Meet Ali Duncan | Founder & Lead Visionary of Urban Sanctuary

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ali Duncan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ali, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I created Urban Sanctuary because I consistently noticed there was a lack of brave, safe and welcoming spaces for bodies of color. Wellness should be easily accessible for all and with a practice like yoga, you’re supporting individuals both mentally and physically within a community. As I began and grew in my practice, I always felt like I was “different” than the others and in places where I didn’t belong even though I was consistently practicing to support my strength and mental wellbeing. The vision of Urban Sanctuary came to me when my daughter and I wanted to be that core place for individuals in Colorado to heal. The space was made for those who feel like outcasts, those who feel like the minority in each space they walk into, to not be that anymore—to be fully embraced and welcomed. Each day that I walk into the studio, that is my goal and my purpose—providing communities of color four walls to be themselves and have a sense of home, but helping them to create it within themselves by supporting and empowering them to do so.

What should our readers know about your business?
I created Urban Sanctuary with the idea in mind of wanting to be different. I want these four brick walls and the community that comes along with it to be the space that people can practice wellness in when other places didn’t fully align with them because they weren’t seeing representation or they weren’t fully comfortable. Wellness should be accessible to all and our teachers, practitioners and partners all have the same idea truly making this healing space a collective. Today, I am most proud of the recent celebration of our seven year anniversary. We started as a small yoga studio with five treatment rooms and today, we focus primarily on providing yoga and similar healing modalities to the community, we have worked with over 150 partners and practitioners from all over the country and at our core, Urban Sanctuary always has it’s doors open for Black and Brown bodies to actively engage in their own healing practices.

Regarding my growth business wise, I truly do let things flow to me as I am trusting that what is meant to be in my path, will show up. To be honest, trust is why I am where I am. People are going to show up the way they do because of what they are taught so I focus more of my attention on the universe. This looks like focusing on what I desire and trusting what will align with me which also supports me in overcoming any challenges that may come my way.

I want individuals to know, you do not have to believe and stay in the ideas that others have created for you based on your race, sexual identity or finances. The more you stay focused and trust in what you’re offering, the outcomes will be created for you. Let your brand be a reflection of you and learn to co-create your reality with the universe.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If I had a friend visiting, I have a few Denver favorites that I’d like to show them if we planned an adventurous day out. Hiking is one of my favorite ways to connect with nature and clear the mind. Specifically, I would take them on an early morning sunrise hike—the perfect way to start your day. After hiking, I’d take them to one of my all time favorite places, Jelly Cafe in Cap Hill. I love the healthy food they have and it’s the best place to relax and catch up. Strolling Larimer Street would be next—the shops are fun to explore and I love grabbing treats along the way. From Denver, we’d make our way to Havana Health Spa in the Denver Metro area to get massages and relax. I’m always down to deeply soak in relaxation, we all need it. The spa would get us ready for a restorative yoga class at Urban Sanctuary taught by one of our leading yoga instructors. With a full day of activities, you know we’d be hungry. I would take my visitor to the best restaurant with a gorgeous city view, Linger and end the night with a free jazz concert at Sonny Lawson Park in Five Points. I know this sounds like a lot, but if you know me, you know my day starts at 4:30 a.m. It’s true, ask my students.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to shout out my husband, Marc Neal. The powerhouse handyman has not only helped my structural desires come to life, but he has also supported my vision of building Urban Sanctuary from the very beginning. Throughout the seven years of having this wellness space, he’s assisted with changes to the space as my visions have adapted. For example, Urban Sanctuary was first created to offer space for individual practitioners for massage, energy healing, etc. and because of that, I had five healing rooms and only a small yoga studio. During the pandemic, priorities shifted and I knew I needed more space to host class for students to practice much further away from one another. Marc was with me to redesign the space, take out four of the wellness rooms and turn the yoga space into something larger and multifaceted. The Douglass Building, the historic Five Points space that Urban Sanctuary is housed in, was first built in 1892. The overall structural integrity of the space is proficient, but maintaining upkeep can be difficult while working to preserve the history. Marc has always done a fantastic job of keeping the premises fully intact while ensuring the historic value remains the same. Thank you, always, Marc!

Website: https://urbansanctuary.love/

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Image Credits
Samantha Hines @samanthahinesphotography