In the age of crystals, meditation and smudging, Millennials are breaking from traditional methods to embrace new and holistic ways of healing the mind and body.
The Trap Yoga and Massage Studio, located in Southfield, Mich., combines massage therapy and yoga to promote healing and relaxation. Owner and founder Jamel Randall uses different yoga styles such as Ashtanga, Yin and Hatha to give the mind and body a total workout.
“We do Ashtanga, which is a traditional style in India and we add a twist to it to give a sweat and workout. Soulful and Yin are a slower flow for those who want to restore their energy,”Randall says.
Having 10 years of expertise, Randall says he started his trap studio to teach mental awareness and healing practices.
“Your muscle flexibility means little to me. It’s your mental flexibility that means the most to me. You’ll get more limber, that’s a given. We’re looking to see how many more people you can love,” Randall explains.
Creating a vibe unlike most studios, Randall began with just massages until clients began to inquire about his yoga practices.
“I started with the intention to do my personal massages and practice yoga myself. My massage clients began to ask me about yoga. I practice at 7 a.m. I began to invite them to practice with me,” Randall explains.
Being classically trained in Puerto Rico and Cabo, Randall has not only learned the art of yoga, but can also teach it.
“I went through tons of training; 500 hours of training. I’m a certified yoga teacher,” Randall says.
During sessions, Randall played music to create the atmosphere for yoga and set the vibes for healing.
“I played rap music while I practiced yoga and I saw people didn’t mind the music, so I kept it going,” Randall shares.
With music by The Migos, 2Chainz and Travis Scott, Randall’s classes encourages yogis find inner peace.
“We aren’t twerking. This is not a dance studio. We are teaching breathing and releasing attachments,” Randall expresses. “The goal is to get more people involved in this healing practice.”
Although some classes feature “trap” music, not all yoga sessions feature this style of song. With the soulful sounds of Jhené Aiko and Sade, the vibes created by music are not pivotal to the sessions.
“Music is secondary. Practice comes first,” Randall explains.
The idea of “the trap” stems from urban slang referring to houses of illegal work.
“Its more than trap music. It’s more like ‘thug trap.’ We’re slanging health and wellness,” Randall shares.
As Millennials continue to incorporate yoga as a healing practice, The Trap Studio offers alternate methods of relaxation such as deep tissue, Swedish, Thai and Blacthai massage techniques.
“I do have a unique massage called Blacthai. I do a lot of jumping on (massage) tables and standing on people; pushing and pulling on muscles,” Randall says.
The classes are intended to encourage members to be comfortable and not intimidated by the environment.
“It’s a positive and lighter vibe that’s created. They can come in heavy and leave light,” Randall expresses. “It can be intimidating to walk into a studio with people who don’t look like you.”
To keep members safe during COVID-19, classes have movedfrom the studio to the comforts of home. Through Patreon, The Trap Studio offers virtual classes, memberships and training courses to become a Yoga teacher.
“We switched everything to virtual for yoga and yoga teacher training. We’re able to reach and teach more people. Now, I’m able to teach more theory, letting go and non-attachment,” Randall says. “I taught virtually in Europe a couple months ago.”
As Millennials continue to adopt non-traditional methods, Randall believes ancestry and the internet are the reasons more Millennials are shifting to holistic healing practices.
“I think that we have been given the gift of awakening from two things: technology and family history. We are able to research the impact that drugs and poor diets have on our overall being,” Randall says. “We have seen our parents struggle with the side effects of these meds and old school ways of living. So, we have taken the initiative to try a new way and hopefully lay the foundation for generations to come.”
In the future, the studio looks to teach more yogis to become yoga instructors and learn the art of massage.
“We are working on becoming a massage school as well. The goal is to teach that unique style of massage,” Randall shares.“The community we are creating is setting the tone for health and wellness. We are looking forward to more yogis to come.”
The next training course for yoga instructors begins in October. For more information on classes, massages or becoming a yoga instructor, visit the website to sign up.
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