of the materials you used?
David: After leveling the floor with concrete, we
laid radiant floor heating. Radiant heating is efficient
and uses very little electricity. The overlying
surface of the floor is bamboo, a renewable resource
that grows very easily in almost all climates.
The lights are low-voltage halogen lights.
The wall paint is water-based and lead-free. The
wall insulation is called "Ultra-Touch Recycled
Denim," and is made from old blue jeans. It has
an R19 value insulation, which means it’s the same
warmth, sound, and protection as fiberglass R19,
but it’s made from all recycled, all natural fibers.
Laura: How has it affected you and your clients to
practice in this space?
David: It’s been amazing practicing in the space.
The bamboo has a really beautiful vibrational quality
and a light color. The feel of the wood and floor
is very natural. I hold kirtans in the space, and
people will refer to the natural feel the moment
they walk in. I think that it also has to do with the
recycled denim in the walls.
Laura: That sounds so sweet. I’d love to practice
in a space filled with pulled apart blue jeans. It
would feel cuddly.
David: It does feel cuddly, very cozy. The space
draws you into it. I totally credit that to the insulation,
the other natural materials, and to the effort
of people practicing and chanting.
Laura: What about costs?
David: Overall, I estimate it cost me about 20%
more to use eco-friendly products, but the longterm
savings of electricity should even out the extra
costs over time.
David Lurey worked in restaurant and hotel management
for five years before deciding to make a difference
in the world through teaching yoga. He has studied with
Mary Schutz, Clayton Horton, and David Swenson. David
will moderate a panel on eco-friendly studio issues at
the Green Yoga Conference in September, 2005.
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