THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, March 10, 2023 Page 9 YOGA | FROM PAGE 2 ing your own business. I have a lot I could discuss.” Also stopping by to visit that day were Malden Mayor Gary Christenson and the city’s Strategy and Business Development Officer, Kevin Duffy. “We are lucky to have such a great business like Soul City Yoga which is so accessible in diff erent ways right in the center of the downtown,” Duff y said. “Soul City Yoga has been a great business partner for the city of Malden,” said Mayor Christenson. “We are certain they will continue to be successful and thrive in downtown Malden.” Anderson noted that city offi - cials, including Duff y, the Mayor and others, have been extremely helpful in both getting her and Bailey’s business started and then assisting further in keeping Soul City Yoga viable during the pandemic years. The assistance was of key importance considering the business opened at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in September 2000, when not much was known about the virus and the future of any type of business. “We just went full steam ahead with our opening as planned, not knowing what the future held, and it turned out fi ne for us,” Anderson said. “The attention of Malden city offi cials made all the diff erence.” Anderson grew up in Lynn and was impressed and invigorated by the therapeutic value of the art of yoga in classes she took there. She fell in love with yoga, to the point of wanting to teach and instruct the Hindu-originated discipline. From there, she used her business acumen and opened the original Soul City Yoga studio in Lynn, before partnering with Bailey, who formerly was a fulltime practicing attorney, as well as a lifelong friend. “I spent a lot of time in yoga classes before becoming an instructor myself,” Anderson said in an interview with the Malden High School newspaper, The Blue and Gold, shortly after Soul City Yoga’s opening in 2000. A key reason why Anderson decided to open a yoga studio was the lack of diversity she perceived in yoga “There weren’t a lot of Black women in the class,” she recalled in The Blue and Gold story. She said classes never felt overly “welcoming” since she was a Black woman herself. “I wanted to change that.” Anderson said, “If you have a dream or an idea, be patient, follow through and don’t give up.” Filmbuilding Malden, Collaborative Filmmaking Project Seeks Filmbuilders U rban Media Arts (UMA, formerly Malden Access TV) is excited to announce the theme and 2023 schedule for the “Filmbuilding Malden: Our City in Motion” program, a unique, citywide program that strengthens the Malden community through collaborative fi lmmaking projects, fi lm screenings and public media art events. This program will take place May through October 2023. Made possible by funding from the City of Malden, this program brings people of different backgrounds together to explore and share stories that when combined off er a fantastic lens to “Who is Malden.” Filmbuilders co-create short films with the support of professional fi lmmakers. The fi lms will be premiered at special venues around the city in front of live audiences, sparking fresh dialogue and ideas that showcase the richness of our community. In addition to opportunities to explore and engage more deeply with the community, Filmbuilders will also receive mentorship from experienced local fi lmmakers, training, workshops and a stipend for their work. No prior fi lmmaking experience is necessary. Filmbuilding Malden is seeking curious individuals with stories to tell who are interested in meeting new people, exploring their community and working with a small group to collaborate on a short fi lm together. Prospective Filmbuilders should be connected to Malden in some way. Information sessions for prospective applicants will be held on Saturday, March 11 from 4-5:30 p.m. at UMA (145 Pleasant St.), and on Thursday, March 16 from 7-8 p.m. on Zoom. Those interested should apply by April 20, 2023. For more information visit bit.ly/whoismalden, email Ose at ose@umaverse.org or call 781-480-3214.
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