For many people, yoga is about stretching and flexibility. But for true believers, yoga is more than rolling out a mat and going into cat-cow and downward dog poses. It’s a transcendent experience that can bring healing to the body and a sense of inner peace to the mind.

That’s the core principle behind Radiate Yoga, which has been a part of the Pelham community for two decades. Owner Lisa Stiefvater describes Radiate Yoga as a place dedicated to helping people feel alive, healthy, and connected.

“The more you get on your mat and the more you get quiet, the more you start to know yourself,” said Stiefvater. “And then you begin to radiate joy.” For her, yoga is a chance to ask yourself, “How am I doing?” It’s a question many forget to ask but one that Radiate encourages people to explore in every class.

It all started in her living room, where a few friends would gather to practice yoga together. As word spread, the group quickly outgrew the space. Stiefvater asked St. Catharine’s Church if she could use an underutilized classroom in the former parochial school on Second Avenue. With help, she transformed the classroom into a cozy studio filled with yoga mats and yoga essentials, including a statue of Buddha. That same room remains home to Radiate Yoga today.

“I sometimes refer to our yoga studio as “the accidental” studio,” she wrote on Radiate’s website. “I never intended to own a studio. I just knew I loved yoga and so I started to share it. First with friends in my living room and then when it became too small the doors of our studio opened. That saying, ‘if you build it, they will come,’ certainly has been true for us. Over the last 19 years our studio has grown and evolved, just as I have and so many others who decide to join us on their mats.”

The studio welcomes all experience levels. From people trying yoga for the first time to those who have practiced for years, everyone is treated with respect. Stiefvater has seen people come to yoga expecting just a workout, and leave feeling more at ease with themselves.

“They get to work through hardships they were facing,” she said. 

Yoga helped Lisa work through some hardships in her own life.  As a young mother, she developed hip pain and couldn’t figure out how to heal. She got a new mattress, but that didn’t help.  Then an acquaintance recommended a yoga session.  Lisa started going, and the hip healed. Then came a series of personal challenges that threatened to overwhelm her, including the death of a dear friend.  Yoga helped her work through it all.

“I allowed myself not only to just feel the pain and anxiety of those things,” she told interviewer Kathy Brophy in a podcast. “I was able to feel it but also let it move through me instead of getting stuck, because we’re just these human sponges. I found it to be extraordinarily helpful.”

Beyond the class itself, people build real friendships and connect at Radiate. Stiefvater likes it when people stay after the yoga sessions to chat and support each other.

“Lisa is a welcoming woman,” said Beth Wall, a mother of three who began attending Radiate Yoga classes after moving to Pelham 15 years ago. “She’s built a community where you feel connected.”  After facing some of her own hardships, Wall came to rely on Stiefvater and her classes and credited her with “nurturing her soul.”

“Lisa’s been a touchstone for me during some challenging parts of my life,” said Wall. “She’s kept me on the bright side of things. She digs deep, and you find some balance when you’re twisted into a pretzel!  She’s a very special woman.”

Radiate’s impact goes beyond the studio walls. Stiefvater and her team give back to Pelham through donation-based classes several times a year, raising money for local organizations like Hearts and Homes, the Children’s Center, Huguenot Center, Hope Community Services, and St. Catharine’s Church. Giving back has always been important to Stiefvater. The studio also supports global causes, including Charity: Water, which provides clean water to communities in need.

This summer, Radiate began offering free yoga classes at the Pelham gazebo. Open to everyone, these outdoor sessions provide a relaxed and welcoming way to try yoga. The next free class is scheduled for Sunday, August 10th, from 8:30 to 9:30 AM.

Recognizing the challenges teens face, Lisa introduced a special $10 rate for high school students.

 “You don’t have to be flexible or perfect,” she said of the teen program. “You just have to show up.” This is a chance for young people to try something that helps with focus and mental health in a supportive environment.

Lisa strives to keep her classes affordable. She doesn’t accept credit cards, allowing her to avoid extra fees and keep prices lower. She also makes arrangements for anyone facing financial hardship because she believes yoga should be accessible to all.

Running a small business hasn’t been easy, especially during the pandemic. Stiefvater admitted there were times she thought she might have to close. But she kept going because she knew the community needed this space. Her perseverance helped Radiate and its customers come through a difficult time stronger. On its website, Radiate lists 15 instructors, including Lisa and her daughter. 

Looking ahead, Stiefvater hopes to grow Radiate Yoga in meaningful ways. She wants to continue offering donation-based events, reaching more people in the community and deepening the connection between yoga and service.

After all these years, her mission has stayed the same. Radiate Yoga continues to offer a peaceful place for people to feel better, one class at a time. 

Asked what she hopes people will have when they walk out after class, Lisa paused for a moment before answering, “Peace.”