Hopkins yoga studio practices, raises funds for victims of Tallahassee shooting

HOPKINS, Minn. (KMSP) - After gun violence claimed lives and traumatized members of a yoga studio in Tallahassee, Florida, the owners of Good Vibrations Yoga in Hopkins knew they had to send relief.

By candlelight, Good Vibrations practices their passion with a purpose against the senseless rampage.

Andrew Seifert, the studio owner said, “Probably shock was the biggest thing. Why of all places a yoga studio?”

“The first thing I thought of was, this could be any studio. This could be our studio,” Seifert said.

Candles of hope flickered Sunday in honor of the lives lost Nov. 2 inside Hot Yoga Tallahassee: 21-year-old Florida State University student Maura Binkley and 61-year-old Dr. Nancy van Vessem.

“We want to send an inspiring message to say we do not give in to things like this, this is not okay,” Seifert added.

The shooter injured five others, before turning the gun on himself. The tragedy was one of a string of violent events. This included the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre that killed 11, and a California bar shooting that left 12 dead.

“We can’t let these things win,” Seifert said. “We can’t stop what we need to do every day, to live in fear.”

The people at Good Vibrations are not desensitized in the least and they were all there Sunday to lift their hearts in support.

“Who would go into a yoga studio and shoot it up?” asked Jaime Reinbold, a yoga student. “And to find out it was a veteran, too, was even more shocking.”

With a collective breath, students like Jaime Reinbold hope yoga brings healing.

“I’m also a veteran... also being it’s Veterans Day, I just wanted to come out in the community and try to show support any way I can,” Reinbold added.

Sunday, yoga served as an act of respect for each life needlessly wounded in their community at large.

“The message is really we just keep moving,” said Seifert. “If we battle things with love, then there’s no room for the other part.”

Proceeds from the donation class will go to Hot Yoga Tallahassee, as studios around the country also extend relief to those yet grieving and recovering from the devastation.