Down Under School of Yoga coming to Wellesley

Starting early 2026, yogis from Wellesley will no longer have to be flexible—from a travel standpoint. That’s because devotees of Down Under School of Yoga, with several locations including Newton and Brookline, will soon be able to call Wellesley their “home” studio.

Owner Justine Wiltshire Cohen has taken over not only the former Laughing Dog space (which opened at 159 Linden St. in 2002 and closed its doors at the end of September of this year), but the entire floor. She’ll need it to accommodate plans for two light-filled practice studios; a dedicated Pilates Reformer space; and a full recovery suite with sauna, cold showers, and infra-red heaters.

The place is in full construction mode right now as it readies to welcome longtime practitioners and New Year’s resolution types.

Justine’s career path has included working as a lawyer, and serving as an appointed Yoga Teacher to the United States Supreme Court in the early 90s. Over coffee at Tatte, she cited three hallmarks of her overall philosophy—”Expertise in teaching comes first,” she said, followed by “breadth of offerings. We have classes that cover all the major lineages of yoga. And third, we’re a disruptor in American yoga because our teachers are employees, not independent contractors.”

What that means is that Down Under teachers not only preach wellness, but are able to practice the concept on themselves. Full-time instructors receive benefits such as sick days, health insurance, and a retirement plan. Now that’s a warrior-boss move.