More than ‘just stretching’ to improve flexibility, strength and balance, the practice of yoga is about bringing harmony to the body as well as the mind. And as the importance of a holistic approach to wellness continues to enjoy attention, yoga is gradually becoming a popular practice among Nigerians of all ages.

Findings from Staista reveal a promising outlook for the digital fitness and well-being market in Nigeria, with it already projected to hit US$292.22 million in revenue this year. Within this booming sector, the Health & Fitness market, of which the yoga market is included, is expected to reach US$2.98 million by 2029.

While yoga honours the connection between the mind and body, one mother also demonstrated how yoga allows her to connect with her young son. More significantly, she also uses yoga to teach her seven-year-old self-regulation. And with a little help from online marketplace Temu, Gabriella Bock was able to turn her garage into a dedicated space for yoga, now known as the “Zen Garage”. 

Harvey and Gabriella Bock in their “Zen Garage.”
Gabriella has been doing yoga for nearly 18 years and for the past seven years with her son, Harvey. “He’s been doing yoga since the womb,” she laughs.

Today Gabriella and Harvey do yoga in their own garage. What once was a cold, concrete space used for storage is now a warm, light-filled room where mother and son slow down, stretch  and reconnect.

The transformation was made possible by the convergence of three unexpected factors: downsizing homes, Harvey’s growing personal relationship with yoga… and the direct from factory online marketplace Temu.  

The initial seed was planted when Gabriella and Harvey moved to their current home from a larger one. Without a dedicated space for yoga and meditation, she fell out of her regular practice. This took a noticeably taxing toll on both her mind and her body, which aches from fibromyalgia.

Meanwhile, Harvey, who Gabriella describes as “a very energetic child with big emotions,” lost his “calm corner,” a place where he could chill out when he was overstimulated.

“I’ve been working with him on ways of self-regulating since he could talk and walk,” she shared. “It’s a matter of slowing down, breathing, and paying attention to what’s going on around and inside of you, even when you’re overwhelmed or distracted.”

Recently, the 34-year old mom set out to defy the space limitations interrupting their rituals. After stepping into her garage and realising that she was using it as an inefficient storage unit, her future “chill zone and zen space” where she and Harvey could go to pause and reset–flashed before her eyes. 

She and Harvey got to work, bringing to life her vision of a very calm, yet sensory rich environment, with different elements–like a projector screen and soft pillows–to help bring them into the present. 

To pull it off, she headed to Temu, the direct from factory marketplace, intending to get just a few things to bring the space to life. But thanks to the affordability of the items she found, she left not only with everything she needed to do yoga and meditate, but to also be able to close the door, do pilates or exercise on her own and create exactly the vibe she wanted. Because Temu connects customers directly with manufacturers, Gabriella was able to equip the entire space without overspending. “There’s no middleman. You get quality products straight from the factory at unbeatable prices,” she says. “That’s what made this project possible.”

Now, the concrete floors are covered with a plush meditation rug, a 5’ x 7’ yoga mat, and layers of soft cushions. The space is equipped with yoga blocks, straps, a Pilates ball and wheel, dumbbells, and calming elements like fairy lights and a projector screen. Even a compact air conditioner, essential for hot summer months, was sourced from the platform.

7-Year Old Harvey Bock in His “Zen Garage”
Consumers globally have also responded by propelling the platform to become one of the most visited e-commerce sites and a top Apple-recommended app of 2024.

“This is for Harvey as much as me. It’s the space we go in to feel calm.”

Now Harvey is teaching his mom new moves too. “Harvey started taking yoga classes at an after-school program, and he’s coming home and teaching me the new poses he learns.”

“Every evening before bed time he says, ‘It’s time to go into the garage.’ We do our poses together, we light incense, it’s the new bedtime routine.”

“Having this room is really good when emotions are big or the day is really fast. It’s a safe space to slow down, decompress and take care of yourself. And it makes Harvey feel like he can be expressive about how he feels.”