Couple plans to turn church into yoga studio

Plans were unveiled in Parryville for a unique revival to the Parryville United Methodist Church building on Chestnut Street.

Fairy Moon Yoga will be the new name of the vacant church building, which will no longer be utilized for religious practices.

Stacey Valdez and her husband, Joe, whose primary residence is in New Jersey, purchased the 3,200-square-foot space for $68,500 earlier last month. The couple introduced themselves and their vision at Parryville’s borough meeting last month.

“We just love the area,” Valdez said at a recent borough meeting. The couple also own property near the Mauch Chunk Opera House in Jim Thorpe, where they take advantage of the thriving downtown Airbnb market.

“We’ve been visiting Carbon County since 1986. We enjoy being here because there is so much to do. We like the historical presence,” Joe Valdez said.

“We had a vision and thought that the church was a beautiful place to make that vision a reality,” Stacey Valdez said.

“It’s not often that people purchase real estate in the form of a church because we’re not going to be using it for religious purposes,” Valdez said.

While the couple appreciate the innate beauty of the stained-glass windows and white brick exterior, the old church will now serve as a creative space that provides yoga lessons as well as art exhibition space. “We’re incorporating things that have to do with wellness,” Valdez said.

They plan on introducing a yoga studio to the public as their first and primary business venture.

In addition, they may offer Reiki, a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing.

Valdez said, “The church is a sanctuary in and of itself and is perfect for practicing mindfulness and meditation.”

She shared another idea. “We will be able to provide adequate rental space, roughly 10-by-12-foot divided areas similar to storage units, for the duration of the customers’ needs — whether it be a day, a week or a month — for art production of all kinds.”

From budding artists to commercial clientele, these spaces will serve as units available for rent to be utilized for design and workshop space. The 10-by-12 areas will be divided so that private access will be granted utilizing a keypad entry locking system for customers.

“Currently we have three art spaces that we’ll be offering soon after we open. We’re even thinking about branching out and hosting things like senior workshops and possibly even facilitating various community events in the future. Who knows where this will take us, as we’re very excited to be in the community,” she said.

The couple said they will be seeking out yoga instructors for hire in the area.

They hope to gain attention through the Carbon County Arts League, a local nonprofit visual arts organization whose mission is to support, nurture and promote local artists and the historical value to behold within the community.