Little Rock yoga studio aims to help with community mental health

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The yoga mats are out and ready to be used at Esoni, a new studio in Little Rock to relax and unwind.

The owner Corey Talbert says he opened two months ago and is using the studio as an outlet for the community to gain better mental health.

"We always talk about mental health being a problem but there's really no solution for it,” Talbert said.

Talbert, who is 24 years old, is inspired to give people a safe space after seeing chaos in the community and overcoming his own depression.

He says there's been a lot of chaos taking place in Little Rock, with the recent school threats.

"We have a lot of hate in the city and a lot of people are angry at each other for no reason at all,” Talbert said.

Statistics from Mental Health America rank Arkansas as the 16th state for higher mental illnesses and lower rates of access to care, a reality Talbert is hoping will change.

Talbert says yoga is a way to help calm the mind and body, and his studio sets the tone with uplifting and encouraging words.

"We need a space like this, we need somewhere where people can come and find themselves and have a community support inside here that supports them,” Talbert said.

He says after growing up in Little Rock he noticed very few decompressing outlets for people his age. Now he’s giving people something he never had.

"Take your health seriously whether that’s your mental health, your physical health, or your spiritual health, nobody has you like you,” Talbert said.

Esoni yoga studio is open every Tuesday and Thursday from 6 to 7 p.m.

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