Four women sit on mats and blankets inside UnionStudio Yoga in Andover, chatting and laughing in a mix of Japanese and English.
Since November, they and other local Japanese students have been coming here to take yoga classes conducted in their native language by North Andover resident Yoshiko Gray.
Gray, 41, started out as a student in a class at UnionStudio, said co-founder Connie Glore. And through Gray's word of mouth, Glore's class eventually had nine native Japanese speakers.
Gray stood out.
"This is a case of the student now surpassing the teacher," Glore said. "Yoshiko's yoga is absolutely beautiful."
Although the Japanese students enjoyed the yoga classes, Gray realized that language was an issue for many of them. Awareness, relaxation and being centered are important in yoga practice, she said. But trying to translate the English-language instruction often kept them from reaching a deeper level of concentration.
That's when Gray, who began her yoga teacher training in May 2008, approached Glore and fellow co-founder Trish MacNeil about teaching a class in Japanese. They thought it was a great idea, and added one class-per-week in November. Now it's so popular that they added a second class in January.
Gray moved to the United States in 1996, when her American husband was transferred here from his office in Japan. She's a mom of two children, ages 14 and 11, and has met many other Japanese women who are putting down roots in the area.
One of those women is Miki Boldi, a 39-year-old software engineer from Middleton. Although Boldi has taken yoga classes before, she tries to attend Gray's Japanese-language classes regularly and prefers classes in Japanese.
"I can listen better," she said. "And I can relax better, too."
Chiharu Kobayashi, 47, a homemaker from Andover, agrees. She speaks mostly Japanese, and when classes are in English, has to watch the instructor. Hearing instruction in Japanese allows her to close her eyes and focus, she said through Gray's translation.
The classes aren't just about yoga, however.
"It's social," says Naomi Nakamura, 43, an Andover homemaker. "Everyone is so busy." Getting together for yoga allows the women to meet up with their Japanese friends, chat in their native language, and meet new people.
Gray thinks she's helping to build community with her classes.
"Some people don't know each other," Gray said. "They are living in the same town but they never meet before, so I think it's a great opportunity for them."
If you go
What: Japanese classes at UnionStudio Yoga with Yoshiko Gray.
Where: 305 North Main St., Tactician Corporation Building, Andover.
When: Tuesdays 10 a.m. and Fridays, 9 a.m.
Information: Visit unionstudioyoga.com or call 978-886-7944.
