How This Mom Used Temu To Transform Her Garage Into A Zen Space With Her Son
One Oklahoma mom and her son strike a pause—finding peace and poses in a garage-turned Zen retreat with help from Temu.
Gabriella Bock, a longtime yoga enthusiast and former journalist, has been striking poses for nearly 18 years. One of her most unforgettable moments came during her third trimester, when she held a triangle pose on Sunset Boulevard in the Pacific Palisades — 8.5 months pregnant with her now 7-year-old son, Harvey.
Gabriella (right), 8.5 months pregnant with Harvey, holds the triangle pose on Sunset Boulevard alongside an LA local. The photo was part of The Pose, a newspaper feature pairing reporters with residents to strike yoga poses in iconic city spots.
Now 34 and living in Tulsa, Gabriella still relies on yoga — not just for fitness, but to manage fibromyalgia and bond with Harvey, a high-energy child with “big emotions.” After downsizing to a smaller home, both mother and son lost their calming corners. That’s when Gabriella looked at their garage and saw possibility.
Outfitting a yoga space from scratch can easily top $2,000, even with a finished interior. Gabriella needed to be resourceful. She turned to Temu, the online marketplace known for affordable home essentials and creative solutions. “I just wanted a few things to make the space usable,” she says. “But once I saw what I could get on Temu, I realized I could actually create something complete.”
Gabriella’s story is part of a broader trend. More Americans are turning to Temu to reimagine their spaces creatively and affordably. 40% of U.S. Temu shoppers say the platform has made creative or DIY home projects possible for them.
As Gabriella and Harvey explored Temu, their ambitions grew. What began as a simple yoga corner turned into something more: a shared, sensory-rich retreat where Gabriella could stretch and reflect, and Harvey could relax and recharge when feeling overstimulated. Together, they transformed the space into what they now call their “Zen Garage.”
Harvey paints the bricks white so they can act as a backdrop to a calming light show.
The once cold, concrete floors are now covered with a meditation rug, a 5’ x 7’ yoga mat, comfortable padding and pillows. She’s equipped the space with a Pilates wheel, Pilates ball, yoga straps and blocks, and dumbbells. The projector screen, colored and fairy lights let Gabriella take control of the mood and channel in the right energy to the space. And the air conditioner is a matter of practicality: “It gets very hot in Oklahoma.”
All of them came together for just $350—thanks to Temu.
Gabriella and Harvey’s “Zen Garage,” before (L) and after (R)—with everything from Temu.
“This is for Harvey as much as for me,” Gabriella says. “It’s the space we go into to feel calm.”
Now, it’s often Harvey who leads the way. Since joining an after-school yoga program, he’s been bringing home new poses and teaching them to his mom. Every night before bed, he says, “It’s time to go into the garage.”
“We stretch, light incense, and wind down,” Gabriella says. “It’s become our new bedtime routine.”
7-Year Old Harvey Bock in His “Zen Garage”
For Gabriella, the transformation has been more than physical. “Having this room is really good when emotions are big or the day is really fast,” she says. “It’s a safe space to slow down, decompress, and take care of yourself. And it makes Harvey feel like he can be expressive about how he feels.”
This article is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. If you are seeking medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider.
BDG Media newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.
