Yoga Shelter Founder Creates Transformation Train

A few years ago, Eric Paskel found himself at the Department of Motor Vehicles without an appointment. It was a bad move, he admitted, but one that would pay off in inspiration.

Paskel and his wife, Lisa, are founders of Yoga Shelter. He said he opened the first Yoga Shelter in West Bloomfield in 2004 before opening the the following year. Today, the Paskels, who now live in Los Angeles, also own studios in Birmingham, Grosse Pointe, and Studio City, CA.

While waiting, and waiting, and waiting at the DMV, Paskel said his mind started to construct new ways he could help Yoga Shelter patrons transform, wanting to provide a vehicle that would offer “training wheels” for his intense life-training courses.

“I just opened my BlackBerry and typed the words, 'Transformation Train,' ” he said.

And with that, a new idea left the station on an extension of yoga training that would reach across an entire weekend. The "train" is three days of in-depth transformative courses that engage participants in writing assignments, Pranyama breathing exercises and how to work through areas that need attention, including addiction. The train is also a boot camp that provides heavy workouts and information on a 30-day yoga and diet plan.

Liz Sarna, 29, originally of Royal Oak, is no stranger to the city's Yoga Shelter.

"I go there four to five times a week," she said. "I love it."

Sarna has been involved in yoga classes at the Royal Oak Yoga Shelter for more than two years. She said she will be attending the upcoming Transformation Train.

"I've been through it once already, and they have a great message," she said. "They really have changed my life. I would highly recommend it to anyone."

Creating a shelter

Transformation is a word with which Paskel is pretty familiar.

“I've been at this a long time,” he said. “My journey began a month before my 18th birthday when I was nearly killed during a drug deal.”

The ordeal led to a six-year drug addiction. Paskel, who grew up in West Bloomfield, found himself bouncing back and forth from Birmingham Groves to Eton Academy during his troubled youth.

Today, he has been sober for 25 years. He credits yoga for helping him to overcome his addiction.

“When I opened the shelter in 2004, it was a manifestation of my life experience," Paskel said.

His sister, Caren Paskel, said she enthusiastically jumped aboard when her brother began opening studios in Metro Detroit. Ten years younger than Eric and already teaching yoga, she taught the first Yoga Shelter class at the West Bloomfield location. Today, she lives in Birmingham and instructs courses at most of the studios.

She said the Royal Oak Shelter offers a rare evening schedule, which draws a large, younger crowd.

“There's an urban, organic feel at Royal Oak,” she said, adding that the 8:30 p.m. classes are usually packed.

Getting on board the Transformation Train

Eric Paskel said his Transformation Train is meant to put participants on a track toward transformation, but those who sign up shouldn't expect an instant fix.

“If anyone tells you they can change your whole life in three days, run,” he said. “This is intended as training wheels for life training.”

Life training is a stand-alone inspirational retreat that puts participants on a path to yoga teacher training.

The Transformation Train's next stop will be at Yoga Shelter West Bloomfield. The boot camp will take place from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Aug. 4-5 and from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 6. (See attached PDF flier for more information.)

The three-day program offers a variety of ways for participants to move toward their personal goals. Paskel says the Transformation Train work is hard — but worth it.

“Fast, hard and heavy, the workouts are intense,” he said. “They are geared to take people outside their own conditioning and to wake people up.”

He said the Transformation Train also offers lectures as well as a 30-day meal plan, texts to study from and physical yoga outline, with the hope that it becomes a lifestyle transformation.

Paskel estimates more than 100 people will join the Transformation Train next weekend. Some will be returning, and some will be first-timers. He says it “soothes people to see others have done this before, maybe over and over again.”

And it's not all hard work; Paskel said it's also a fun and inspiring experience.

“This weekend is a cross between being at the best campfire you have ever been at, being at your therapist's office and being on a mountaintop looking at an ocean all at once,” he said. “When someone gives you permission to be yourself, something happens. It's fun. There's laughter. It's all under the umbrella that it is serious stuff because it's your life.”

For more information on the Transformation Train call 248-538-0200 or email bryan@yogashelter.com.