Normally when one thinks of beer, accompanying thoughts typically don’t correlate with yoga.

However, two local businesses have found a way to meld the two, bringing “Brewga” to the Pittston area every month.

Between stacks of wooden barrels and giant hoppers, more than 50 people attended the alcohol-infused yoga class at the Susquehanna Brewing Company on Saturday.

As they laid out their yoga mats and mingled with one another, Alyssa Miller, owner of Home Yoga & Barre in West Pittston, walked around the area as she greeted guests. Miller said she enjoys working with and supporting local businesses, and approached brewing company officials about partnering up last year.

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“I like partnering with other businesses local to us,” Miller said as she prepared to begin the hour-long class.

Miller said the class is suited for varying levels of yogis, from beginner to advanced, and focuses on balance and relaxation. On one end of the room, Swoyersville resident Andrea Morgan attended the class with friends and family. She wanted to bring her sister, who recently turned of age, to the brewery and thought this was a fun way to do so.

“We’re here to drink,” she said with a smile. “My sister just turned 21, so this is a healthy drinking event I can take her to.”

In front of Morgan, Wilkes-Barre resident Anthony Hemsley set his yoga mat between two hoppers, making use of what little space was left in the area. While he admitted he’s into yoga, Hemsley said he wanted to learn more about the Susquehanna Brewing Company and the beverages it carries and thought the event would be a great way to do both.

“This is a good opportunity for me to personally try this company’s beer,” he said. “And I like yoga.”

In attendance with Hemsley was Brittany Patricio. The Swoyersville resident said she was excited to attend the event after hearing about it on Facebook, and was interested in how the mixture of something generally relaxing with something that often leads to a more rowdy experience would work out.

As Miller guided the class through a series of poses, she told the group to go back into downward dog pose before entering into a long stretching position, in which one leg is extended and the other is bent underneath on the floor.

“In this pose, you may feel the tension in your shoulders — or wherever it may be in your body,” she said, urging the group to get rid of that tension. “You’ll notice how your body feels different than from the beginning of class, and maybe your mind feels a little different, too.”

As the class wound down with some relaxing stretches, a heavy aroma of hops wafting through the air led many in the group to comment about the second half of the event: the beer.

As participants rolled up their mats and made their way to the tasting room, Mallory Nobile Strubeck prepared the taps for the crowd that would be filing in any minute. The brewery’s marketing director, Nobile Strubeck said brewery officials were looking for a way to get more people into the building when Miller approached them with the “Brewga” concept.

“We thought it was a great idea,” she said, noting that attendance has grown every time the event is held.

One of the first in line for one of two free beers included in the admission cost was Michelle Rabbas. The Dickson City resident said she tries to attend anything that’s yoga-related locally, and the beer was an added bonus. This is the third “Brewga” Rabbas has attended, and she likes that it allows her to meet other like-minded people and make new friends.

“There was just an added benefit that this was in a brewery,” she said as Nobile Strubeck handed her a pint of Blueberry Thrill, one of the brewery’s latest shandies. “It was very relaxing.”

Near the back of the line was 72 year-old MaryLou Murray, who attended the event with her daughters. The DuShore resident said she’s never done yoga before, but she enjoyed the experience and the time with her family.

Alyssa Miller, bottom left, owner of Home Yoga and Barre, leads a yoga class at Susquehanna Brewing Co. in Jenkins Township on Saturday.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_ttl022717yogabeer-1.jpg.optimal.jpgAlyssa Miller, bottom left, owner of Home Yoga and Barre, leads a yoga class at Susquehanna Brewing Co. in Jenkins Township on Saturday. Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader

Miller leads the class in a fire log pose at the Brewga event.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_ttl022717beeryoga-2.jpg.optimal.jpgMiller leads the class in a fire log pose at the Brewga event. Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader

Standing in front of a huge hopper, Miller instructs the yoga class.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_ttl022717beeryoga-3.jpg.optimal.jpgStanding in front of a huge hopper, Miller instructs the yoga class. Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader

Jess Johnson, of Scranton, and Andrea Polek, of Wyoming, look over Susquehanna Brewing Co.’s beer menu after the yoga class.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_ttl022717yogabeer-5.jpg.optimal.jpgJess Johnson, of Scranton, and Andrea Polek, of Wyoming, look over Susquehanna Brewing Co.’s beer menu after the yoga class. Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader

Yoga class participants stretch away their tensions at the Brewga.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_ttl022717yogabeer-4.jpg.optimal.jpgYoga class participants stretch away their tensions at the Brewga. Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader
Brewery event offers yoga classfollowed by a couple cold ones

By Marcella Kester

For Times Leader

IF YOU GO

Brewga is held monthly at the Susquehanna Brewing Co, 635 S. Main St., Jenkins Township. The $20 admission cost includes one hour of yoga and two pints or a flight of beer after the class. Information on registering for the event can be found the the brewery’s Facebook page.

Reach the Times Leader newsroom at 570-829-7242 or on Twitter @TLnews.