🗣 Locals to Know: Meet ballerina-turned-yogi Eva Trapp

Today’s Local to Know has blazed a career trail that began in professional ballet and has led to a holistic wellness studio in Lawrenceville. Meet Eva Trapp, ballerina, yoga practitioner and neighborhood convener — she runs the new Sneha Collective, a one-stop shop in Upper Lawrenceville that includes a yoga studio, meditation room, apothecary and more. Keep scrolling to learn more about Eva’s journey and what’s happening at Sneha!

Hi, Eva! Tell us a bit about Sneha Collective. What makes you different from a typical yoga studio?

In short, I believe we have one of the region’s most comprehensive collection of wellness offerings under one roof. Sneha is a 5,000-square-foot space in Upper Lawrenceville. Our light-filled yoga studio is located upstairs while our meditation cave is on the first floor. Our storefront features an Apothecary with items such as essential oils, crystals, candles and make-your-own bath salts, with a kitchenette situated at the back for our events focused on nourishment and food. Nine individual businesses operate within our walls, offering services from massage therapy to sound healing. We provide 18 different types of classes on a weekly basis and a sauna/cold-plunge room for bringing balance to the mind, body and soul while offering a multitude of events happening every weekend.

You and much of your staff have a background in the dance world. What led you from the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre into wellness?

After some of my favorite years dancing with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, I found myself working in New York City with Twyla Tharp. The schedule led me to long hours on the road and feeling exhausted. I turned to the wellness world to support myself through my final years of dancing. Between regular massage therapy and Jivamukti yoga, I was able to stay injury free and mentally available. When I retired, I wanted to give back and become a part of this community that brings peace to others. 

While we do have retired professional dancers who teach at Sneha, dancers (both active and retired) also played a huge part of the creation of the space from early ideas through construction. Our accountant is actually a current dancer with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.

Who are some of your favorite neighbors in Upper Lawrenceville?

We have some really incredible neighbors. I love Long Play Cafe, Von Walter & Funk Balloons, Espresso a Mano and Clementine (formerly Salon Christine).

What’s your idea of the perfect Pittsburgh day out? 

Great question! My kind of Pittsburgh day is a morning Gyrokinesis class at Sneha, enjoying a double espresso while sitting outside with a burrito from Baby Loves Tacos, an afternoon stroll through the Carnegie Museum of Art, and then winding down the evening with tickets to either the ballet, the opera or the symphony downtown. 

Give us your hottest take about our city — what’s an amazing or horrible thing about Pittsburgh that sticks out to you?

I am in awe of the wellness community here in the ‘Burgh. Daily, I am shown intelligent humans that live with their hearts and give so much to others. I truly am inspired by how many people are working to bring health to mind, body and soul. 

As a new business during the holidays, do you have any special discounts or sales going on this month?

We currently have our New Student deal running for $33 for two weeks of unlimited classes. We are also offering curated wellness holiday gift sets in our Apothecary. These sets are 10% off the original retail value, and this offer is good while supplies last. The majority of our products are from women-owned and ethically sourced businesses!

Lastly, what are the latest happenings at Sneha, and where can our readers find you in person and online?

We have events every weekend. We try to meet our community’s needs by offering a large variety of workshops and classes. We aim to provide a little something for everyone. This month on December 11, we will be hosting our Holiday Open House from noon to 5:00 p.m. Our celebration will include a raffle of seven different wellness baskets, live music, herbal refreshments and loads of cookies as we are part of the Lawrenceville Cookie Tour. 

You can learn more about Sneha Collective at www.snehacollective.com, on Instagram at @sneha_collective or in person at 5432 Butler Street in Pittsburgh.

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