Be True Yoga Opens in Scarsdale

Last Tuesday, Be True Yoga opened its doors to the Scarsdale community.

Where once was a vascular surgery office resided,  now completely eco-friendly haven for Scarsdale's yoga enthusiasts has moved in.

It was 12 years ago that Iris Cohen, owner and instructor of Be True Yoga, began what she calls a "life long journey" with the practice of yoga. It started with taking yoga classes on the advice of a friend while in Sag Harbor, Long Island, where she spends summers. Yoga provided her with a release from the stress of raising three children and working as a business journalist.

However, after living in Scarsdale for 12 years, Cohen was weary of the tiresome commute to and from Long Island and decided to start teaching yoga herself.

She began first by teaching a small but loyal group of locals in a converted room in her home. For four years, her practice continued as such, until she began to crave something more. While spending summers in Sag Harbor, Cohen found that the accessibility of the town, and its central role in the lives of the residents contributed to the overall ambiance of the town itself.

There was a strong sense of community that connected both residents and merchants alike, an element that was decidedly missing from her Scarsdale home.

While she had lived in the area for over a decade, she barely spent any time in town, mainly because it didn't provide any activities that suited her interests. It was with this in mind that she sought to create a studio that would act as this central, connecting force among community members.

Located in Harwood Court, Be True Yoga is dedicated to being an eco-conscious space. From its foundation of bamboo and cork flooring and toxin-free paint,  to the reclaimed pine wood used to create all of the woodwork, this studio is any yoga enthusiast's dream.

As an added bonus feature, all the props are also created out of organic material.

A wide open, free-flowing space, it provides a both a spiritually and aesthetically pleasing experience. Nestled in the corner of the third floor of 14 Harwood Court, the unobtrusive space blends in well with the classic vibe of Scarsdale Village.

In addition to offering yoga classes Monday through Friday, Be True is also seeking other ways in which to reach out to the community.

The studio features various pieces of artwork by local artists, which currently include Janice Lipman and Joan Busing. This is an effort to extend the notion of community beyond the scope of simple yoga and reflects Cohen's personal desire to foster community and provide a gathering place where people can connect over shared interests.

For those considering trying yoga for the first time as well as those who are more experienced, Cohen says, "Yoga is personal, everyone should enter with an open mind and seek to refine and build their skills, the [Be True] yoga community is a very open and receptive one and all skill levels are welcome."