An affordable, community-first studio, Cuale Yoga + Movement in Chula Vista offers bilingual sessions, breathwork + free community classes every Sunday.
When Damari Sabina first tried yoga a decade ago, she hated it.
"It just seemed so spiritually aggressive," she recalls, thinking back to a highly intimidating classmate who made her feel out of place. "It wasn't until my early 20s that I found a studio that was cozy. It hooks you. I felt like anything I did inside that space was okay. That’s when I finally found yoga."
Now, Damari is bringing that same sense of unconditional belonging to the heart of Chula Vista with Cuale Yoga & Movement, a newly opened studio that is proudly, intentionally, and beautifully "Spanglish."
Located at the center of Chula Vista, Cuale (named after the Río Cuale in Jalisco, Mexico) is designed to be a true "third space," a community hub separate from work and home where locals can slow down, breathe, and heal.
Cuale Yoga + Movement Founder Damari Sabina
Long before Cuale had a physical address, Damari was teaching for free all over Chula Vista in an effort she called "Yoga for Coffee." She refused payment: all she asked for in return was a cup of black coffee.
"I started teaching for free all around. I didn’t want to take any money. I told people, 'I’ll give you a yoga class, and all I want is a cup of black coffee.’ I met so many people that way—cafecito negro, chico, grande, del OXXO—I was so caffeinated every morning!” she laughs. “I always offered Spanish, English, or Spanglish as instruction options. Almost everyone chose Spanish. It's what makes people feel comfortable."
That instinct to meet people in the language that feels most like home became the foundation of the studio itself. Damari describes her own way of speaking as Spanglish, and that's exactly the atmosphere she's cultivating at Cuale with classes taught in Spanish, English, and everything in between, with instructors leaning into whatever feels most natural for the room they're teaching.
"I really want to cater to my instructors and whatever they bring to the table," she explained. "My job isn't to be the teacher, it's to hold the space for them to be the best instructor they can be." That philosophy extends to programming, too. When instructors expressed interest in breathwork, Damari built it into the schedule alongside vinyasa and other styles. "Yoga is all breath work anyway," she said. "It comes with the class."
In an industry increasingly dominated by massive fitness conglomerates, Cuale is taking a radically local, community-first approach. Every Sunday morning, the studio will offer two free, donation-based community classes as a standing invitation for anyone in the neighborhood to walk in, no strings attached. Class pricing and memberships will also stay intentionally accessible. "My goal is never to overcharge," Damari said. "I want to stay on the low end when it comes to memberships and drop-ins."
Cuale's commitment to Chula Vista also extends beyond the yoga mat. The studio has also already partnered with a brewery on 3rd Avenue for a yoga-and-beer class, with more collaborations on the horizon. In addition, the studio’s retail and collaborative efforts are designed to lift up other local, Latino, and women-owned businesses. Rather than taking a cut of sales, Damari is hosting retail spaces for makers, including a growing plants business and a floral arrangement business, allowing them to keep 100% of their earnings.
At its core, Cuale is a love letter to Chula Vista.
"I wanted to be right here in the center of Chula Vista," Damari says. "Even if it’s not as 'aesthetic' as Otay Ranch or Eastlake, I chose to be here. My hope is for our community to realize they can be physically healthy while also tending to their mental, spiritual, and energetic health. I want to invite people to come in, take a look, and give us feedback. Tell us what you need, what hours you want. I really want this to be a staple here."
Cuale Yoga + Movement is located at 2638 Main St, Suite H in Chula Vista. Follow @cualemoves for class schedules, upcoming events, and community Sunday sessions.
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