In this Studio Spotlight, we journey to Florence, Italy, where ancient wisdom meets contemporary ritual at The22. Co-founded by two women, from different backgrounds, the studio blends Eastern wellness and Western fitness in a thoughtfully curated space. Discover how The22 continues to inspire intentional living in the heart of Tuscany.
How did you [Aparna Thadani] discover yoga, and what was your journey from student to teacher to studio owner?
My journey with yoga started at the age of 14. Maybe it was a calling from my Indian heritage, an opportunity to understand my roots but for some reason I decided to show up to class one day, by myself, and the practice had me hooked. Yoga accompanied me throughout my studies in Singapore and onwards to the UK where I started to discover Ashtanga and Yin Yoga and learned about the intersection of Chinese and Indian medicine. I was drawn to the wisdoms of these ancient holistic wellness practices as I experienced imbalances in my body that western medicine could not pinpoint. While my career has taken me to different sectors ranging from the non profit to tech sectors, wellness rituals have also been an important part of my personal everyday life.
A confluence of factors led me to opening The22 with my partner Lucinda Pasi. She comes from the fitness space and western model of wellness and when we met I was training with her partner, now husband who has studied tacfit, flowfit and martial arts. His workouts began to influence my yoga asana practice and being in a western environment, Florence, gave us the idea to open this cross-cultural wellness centre where we offer eastern practices in an approachable, western way, so we could really connect with our community. It was a piped dream of mine and hers separately to open a space, and so when we met, it seemed the stars aligned and we gave each other the courage and support we needed to co-create and turn those dreams into a reality together.
Was there a special teacher or guide who influenced your practice?
When I look back at my yoga journey, the three most influential practitioners I had were my teachers at Verita in Singapore who were trained in the Anusara school of yoga (now closed); my discovery of Sarah Powers’ yin yoga in the UK and the first Ashtanga teacher I had there too.
Why did you choose Manduka as your studio equipment partner?
I first used Manduka yoga mats in a studio in Singapore 16 years ago. I loved them so much I purchased them for my personal use and still have them today! The quality for me is hands down the best.
What inspired the creation of The22?
The22 was founded by my partner and I, two women from seemingly different worlds: myself, a yogini heralding from Singapore, and Lucinda Pasi, an ex-gymnast from Borgo San Lorenzo. Together, we wanted to marry our knowledge and understanding of wellness to birth a richer holistic system. While The22’s underlying philosophy is inspired by the basic principles of Ayurveda and holistic living, we found that the practices of both western fitness and eastern wellness benefit from the influence of the other – creating mindful fitness classes set to candlelight and yoga classes infused with modern tribal beats. While this may seem niche for a city like Florence, it is in fact the very Italian culture of Florence that allows the Indian health principles of ayurveda to thrive. The Italian way of living, or dolce vita as some like to call it, is in fact living a life of mindfulness, taking one’s time to enjoy the sweetness of life and the presence of the moment.
How did the name “The22” come about, and what does it represent?
The22 represents a few symbols in our lives. Firstly, both Lucinda and I were born on the 22nd of different months; it is the location in our address and in numerology, it is a master number: The Master Builder. It represents the vast potential to make one’s loftiest dreams into a reality.
How would you describe the energy of The22 studio space? What do you want people to feel when they enter?
We are more than a studio, we are a haven for our members. The energy of The22 is pure magic (of course, I am biased!) but while we are like a family, we are constantly growing, there is a dynamism and excitement in the air. The team are from all over the world and this diversity brings an acceptance, calm and understanding to the underlying energy of the space.
What is the studio’s mission or goal?
Our mission is to create pathways to integrate practices of well-being, delight in culture and play into our everyday lives to elevate the human experience and everything we do.
The22 beautifully merges fitness and yoga—how do you find that balance in your classes and offerings?
Our underlying philosophy is really to bridge the gap between the two practices. So while we offer distinct classes, we also combine the two to create unique experiences such as strength classes by candlelight, yoga to tribal beats or cross teaching between teachers from different schools. A typical experience with us at The22 will provide both a yang and yin practice followed by time for connection over an aperitivo, circle or workshop, embodying three of our main pillars of wellness.
What do you want students to take away from their experience at the studio?
We want our members to take the practices they learn with us home, so that they can keep building and adding to their wellness toolbox and harness daily rituals to create a little more magic in their day.
Can you describe the teaching philosophy at the studio?
Our teaching philosophy is inclusive, focussed on the teachers’ strengths and personality while we maintain a certain level of curation of the experience to heighten the senses. This means focussing on music, how the teacher speaks, the ebb and flow of energy in the class and aromas. We celebrate individuality all in a safe container where members know they will be attending a curated yet dynamic session or event.
The studio space is beautiful—How important is design and ambiance in supporting the kind of experience you aim to create?
Thank you! The22 is not just a studio but strives to inspire a certain way of living, one that is more inspired and intentional. In the space we provide corners for introspection with interesting books, affirmation cards and incense to purify the space energetically. We also included all the natural elements into the design of the space in some way, be it stone on the reception, wood on the floors, fire with candles, to allow for a reconnection to our roots, despite being in the centre of the city.
What’s next for The22? Are there any upcoming events, classes, or initiatives you’re excited about?
We are always plotting and planning what is next, and in September this year we are coming up to our fourth year anniversary! To celebrate, we are hosting our second Wellness Summit, a day to showcase the best of what we do, bring together the esoteric and physical. The theme is The Anima Blueprint, a remembrance of our internal wisdom and a call back to our body’s intuition.
Listen
Connect
- Website: www.the-22.com
- Instagram: @the22_collective
- Address: Via de’ Ginori, 22, Florence 50123
- The22 is outfitted with PROlite yoga mats, cork blocks, AligN straps and enlight rectangular bolsters
Learn more about the Manduka Studio Equipment Program.
