To many, wine country evokes Bacchanalian images of eating and drinking, followed by spa treatments involving hot stones or mud wraps. But now that paradigm has shifted: Visitors who once wanted to be wined, dined, and pampered are instead seeking a pastime that requires a bit more sweat. Yoga venues that promise to de-stress city folk in a spectacular setting—often with a side of gourmet sips and bites—are popping up all over, including Yoga in the Vineyard and Napa Valley Yoga Retreats. Then there’s Ubuntu, a vegetarian restaurant and yoga studio, and Ubuntu Annex, a retail space peddling yoga gear plus specialty items from the restaurant, both owned by vintner Sandy Lawrence. While the restaurant has become a culinary phenomenon, Lawrence—a former Miami businesswoman­ who is also the proprietor of organic winery Lion’s Run—has emerged as a leading advocate of what might be called “sustainability, the lifestyle.” We asked her to tell us how to practice what she preaches. ubuntunapa.com

It wasn’t too long ago that people considered yoga the antithesis of drinking wine and dining out. You’re right. Yoga was something you did to detox.

What made you think that the wine and yoga cultures could mesh? For three years after I moved here, in 1995, I had informal community-yoga get-togethers at my house in Napa. One of us would teach a one-hour class, and everyone would bring wine or a dish. About 100 people became involved over the years, with 30 or so at each class—and some mornings, I would take 24 empty wine bottles out to the recycling bin. So I know people enjoyed the wine.

You also used to host yoga retreats at your home. A chef would come in and prepare vegetarian meals for us. Once, when we wanted to go out to dinner, we couldn’t find one vegetarian restaurant in Napa—and this area is the food capital of the country. We were told that we would be served the risotto-and-scallop dish, minus the scallops. I thought we would have offerings in Napa that went beyond something being missing from the plate.

How did you end up in Napa? In the mid-’90s, I started looking for a retreat. People in Florida teased me and said I went to Napa to nap.

How has the wine-country experience changed since your first visit? Back then, people went mostly to St. Helena or Yountville. Now, because of the revitalization that’s taken place in downtown Napa—Oxbow Public Market, the Westin and Avia hotels, the development of the Hatt building, and the Riverfront project­—there’s a new urban vibe here.

You could have opened a spa, instead of a place that demands a great deal of physical activity. I have an active nature, so I chose an active way to relax. But you’re right—a spa would make me slow down.

Distinguish between passive and active. I still think a spa treatment sounds more relaxing than a yoga class. There are many styles of yoga, and not all of them are active. Restorative yoga, for example, leaves you very relaxed.

What does yoga have to do with drinking? They both are very communal. After a yoga class, most people’s defenses are down. You feel very balanced and a little more open, and it’s a calm place where people have time for each other. One of the reasons I wanted to have a winery was that wine is something else people share.

Was it difficult to convince the public that these seemingly disparate activities go together? I’ve never tried to convince anybody of anything. People came to my house because they enjoyed the camaraderie, the friendship. They come to Ubuntu because they enjoy the food, the experience, and a sense of community.

How would you describe the Ubuntu style? I never thought of it as having a style—it is more of an inclusive concept. In terms of design, our objective was to be simple, minimalist, and environmentally friendly. There is a beauty in knowing that something is made without causing any harm.

Customers have told you they want their homes to look like the restaurant. We have high ceilings, stone walls, and wood floors, so the restaurant has a loftlike look. We also used a lot of reclaimed and reused furnishings, like the community table that was crafted from two trees from Occidental that were felled by wind. So that adds a natural style that feels very earthy and tactile.

Is there a particular way people who practice yoga in Napa dress? I’m guessing you don’t see a lot of black spandex. Yogis around here seem to prefer organic-cotton products that are well made and reasonably priced. There is a lot of diversity, so it’s hard to gen­eralize. But spandex? I don’t think so.

I assume you’re a vegetarian. I’m not. But I follow an ayurvedic diet that emphasizes balance and follows the lunar cycles to determine the times of day when digestion is strongest—so for me, dinner is often vegetarian.

What defines a sustainable lifestyle? Everything we use or touch comes from somewhere else and impacts someone else’s life.

How do I live my own life this way? Try to be aware of choices that aren’t sustainable, and change them when you can.