The ‘Center’ for Anusara Yoga no longer holds lease

ENCINITAS — In what appears to be further transitioning for the maligned Anusara, Inc. after being rocked by the abrupt resignation of its founder and CEO John Friend following allegations of ethical misconduct, the location of what was to be known as the “Center” in Encinitas is no longer being leased by the company.As CEO, Friend had intended to open the “Center” as a state-of-the-art yoga studio, offering classes and Anusara-based instruction in the fall of 2011.

In October 2010, Anusara, Inc. signed a 73-year lease of the 8,269-square-foot property on 1010 S. Coast Highway 101 for $1.86 million with Cassidy/Turley Commercial Real Estate Services. The property is now being re-listed for lease on the real estate company’s website.

Anusara, Inc., which is based in the Woodlands, Texas, released a statement in March saying that the company plans to transform into a nonprofit organization, and will move forward without the involvement of Friend.

Wendy Willtrout, who has taken over as manager of Anusara, Inc., was unavailable for comment.

Friend founded Anusara yoga, a hatha-style form of yoga in 1997. Its website lists having hundreds of thousands of students practicing the yoga worldwide and includes more than 1,000 certified teachers.

Anusara yoga is taught throughout North County.

Desiree Rumbaugh, a certified Anusara yoga instructor, who practices and teaches the yoga internationally and at the Yoga Del Mar studio said that the reasons for the yoga’s popularity is that it is a highly effective method for learning to practice and teach yoga in a way that heals, as well as relieves, pain in the body while building strength and flexibility.

“The Tantric philosophy of Anusara teaches us that we are all free to choose how we think about, respond to or behave in any situation,” she said. “Therefore we do not have to feel victimized by any event that life may present.”

A third reason the yoga is popular, Rumbaugh added, is because of its encouragement to connect with each other as teachers and students. “Many other styles of yoga also emphasize these components,” she said. “What makes us different might just be the way we put it all together.”