Old Town Yoga to bring sound-based classes to Basalt

When Carlie Urell received an SBA loan to fund Old Town Yoga, she described it as a full circle moment after she used to give out the same loans to women-owned businesses through the Economic Community and Development Institute, a non-profit. 

Now, her vision of Old Town Yoga, a new yoga studio set to open on Monday, May 4, on the Basalt Riverwalk, will offer a unique collection of classes rooted in music and community-building that brings her back to herself after decades pursuing other careers. 

“I started off my career as a teacher, and then I got sidetracked by the business world for 20 years, and now I’m coming back to myself,” Urell said. “I want to invite people, through music and through yoga, to also come back to themselves.”

The studio’s primary style will center around Bhakti yoga, or “yoga of devotion,” which involves chanting and music, according to Urell.

“What I believe brings people together is music,” she shared. “And I know this valley is a special place for music between all of the events that go on here and all of the talent that comes through here. I want to bring that aspect of music and sound into the yoga practice.”

Old Town Yoga will offer a variety of themed classes in collaboration with local entities, including a class for mothers and babies. Through a partnership with Eagle County’s “Healthy Aging” program, the studio will also launch a complimentary class for seniors with a suggested $5 donation, in addition to other affordable options including a non-senior donation-based class and online video classes. 

The studio will partner with Craft Wellness as well, another Basalt-based yoga studio, to extend classes to children. “Kids Music and Movement” will introduce children to various instruments and music theory alongside mobility and breathwork. 

For Urell, the children’s classes represent a return to her roots as an elementary school teacher. She earned her Master’s in Education from John Hopkins University and has taught in Austin, Baltimore, Columbus and Washington, D.C. After her teaching career, she pivoted to selling business materials to the construction industry, which led her to the Roaring Fork Valley in 2018.  

In 2019, she completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training with Bel Carpenter, the owner of White Horse Yoga in Carbondale. 

“That  kind of changed the trajectory of my life,” Urell said. “I fell in love with yoga and teaching, and it’s been a dream of mine to open a studio for the past eight years now.”

She expressed gratitude for the wellness community in Basalt, with a special nod to Vimana Yoga where she previously taught and practiced under the owner, Emily Longfellow. 

“I think what feels unique about Basalt and the growth of the wellness hub is that it isn’t driven by large luxury developments but by locals building smaller, intentional spaces,” Urell said. “I think it’s becoming more of a grounded, everyday counterpoint to Aspen’s high-end wellness scene because we have these deep-rooted community anchor points like Vimana that’s been there for 30 years.” 

Over the next few weeks, she plans to interview prospective yoga teachers and gradually ramp up production. 

Old Town Yoga’s class schedule can be found at app.arketa.co/oldtownyogabasalt/schedule, or follow them on Instagram @oldtownyogabasalt.