Sage - Wellness & Yoga Center (Sage) in Dubai founded by Irina and Karina, offers a holistic space where yoga, spa access, and osteopathic massages come together to nurture balance and well-being. Rooted in various styles of yoga and designed with nature-inspired elements, the center fosters inclusivity and community through adaptable classes, serene aesthetics, and thoughtful services. With rooftop events, mantra concerts, and special initiatives, Sage is a true haven in the heart of the city.
This month, Manduka connected with the founders to uncover the story behind this inspiring space. Dive into their journey below!
How did you both discover yoga, and what was your journey from students to teachers, and eventually to studio founders?
Irina is a dedicated yogi for more than 10 years, and she brought Karina into practice. We never taught yoga ourselves - we are passionate students, who wanted to give Dubai truly aesthetic and at the same time spiritual place for practicing yoga and combining it with other wellness rituals: for example, with every our yoga class goes complimentary spa access with a cold plunge, sauna and hammam, which truly helps to get full potential from the practice.
Is there a special teacher or guide that was instrumental in developing and sustaining your personal practices?
One of our closes friends - Tatiana, who is also a teacher in our studio, welcomed us into Jivamukti yoga and inspired into deepening the practice, as well as into opening this studio. One of Sage’s goals is getting Dubai to know more about Jivamukti yoga, as in our opinion it is highly beneficial and inspiring type of yoga, which is still overlooked in the region.
Why did you choose Manduka as your studio equipment partner?
We use Manduka in our personal practice, and Manduka mats are the most durable among all others. Our special love goes to eKO® Superlite travel mats, as it’s super useful while travelling. So when we were choosing the equipment partner another brand was out of the question, we knew from the start we want Manduka. And of course the PROlite® Black Sage color of the mats was quite a nice touch!
Can you share the story behind Sage? What was the inspiration to open the space for the community?
We wanted to create a space for embracing a healthy and mindful lifestyle, so we put together three components: physical wellness through traditional and osteopathic massage, mental tranquility with stress-reducing practices of yoga, and holistic health benefits from the sauna and cold plunge.
What is the goal or mission of Sage - Wellness & Yoga Center?
To give people a way to feel peace and relaxation in a bustling city; To show that one’s inner power is enough for a balanced life; To show, how to age beautifully, without filters or enhancements.
The yoga space and aesthetics are beautiful, can you tell us what your inspiration was for the design?
Our main inspiration is nature. This is something lacking in Dubai, so we chose only natural material for our studio: natural wood, live plants, 100% cotton and earthy tones.
Tell us about Sage and the energy it brings to the local yoga community. When people enter the center, what do you want them to feel?
Homey and cosy feeling, so they can relax and feel themselves, without a need to pretend to be someone else.
You offer more than just yoga, what other offerings do you provide your community? Can you tell us a bit more about these?
We also offer traditional classic massage combined with osteopathic techniques, creates a holistic approach that addresses both muscular tension and structural imbalances in the body, promoting overall well-being and relaxation. Our treatments include myofascial, sculpt, buccal face technics, as well as lymphatic, deep tissue, osteopathic body treatments. We also offer a spa, which includes a cold plunge (6 degrees celsius), sauna and hammam, as a complimentary service with every yoga practice or massage treatment.
How has the vision for the Sage evolved since it first opened? Have there been any key moments that shaped this evolution?
Right now we are still young: it’s been only 3 months since we have opened. So I’d say that for now we are still on the track with what we expected it to be!
What do you want students to take away from an experience at Sage?
An understanding, that you are enough. You are strong, beautiful and very powerful just the way you are. And we are here to support and guide in this path.
What is Sage’s yoga teaching philosophy, and how does it influence the class offerings and community events?
Our teachers vary in their approach, background and type of class they provide. But one of the things mutual for all our teachers is the approach to always support a student and pay attention on what is going on in the class. Almost all our classes are suitable for every level of practice - due to adaptability of our teachers, who always adapt practice and asanas for the current level of the students. We also encourage hands-on assists for adjusting the students, chanting and setting intentions for the practice - those are the things that help you to go deeper in the practice not only physically, but mentally as well.
What are your hopes and aspirations for the future of Sage?
Our main aspiration is to create a welcoming and nurturing space where each guest feels completely at ease. Since we've just opened, our primary goal is to grow in a way that keeps our values and guest experience at the forefront. We want Sage to continue to evolve, offering more refined experiences and new services that will bring even more joy and well-being to our visitors. Above all, we hope to become a reliable sanctuary for our community, where everyone can find peace, balance, and a moment to reconnect with themselves.
Are there any upcoming projects or events to mention to the community?
- 12 December: Mantra chanting on a rooftop under the stars
Join us on December 12th at 6:00 PM for a mesmerizing mantra concert with Anna Zvizhinskaya (Toshani). Immerse yourself in the sacred sounds of Sanskrit mantras, traditional Vedic chanting, and heartfelt harmonies with Toshani. Live music featuring vocals, tabla, and harmonium awaits you on Sage’s rooftop. Don’t miss this soulful evening!
- 14 December: Kundalini practice: Absolute balance
Achieve harmony in body, mind, and spirit with Kundalini Yoga and Gong Meditation. Strengthen your aura, detoxify your body, and balance your nervous system. This practice includes a heart-centered meditation to awaken inner wisdom and a Gong Meditation to seal balance and fulfillment, leaving you radiant and grounded.
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20 December: Jivamukti yoga & healthy breakfast
Join us outdoors for a Jivamukti yoga session followed by a healthy breakfast by Angel Cakes in the beautiful and lush setting of Dubai Hills park. Fresh air, dynamic practice and tasty bites are all you need to finish the year on a wellness note.
Is there anything else you'd like to share with the community about Sage?
We also have a magnificent rooftop area with Burj Khalifa view, which will be used for meditations, mantra concerts and other events. This space, as well as other spaces of our villa, is also available for rentals. Come by and join us!
Listen
Connect
- Studio website: villasage.ae
- Instagram handle: @villa.sage
- Location: 136 Jumeirah street, villa 23. Dubai, UAE.
- Yoga class offering: Jivamukti, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Power, Rocket, Yin, Nidra, Hatha, Prenatal, Deep stretch, Viniyoga, Kundalini.
Sage - Wellness & Yoga Center is equipped with corporate branded Manduka PRO™ yoga mats, meditation cushions, recycled foam yoga blocks, enlight™ rectangular bolsters, unfold yoga straps and eQua® hand towels. The space also retails Manduka equipment for purchase. Learn more about our yoga studio equipment program.
