Behind the name One Tree Yoga by: Alison King Tigges
I am often asked about the name of our studio, One Tree Yoga. OTY if you are in the know So, a quick story for you!
One Tree Yoga opened on 50th and Dodge in 2000 and was originally called Bikram Yoga Omaha. Hot yoga was what we did! After some years, it became apparent that the studio and its teachers wanted to offer more than just one style of yoga. There are so many after all! That was when the studio changed its name to One Tree Yoga.
The meaning then is the same as the meaning now. The tagline was: “One tree, many branches”. This signified that there are many styles of yoga and ways to practice it (hot, vinyasa, yin, restorative, Ashtanga, wall ropes, meditation) but it all comes from the same tree. The branches are separate, but they all connect to the same roots, the same tree.
This name also signifies that we, as practitioners of yoga, are all connected through this practice. We are all different, come from varied backgrounds, with different personalities and preferences. But we all come together in this space to practice yoga. We have a shared vision to take care of ourselves physically, mentally, and emotionally. And when we take care of ourselves, we can show up better in the world.
When Gabe and I took over the business in 2018, we knew our goal was to hold true to the roots of what the studio name is all about. One tree, many branches. It is why we feel so strongly about having MANY styles of yoga represented, with many ways of teaching those styles. Our goal was/is to continue to make yoga accessible to all. We strive to teach yoga not from just one lineage, but from the basic yoga philosophy of the eight-limbed path. Asana (the poses) being just a small piece of the puzzle.
We are proud of this studio, its name, and the meaning behind it. We have a wonderful staff of dedicated teachers who also help keep the branches alive, but who also work together as one unit. We have dedicated students who show up consistently, as a tree needs water to grow. We aim to train new yoga teachers each year, with this principle in mind.