Our Story
Namaspa, LLC was founded in 2006 with the mission of helping people realize their full potential in health and well-being through yoga and massage services. The name Namaspa (nah-ma-spa) is an original word (TM) that signifies the company's dual heritage of yoga and massage. The gesture "Namaste" (nah-ma-stay) is given by students at the end of yoga classes, and means "the light within me honors the light within you". The word "spa" is today commonly accepted as an establishment that provides services for improved health, beauty and relaxation. Namaspa therefore brings these concepts together, dedicated to helping each person reach their full potential for living and appreciating life. Our extended name, Namaspa Yoga Community, makes us the West Coast "NYC", carrying on a tradition for diversity, boundless options and eclectic character.
From the Founder
"I'm Suzie Newcome, the founder of Namaspa. I grew up in Bend on a small farm on the East side. After graduating from Mountain View High in '88, I moved to Boston, went to Harvard College ('94), Harvard Business School ('99), and worked for more than 10 years in advertising, retail and strategy consulting. In 2005, however, I decided to leave the corporate world, move back to Bend and change the focus of my career to helping people live healthier, more stress-free and balanced lives. I have lived the benefits of yoga and massage first-hand. In my corporate life I suffered chronic low back pain, as well as insomnia, weakened immunity, and general chronic fatigue due to stress from work. After trying the traditional route of prescription drugs, I started exploring more holistic approaches. I found that regular massage (at least once a month), greatly helped me relax and let go of built up tension, helping me feel more balanced and be more productive. Yoga practice helped end the cycle of back pain I had been in since my teens, while also giving me tools to sleep better, live healthier and even have better relationships. Namaspa is a community that brings people together to learn and practice these tools, while deepening each individual's connection to themselves, their loved ones, this community and their highest intentions."
Our Credo & Culture
Every Namaspa team member - each teacher, ambassador, teacher-in-training is asked to read, process, question and adhere to the following agreements. Grounded in yoga ethics, we use them to settle any and all conflicts that inevitably arise.
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Namaspa’s intent is to assist individuals to enhance their power - the ability to live at their full potential and to realize their life's mission through peaceful action. As a member of the Namaspa team, I promise to create a safe space for all students to be at home and at ease, where they can be themselves and feel accepted for who they are.
I pledge to see the divine light within others and to treat them accordingly, with respect, love and compassion. If I have an issue with another person, my first course of action will be to speak directly to him or her about it, as I would a brother or sister, in an accountable fashion to find a peaceful solution.
I pledge to work and interact with others in accordance with the Core Values and Mission Mantras of Namaspa:
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Core Values: Unity, Integrity & Empowerment
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Mission Mantras:​
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Create Inclusiveness & Accessability
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Hold a Safe Space for Discovery
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Speak the Truth from Love
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...and in accordance with the ethics of yoga practice, in particular:
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Nonviolence: I will practice acceptance and compassion for myself and others, ensuring that my actions are kind and helpful, to avoid creating injury or destruction of any kind.
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Non-lying: I commit to speaking words derived from honesty, truth and love, and not speaking words that derive from deception, assumption, exaggeration or creating or furthering gossip.
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Non-stealing: I commit not to take anything that has not been freely given, including the time, resources and possessions of others.
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Non-harassing: I will not harass, exploit or intimidate anyone at any time.
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Non-grasping: I will embrace the continuous flow of change in our environment and embrace and encourage this for myself and others around me.
I acknowledge and agree to fulfill the responsibilities of my role at Namaspa with the full understanding of the task, the results and the example set for others. I acknowledge that I am a teacher here, teaching empowerment, regardless of my role and whether or I am on my mat, at the check-in desk, interacting with students, on a retreat or in another yoga studio.
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