Community Spotlight: Nokomis Yoga

Seventeen years ago, Solveig Corbin opened Nokomis Yoga, a sanctuary dedicated to bringing the transformative power of yoga to people of all ages and backgrounds. Her journey to opening the studio, however, began with a deeply personal struggle that led her to discover the profound benefits of yoga in her own life.

For years, Solveig faced a debilitating health issue: she woke up one morning to find that she couldn't feel her hands. After visiting several neurologists and trying physical therapy, she turned to alternative medicine in search of relief, but nothing seemed to help. Desperate, she began practicing yoga and Pilates—not initially for healing, but simply to escape her constant discomfort.

“I was just trying to get out of my head about it,” Solveig recalls. However, as she began to deepen her practice, she realized something extraordinary was happening. “I started feeling my body more. I started slowing down. I started becoming still with my body,” she says. It was then that she recognized that all the treatments she had tried up until that point hadn’t worked because she was not in tune with her body. By focusing on truly listening to her body, she found a way to heal.

Solveig discovered her inner being through Svaroopa® Yoga, a style of meditation-based yoga focused on the spine. Through the use of props and holding poses longer than in traditional yoga, Svaroopa® Yoga helps to release deep-seated tensions in the spine and body that many people are unaware of. It was through this style of yoga that Solveig found relief from chronic back pain, muscle stiffness and the neck tension that had affected her hands—profound relief that no other medical or non-medical modality had provided.

“I had never experienced anything like it,” she says. “It was life-changing.” Solveig immersed herself in yoga training and opened Nokomis Yoga to share her newfound wisdom with others. Today, the studio offers a variety of classes, from gentle Slow-Flow sessions to the dynamic Ashtanga style.

At Nokomis Yoga, the focus is on creating an inclusive and non-intimidating environment where anyone, regardless of their age or ability, can practice yoga and find peace. “We’re not super yogis,” Solveig laughs about how the average person may be intimidated by the studio, “We’re just normal people like

them who want to share what we’ve found and how to live in the world in a more peaceful place inside.”

The studio has eight kinds of yoga classes and a Tai Chi class. These classes are taught by eight different teachers—each specializing in the types of yoga they teach. Each teacher brings their own unique style to the studio, providing a diverse range of teachings that cater to different needs and preferences. “It’s all about integrating our systems,” Solveig explains. “It’s not just for your body, it’s for your body, mind, and soul.”

Solveig discussed the history of yoga. Starting 5,000 years ago in India, it is a practice of turning inward. “It’s about going beyond your body and mind,” she explains, “to know your true nature beyond your mind and conditioning, which is the goal of yoga. And along the way there are so many benefits. People can take as little or as much as they need from yoga.” Whether students are new to yoga or seasoned practitioners, the aim is to help them become more present in their bodies and in their lives, providing relief from the stresses of the modern world. “It’s preventative medicine at a profoundly physiological level,” Solveig notes. “We can take care of our bodies, empower ourselves, and be more proactive in how we approach life.”

From her own journey of healing to the creation of Nokomis Yoga, Solveig’s story serves as a reminder that it’s never too late to begin taking care of yourself—physically, mentally, and spiritually. Whether you’re struggling with chronic pain or simply looking for a more peaceful life, Nokomis Yoga offers a welcoming space for every body.