Greenheart Yoga, Meditation & Healing Arts Center Delivers an Oasis of Mindfulness

The fire-charred San Gabriel Mountains dominate the skyline from the wall-to-wall windows that stretch the length of Clarisa Ru’s Greenheart Yoga & Healing Arts Center in Pasadena. They serve as a reminder of the emotional and physical scars inflicted by the wildfires that swept across her beloved community one year ago.

Streaked across these blackened hills, though, are brilliant blossoms of effervescent greens. They are daily affirmations of nature’s indefatigable, evolutionary instinct to eternally harness its mighty powers to transform trauma into rebirth and recovery.

The light hits these mountains differently throughout the day, and when it does, it accentuates their changing palette. Sometimes the green seems more prevalent and other times the black overwhelms—echoing the emotional journeys of those who come through Ru’s doors seeking sanctuary and a path to healing and calm that ignite the spirit within.

“These shifting colors feel symbolic of what so many people experience every day, especially over the past year,” said Ru. “It’s about perspective and a reminder of the ability that resides within all of us to embrace change and mine the indelible power of the human spirit to put ourselves on a course to emotional and physical recovery.”

Inside Greenheart, Ru, an East West Bank client for nearly 30 years, has organically cultivated an oasis of palpable mindfulness—an urban refuge of restorative meditation and yoga classes in Pasadena that exudes a calming energy. Within each carefully curated space, individuals can nestle into personal places of peace and harmony. Beneath the floors are crushed amethysts, white sage, rose petals and neroli oil to keep the energy clear and create a positive healing haven.

“The fires scared a lot of us, so people now more than ever are seeking a space that is safe, where they can rest and heal and reconnect with their breath and their heartbeat,” Ru said. “Everyone who comes here is seeking something different.”

A Constant Partner

East West Bank has partnered with Ru throughout her personal and professional financial journey—most recently providing counsel and resources to guide her through the fear and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as support her recent studio relocation, which felt like a rebirth of its own.

“I have been an East West Bank client for nearly 30 years, and what I love most about East West Bank is that when I go into my favorite branch, I’m recognized, I’m greeted by name, everyone’s friendly, everyone’s genuine, we always engage in conversations,” Ru said.  “What East West Bank offers is extra special. It makes a difference.”

That personal attention, Ru says, is more than just a friendly face; it’s a dedicated financial partner who is intimately involved in delivering expertise to help her business succeed. 

During COVID-19, Greenheart was not permitted by law to operate from its brick-and-mortar business. Although classes shifted to online offerings, Greenheart lost about 80 percent of its clientele.

East West Bank Relationship Manager Ann Tran immediately stepped up and provided personalized support to ensure Ru’s loans were completed and she received the critical financing she needed to keep Greenheart operating.

“Ann really showed up for me and Greenheart. She helped me secure not one but two PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) loans, which were incredibly helpful,” Ru said. “It’s a great example of the level of personal attention that East West Bank delivers that is making such a real difference for me and my business.”

Particularly poignant for Ru has been East West Bank’s comprehensive commitment to community and connection—creating bridges that establish trust, investing time to gain an intimate knowledge of Greenheart’s unique needs, and crafting customized solutions to help Ru explore opportunities and overcome challenges—at every level that have enabled her to reach further. 

“When we were physically able to reopen after COVID-19, Dominic Ng (East West Bank Chairman and CEO), a long-time acquaintance, sent me an email that said, ‘Congratulations, you did it,’ which meant a lot,” Ru said. 

After a tumultuous year, Ru can’t help but occasionally soak in the shifting greens and blacks outside her window that greet her gaze at a particular moment and internalize them as a kind of healing barometer.

What motivates her in low moments, Ru says, is the tangible impact Greenheart has on the lives of its clients, especially those who come to the studio in times of acute physical and spiritual need.

One of those clients, best-selling author Deborah Harkness, credits Greenheart for placing her on a restorative journey that has guided her recovery from ovarian cancer. 

“It is not an exaggeration to say that Greenheart saved my life,” Harkness said. “Everything about Greenheart is life-affirming, special and irreplaceable. Everybody who comes to Greenheart, no matter what their needs or challenges, is made to feel at home.”

The Next Horizon

Steeled by experience, Ru keeps her feet planted in the present while fixing her gaze forward—intentionally searching for unopened doors to walk through, closed windows to unseal and uncharted horizons to explore. These include curating healing offerings clients can choose from to forge personalized paths to heal their mind and body. 

“I’d like our community to take advantage of what we have to offer beyond yoga, such as gong baths, reiki sessions and mandala making so we can all share a space that effectively treats the whole person,” Ru said. “Yoga in its purest form will change the way you think, the way you breathe, the way you move and the way you respond to life.”