Kristen Zorda Brings Heart-Centered Bhakti Yoga to Saratoga Springs

In the heart of downtown Saratoga Springs, on the second floor of a Broadway building overlooking the bustling street below, Yoga Mandali has quietly served as a spiritual anchor for two decades. The studio, Saratoga’s oldest yoga training and wellness center, recently marked 20 years of offering a space rooted in Bhakti yoga—the path of love, devotion, and surrender. At its helm stands Kristen Zorda, whose journey from a college gym requirement to studio owner reflects both personal transformation and a deep commitment to fostering genuine community.

From College Class to Lifelong Practice

Zorda first encountered yoga during her time at Hartwick College, where a physical education class introduced her to the practice. “I really love this,” she recalls of that initial experience. Life soon pulled her in other directions, but after relocating to Saratoga Springs, she found herself drawn back.

That turning point came when she stepped into Yoga Mandali. The studio’s emphasis on Bhakti yoga, a devotional tradition within the Gaudiya Vaishnava lineage, spoke to her in a way physical asana alone never had. “This could open up your heart in a way that just physical movement didn’t do.” Unlike many Western yoga studios that focus primarily on fitness and flow, Yoga Mandali centers on the heart chakra, mantra chanting, and the understanding that we are eternal souls, not merely bodies or minds.

Taking Ownership and Honoring the Lineage

Zorda began teaching at the studio in 2014 and took ownership in 2018. She describes the space not as her studio, but as a shared community resource. “It’s our space,” she says, crediting previous owners and longtime teachers for creating its welcoming atmosphere. The wood-paneled rooms, filled with statues, plants, and natural light, offer a serene contrast to the busy world outside.

The studio’s lineage shapes everything: classes often include harmonium-accompanied chanting, stories from the Bhagavad Gita, and reminders that life’s temporary nature and inevitable suffering can be met with love and devotion. Accessibility remains a priority—Sunday donation-based classes let participants pay what they can, with proceeds supporting local charities. Over recent years, such events have raised thousands for community causes, and the studio partners with initiatives like girls’ education programs in India through Food for Life.

Creating a Healing Community Space

What sets Yoga Mandali apart is its breadth of offerings. While vinyasa and power classes exist, the schedule leans heavily into restorative yoga, yin, weekly gong baths, sound healing, Reiki, and kirtan—devotional call-and-response chanting. These practices aim to release stored trauma, quiet the “monkey mind,” and cultivate heart-centered awareness. “Mantra actually translates into freeing the mind,” she explains, noting how chanting helps practitioners drop from the busy headspace into the heart.

The studio also hosts workshops on chakras, philosophy, and bone health, alongside teacher trainings and retreats—including trips to India. Teachers and front-desk staff share a genuine intention to support each other and practitioners alike. “Every single person here… has absolutely the best intentions and the best love for each other,” Zorda says. The studio functions as a safe gathering place where people can move, meditate, chant, or simply rest—often emerging feeling more centered and connected.

A Message of Love, Devotion, and Participation

For Zorda, yoga became a lifeline during difficult times. Facing personal struggles, she attended classes almost daily, finding nourishment in both the physical practice and the spiritual teachings. “I can actually make sense of some of this somehow,” she recalls realizing. The Bhakti perspective—that life involves suffering, impermanence, and the potential for devotion—helped her move from a surface-level existence to one grounded in love and service.

Yoga Mandali stands apart from many other yoga studios by prioritizing inner work over perfect alignment. Kristen Zorda encourages newcomers to try it without pressure: “Even if you’re like, I don’t care about yoga at all… come and lie down and get cozy.”

As Saratoga Springs continues to grow, Yoga Mandali remains a steady presence, reminding residents that true wellness often begins with opening the heart. For more information on classes, workshops, and events, visit yogamandali.com or follow @yogamandali on social media.