A home studio in Singapore
Nestled within a condominium compound on the East Coast of Singapore is a boutique yoga studio that turned eight in January this year. Students are greeted by their names when they first step into the home-like studio, decorated with beautiful paintings, oriental rugs, cozy sofas and inviting lampshades. After each class, students get to enjoy home-brewed tea and essential oil-scented chilled towels.
By Kavita Chandran
This is the ambience at Kate Porter Yoga studio that carries a tagline ‘Yoga for Normal People’, because the teachers strongly believe that yoga is an approachable activity that can be adjusted to any person, regardless of their fitness level, size, age or shape.
Who is Kate Porter ?
The brainchild behind the studio, Kate Porter began her yoga journey in 2000 as a result of a debilitating illness which wasn’t diagnosed for many years. After finally learning that she was suffering from Systemic Lupus, an autoimmune disease, and Fibromyalgia which leads to acute musculoskeletal pain, Kate decided to heal herself holistically. Although moving was a painful ordeal, she was determined that her quality of life depended upon being active. She began doing a few simple yoga poses just from her bed.
As positive changes became evident, she began attending yoga classes, which eventually created the desire to attend a yoga teacher training. Although it was only meant to be a new learning experience, Kate found that friends started to ask her to teach them a few poses. At the end of her teacher training, these friends continued to come back every week and insisted on paying her as she was now officially a qualified ‘teacher’.
From four students, there were 150 that flocked to her apartment every week. Her husband, Tom Porter, encouraged her to start her own studio in the hall of their home that could accommodate about 16 students. It soon became apparent that a larger dedicated studio space was required, and so Kate Porter Yoga studio became a reality in 2011 at 5000G Marine Parade Road.
Sadly in 2015, Kate’s health began to deteriorate after three very difficult pregnancies. Doctors advised she move to a drier climate and step away from the business in order to focus on her health and family. Kate and family moved back home to South Africa, leaving the management of the studio in the capable hands of fellow teacher, Li Ling Soon, a vibrant and calming Singaporean who subscribed to the same beliefs as Kate.
“We strive to keep a personal connection with our students, especially when dealing with injuries, illnesses or pregnancies,” says Li Ling, who continues to run the studio. “If a pose doesn’t work for an individual, it can be modified. Yoga is not a one-size-fits-all practice, otherwise students can often become discouraged or even injured.”
This article was first published in the print edition of Yoga Journal Singapore, which is now Yogahood Online.
