On the intersection of Baltimore and College Avenue, there lies a mind and body sanctuary for yoga enthusiasts. Since its opening in November 2016, Numi has served as a yoga community for University of Maryland students, faculty, and residents in the area.
Owner and certified yoga instructor, Kelsey Bryant Starr, lived and taught yoga in other Big 10 college towns before bringing her practice to College Park. Starr noticed College Park did not have a yoga studio walkable from the university campus, and she saw an opportunity to apply her skill set and passion for yoga.
Starr notices that along with University of Maryland students, many of Numi’s regulars are neighbors who live within walking distance to the studio. Numi Yoga nurtures a community for individuals interested in the same lifestyle practices. Starr appreciates “the crossover between community members and college students,” and believes a yoga studio is a great space to facilitate those connections.
As Numi Yoga has started to put down roots in the area, Starr and her team have been creating partnerships within the community. Participating at university events, such as the Terps Take Care and Sustainability fairs, allows Starr to reach out to the campus community and cultivate interest in yoga. The studio often collaborates with UMD student organization Yogi Terps to offer free yoga classes and events to students. Numi Yoga will also be teaming up with MilkBoy Arthouse this spring to offer happy hour yoga events once a month.
Owning a business here allows Starr to connect with other local businesses and provide customers with products that are fair trade and locally sourced. “A lot of our bath and body products and artwork are made in D.C. and Maryland.”
Starr is excited about her growing business and network here in College Park. “Because so many people at the university and the city care about how the city is developing, it’s a really cool time to be a part of College Park.”