By Taylor J. Hale
Special to the Gaazette

AMHERST — Yoga on Tap at Central Waters Brewing Company in Amherst is curating a morning of zen and craft brews on Jan. 12.

New and experienced yogis alike are welcome to come to the brewery for a relaxing yoga session, and an included cold beer after. A portion of the profits from the event helps local non-profit organizations.

“Proceeds from this Saturday are going to the Warming Center to help buy warm clothes for those in need,” said Jennifer Novotny, the program’s yoga instructor. Novotny and her friend Reggie Cowden, also a yoga teacher, came up with the idea to host the class at the brewery while they were there as guests one night.

“We were at Central Waters one evening listening to music and thought, we should teach here,” Novotny explained. “We had heard of other yoga and beer events and decided to give it a try. So, Reggie asked, and they [the brewery] said yes!”

The two friends knew they wanted to use the program to give back to the community and Central Waters was ecstatic to contribute, too. The brewery now matches donations dollar for dollar.

“When we told Central Waters what we were planning to do, they said they would match it,” Novotny said. “We were so happy to double our donation.”

Classes initially began in June of 2018, and have grown exponentially since their inception. There is now a waiting list for the upcoming session, but patrons may still be able to snag a seat if one becomes available.

“Our first class had 35 people. Our last two classes have sold out at 45 [participants]. This Saturday’s event is already sold out, with a waitlist.”

Social Media Coordinator for Central Waters Chelsea Graham is excited to see the event continue to grow. She views it as a venue for people to connect.

“We love the community we’re in, and we especially appreciate providing a place for people to come together,” Graham said. “That’s the heart of our business at Central Waters.”

The collaborative efforts of those involved in the project are impressive. Programs like this offer local yogis a warm atmosphere to exercise away from typical workout areas.

“We enjoy taking yoga out of the studio and bringing it to people in a space they feel more comfortable in,” Novotny concluded.

Yoga on Tap at Central Waters Brewing Company starts at 10:45 a.m. Ticket price is $15 and includes a yoga session, a drink after the class and a matched donation to a local charity. For more info check the event’s Facebook page at
https://www.facebook.com/events/2308001849525182/.