Seeking Sangha in Suburbia with Deepak Chopra
12 miles west of New York City, one woman’s search for social purpose inspired her to create a space that centers the social-emotional within well-being.
Loopwell, in Montclair, New Jersey, will host an intimate, in-person event Sunday afternoon with a luminary in the world of holistic well-being and sangha (Sanskrit for gathering or community), as an antidote to isolation in an increasingly digital world.
“We’re honored to welcome Dr. Deepak Chopra, renowned for global sangha, to Loopwell, the first local social sangha,” said Deb Looney, founder and chief executive of Loopwell. “All of us need the in-person community of sangha, especially now.”
A gathering of only 150 people, the maestro of mind-body awareness will lead a special, guided meditation. His dear friend, Eddie Stern, the ever-evolving yoga educator and co-director of NYC’s famed Broome Street Temple, will lead a breathing (pranayama) and sound bath experience with Loopwell’s resident yoga teacher and Spiritual Wellbeing Director, Kanan Kapila. The afternoon happening will give Loopwell’s guests and members a unique opportunity to connect with the ultimate wellbeing influencer in a warm, highly intimate setting.
This up-close Chopra sangha may remind some of his days at ABC Carpet, off Union Square, in NYC. There, buffeted on the top floor of the bustling furnishings store on Broadway, Deepak’s HomeBase welcomed all kinds of personalities into Chopra’s communal setting for sangha, speakers, book launches and more.
“It was just a magical place,” shared Satya Scainetti, yoga-inspired jewelry designer. “He had a ton of amazing people - game changers in their fields, whether it was alternative medicine, social activism or mentoring. He put on transformational events that changed your outlook.”
She said she’d buy as many tickets to his events as she could and bring friends every time.
“There was always something fascinating going on at Deepak HomeBase,” Scainetti said.
This Sunday, in Loopwell’s highly personalized setting, the Chopra afternoon begins with an authentic Ayurvedic luncheon, freshly prepared in Loopwell’s state-of-the-art kitchen and served in the sunny great room. After meditation, guests will enjoy high tea and social sangha, all in a breathtaking space that inspires both focus and relaxation.
“Whenever I step into Loopwell, I can feel myself exhale,” Looney said. “I first fell in love with the space in its raw state, and then with all its possibilities.”
On any given day, Loopwell’s schedule of offerings is an enticing array of well-being activations, like breathwork, sound bathing, somatic tapping, cold plunging and of course yoga and meditation classes. Loopwell’s members can nosh on nutritious food and drink in Loopwell’s inviting kitchen and use the space to visit with friends or work remotely. Corporations seeking sangha can find bespoke programming, including off- and on-site retreats and company gatherings. Past clients include the National Basketball Association (NBA), L'Oréal and Water.org.
Loopwell’s meticulously curated programming includes blockbuster names in well-being, from Chopra to Dr. Sharon Malone, Dr Aditi Nerurkar and Tamsen Fadal, to name a few.
Taken together, Loopwell expands what’s possible for individual and community wellbeing.
“We offer accessible luxury with a social purpose,” Looney explains. “Our sustainably designed space is the canvas for forward-thinking companies’ corporate retreats, event experiences, film production, and photo shoots. We loop a portion of the proceeds directly into local non-profits and toward subsidizing our event prices.”
Sunday’s sangha with Chopra may introduce much of the audience to the Sanskrit word and concept. And it is certainly a concept for our time. Science shows that in-person socializing and shared experiences have far-reaching beneficial effects on individuals’ mental health. Sangha can be a crucial tool for quieting the noise of the post-pandemic world: loneliness, global uncertainty, election anxiety, even societal division. It may also have constructive implications for conflict resolution and more.
Searching for sangha? Find it at Loopwell.