Laughing Dog Yoga

BIG NEWS - Laughing Dog Closed / Stepping Stone Studios Open ~ Thank You for 23 Years
2025-12-31 00:00 - 23:30 UTC | Stepping Stone Studios – 316 Washington St. Wellesley
Greetings – below is the letter I wrote to the community announcing our closure after 23 remarkable years at 151-159 Linden St. 2nd Flr, Wellesley. Please read for full details about out need to close and the opening of Stepping Stone Studios.
It is now November and Stepping Stone Studios opened 6 weeks ago (see details in letter below). Most of the teachers from LDY are now teaching there, including me. It is a beautiful space, full of light, with great classes and fabulous teachers.
We would LOVE to have you join us as you continue your journey to great health and well being.
Go to: https://www.vagaro.com/steppingstonestudios/classes to check out the classes, teachers, create an account and sign up for classes. They are offering GREAT Studio Opening Specials – 1. Unlimited Monthly for $65 1. Unlimited Yearly for $2000.
Thank you so much for commitment and support.
In Gratitude and Love,
Jennifer
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Greetings to the Laughing Dog Yoga Community from Jennifer (written 7/6/25)
It is with much reflection and gratitude, I am writing to let you know that Laughing Dog Yoga Studio will be closing its doors on September 30, 2025.
As I sit in the studio, I am filled with a multitude of feelings and memories about the 23 remarkable years we have called 151-159 Linden St. in Wellesley our home. I want to express so much, yet don’t know where to begin or end.
I will start by saying my decision, was made with care, thought, guidance and deep trust in what is unfolding and lies ahead. It comes in part because, with the recent sale of the building where we are located, the new owners (without telling us) made an agreement with another business to lease our space, making it impossible to stay, and leaving LDY without a home. Our last day is 9/30. That said, I have faith in my heart I can step into a new phase of my life. And as life would have it – when one door closes, another opens. More on that below after I take a moment to honor everything that Laughing Dog is and has been.
For over two decades, LDY has been my heart and soul. What started as a small studio has grown into something far greater than I ever imagined and so much more than a yoga studio. It has been a sacred space of community, connection, healing, laughter, compassion, and shared transformation.
I realize I am speaking to many who have been with us since we opened in 2002. There are also those who walked through our doors for the first time last week and then there is everyone in between. That said, the relationships built within these walls, the classes shared, the moments of stillness, tears and joy, of breathing together as we moved through our practice, have been the lifeblood of Laughing Dog. I am endlessly grateful for the community we have created and for all the love and dedication you have brought into this space. You have made the studio what it is – warm, welcoming and full of spirit.
Owning, and teaching at, LDY has been an extraordinary journey and one of the greatest privileges of my life. I have been blessed to share in your journeys and our life stories. I could never have done it without you and without our wonderful teachers. As you know, LDY has an incredible and dedicated staff who have always brought their best to their classes and provided a safe place to land. And though I can’t speak for others, I have talked with all of them, and their commitment to teaching remains as strong as ever.
As we prepare to say goodbye to Laughing Dog, I want to share about a new beginning which brings me to my earlier comment – when one door closes, another opens. Many of you know Marissa Farrell. She was the first teacher at LDY, 23 years ago, and has been a driving force in our success and longevity ever since. Her dedication, commitment, masterful teaching and support behind the scenes has been beyond measure, so when she came to me with a new vision and possibility, I listened and took it to heart. In fact, I was all in. Given that we were no longer able to stay at 151-159 Linden St, I knew the time was right to close and support the opening of a new yoga and fitness studio in Wellesley instead of trying to find a new location for Laughing Dog.
Many of you may know Stepping Stone Acupuncture and Wellness, a locally loved business, located at 316 Washington St. Wellesley – across the street from the Unitarian Church. They are expanding and opening Stepping Stone Studios for Yoga, Fitness and Being Well. The opening date is the 1st week in October, with Marissa as Director. Under her thoughtful and inspiring leadership, this will be a welcoming space for everyone, with a full schedule of great yoga, fitness, functional flow, meditation and other movement classes. I am also happy to share that many of the teachers you know and love at LDY will be teaching there, including me. Along with familiar teachers and classes, there will be new offerings, new teachers and a variety of innovative programs. Marissa has exciting plans and is creating a beautiful, new, unique home for students and teachers seeking a vital community that prioritizes and explores what is means to Be Well.
For Stepping Stone Studios details go to: https://www.steppingstonewellesley.com/studios
Also, join the Studios email list by filling out this form: https://forms.gle/4nRW3C9FpXn7kNyt8
Though we are near the end, we are not at the end. We are still open through September so please come to class. We would love to see you. If you have 5, 10 or Monthly class cards they are valid thru 9/30/25 so use them up before then since we will not be giving refunds for unused classes.
Finally on a more personal note, though I will no longer own a studio, I am thrilled to continue teaching and hope you will join me and other LDY teachers at Stepping Stone Studios. I will also be focusing on my work as a Death Doula and Grief Educator, supporting individuals and families through one of life’s most profound transitions and providing a space for all of us to open up conversations about death as a part of life. It is a path that calls to me and I am grateful to be able to explore it more fully. Stay tuned – details of upcoming programs coming soon.
I speak for all the teachers in saying thank you for being a part of this incredible journey over the years. Thank you for your presence, dedication, kindness and trust. Thank you for showing up – in all the ways that matter – and being a part of this beautiful community and thank you for being YOU.
Check back to the website and your inbox for emails throughout September, with updates, LDY memories from students and teachers and more.
With all my love and appreciation,
Jennifer and the LDYoga Team 💞 🙏
