Jaya Yoga Studio, The Office, and a Very Scranton Morning

Hilary Steinberg, leading the pre-race stretch at Scranton’s Office-themed 5K.

There are some things that just make Scranton… Scranton.

A city full of people dressed as characters from The Office. Community members gathering downtown early on a weekend morning. Runners, walkers, coffee cups, costumes, laughter, and conversations happening between complete strangers who somehow already feel connected.

And this year, Jaya Yoga Studio got to be part of it in a new way.

Last weekend, we had the opportunity to lead a pre-race stretch at the Office-themed 5K hosted by Valley in Motion right here in Scranton, Pennsylvania. What started as a simple outreach idea turned into one of those genuinely fun community moments that reminds us why we love being part of this city.

Over the years, Jaya Yoga Studio has quietly had its own small connection to The Office. Eagle-eyed fans may recognize the Jaya Yoga mug that appeared in Season 8 of the show — one of those tiny, detail-oriented set pieces that somehow became part of television history in a very Scranton kind of way.

And honestly, that’s part of what makes all of this so special.

The Office has always been more than just a TV show here. It’s become part of the culture of Northeastern Pennsylvania. It shows up in local trivia nights, themed events, murals, museum exhibits, races, conversations, and the way people from completely different backgrounds come together over a shared love of something familiar and comforting.

Recently, the Everhart Museum debuted an exhibit featuring props and memorabilia connected to The Office, including the Jaya Yoga mug featured on the show. Seeing our studio represented as part of a larger piece of Scranton storytelling has been surreal, humbling, and honestly just really fun.

At the 5K, we spent the morning stretching with runners, meeting visitors from near and far, and connecting with people who were simply excited to celebrate Scranton in all of its quirky, community-centered glory. We even had the chance to meet Robert Schafer, who played Bob Vance of Vance Refrigeration, along with Paige Cognetti.

But more than anything, the day reminded us that movement and community belong together. Yoga has always been about connection — to ourselves, to each other, and to the places we call home. Sometimes that happens quietly in a studio. Sometimes it happens in the middle of downtown Scranton surrounded by people dressed like Dwight Schrute.

And honestly? Both feel pretty perfect.

If you’re visiting Scranton to explore The Office history, we’d love to have you stop by Jaya Yoga Studio. We offer classes for all experience levels, and for visitors, we also have a simple Traveler’s Pack with two classes at a reduced rate—an easy way to experience the studio while you’re in town.

And yes…the mug is still here. ☕