Suffolk’s first dedicated yoga studio is the realization of a long-held dream for Sue Blei, who opened River Yoga with husband Michael this week.

The studio at Bennett’s Creek Crossing Shopping Center — the address is 3575 Bridge Road, though the studio faces Shoulders Hill Road — held an open house Thursday and free introductory classes Wednesday through Friday. The grand opening is Saturday.

“This is the only yoga studio in Suffolk that’s exclusively yoga,” Sue Blei said at the studio Wednesday, amid a blur of activity to finish setting it up.

“In Western Branch, too,” she added. “I used to have to go to Norfolk to get real yoga classes at a studio.”

That Norfolk studio is Hot House Yoga, which Blei said a girlfriend at Elephant’s Fork Elementary School — where she will continue teaching while pursing her yoga dreams — convinced her to try in 2008.

“I absolutely loved it,” Blei said. “Going to a studio, there were people who could give verbal adjustment if you made a mistake, and give hands-on adjustment. I loved it so much I wanted to make yoga a bigger part of my life.”

Blei had been doing yoga at home in Bennett’s Creek. She became an instructor in 2011, studying with Yax Yoga Concepts in Virginia Beach.

“It was not a challenge,” she said. “It was always a joy and a pleasure. I would rather be teaching and taking yoga than just about anything else.”

On Wednesday, Blei took a personal day off from teaching to get the studio shipshape.

“It’s been a little crazy,” she said. “I’ve been coming to school two hours early to get everything done, and trying to leave on time and spending evenings and weekends here.”

But many others have shared the effort. Blei’s stepfather drew up the plans she took to the city. A family friend did the electrical work. The father of a student she teaches took care of the drywall, and a friend who took her class at the One Life gym near Chesapeake Square did the specialized floors with her husband.

“A friend painted out everything,” Sue Blei added. “It’s just been a family affair.”

River Yoga offers two different styles: hatha, which Blei said is good for people new to yoga, and vinyasa, which is “a little more challenging.”

Vinyasa will be paired with contemporary music during a 6 a.m. class Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. “To get your heart pumping and get yourself going,” Blei said.

Mondays through Fridays will include noon classes, and afternoon and evening classes beginning at either 4 p.m. or 4:30 p.m. with the final class at either 7 p.m. or 7:30 p.m.
Weekend morning classes will be from 8:30 a.m. Saturdays and 9 a.m. Sundays.

“We do have some people already signed up, even though we’re not open,” Blei said, adding that a special price is being offered to the first 100 clients.

Blei says yoga appeals to different people for different reasons. “We have people come to yoga because they have injuries — aches and pains — and want to heal,” she said. “Then we have athletes — runners, bikers, triathletes — to help improve times. We get both ends of the spectrum.”

Find out more at www.riveryogastudio.com.