It seems almost any time a new yoga studio opens here, there's some sort of dustup—whether it’s because one relocates a little too closely to another, or there’s some financial slipperiness, or as is the case with a new Brooklyn spot, teachers defect abruptly en masse from a studio to start their own nearby. It’s not very yogic, but it is very New York—and human.

But out of a recent ruffle of feathers in the latter case, as reported in this week’s New York Observer (the story was published online last week), comes a new studio that’s got Brooklyn yogis all excited. Three teachers from Cobble Hill’s Area yoga are planning to open Mala Yoga on Thursday, November 1st. It’ll be just a few blocks from Area at 162 Court Street, 2nd floor, at the corner of Amity Street.

As per the Observer, those teachers are: “Stephanie Creaturo, 37, who teaches mostly Basics classes; Angela Clark, 30, who tends to teach so-called Open classes, which cater to more advanced students; and Christina Hatgis, 40. All three have a reputation for down-to-earthness and humor—two qualities often lacking in the spiritually elevated.”

The idea is that it will be an unadorned, mixed style community studio. And apparently the journalist-heavy clientele will follow its teachers here.

Here’s Stephanie’s blog to sign up for schedules and updates:
offtheyogamat.blogspot.com/

Here are some pics of the newly renovated space: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7121073@N02/sets/72157602367968567/

And here’s a post from a local blogger on the fabulousness of the teachers and how popular she thinks the new place will be:
abrooklynlife.com/2007/10/new-yoga-studio.html

(Photo from NYO by James Hamilton)