The enthusiasm Ryan Bauer has for the art and yoga at his studio Art of Yoga is infectious.
“I just knew that I wanted a place where I could combine people, yoga and art,” says Bauer. He opened his dream space in June of 2014.
Art of Yoga is Downtown on the second floor of a reclaimed industrial storage building at 15 Cherry Street. The cuboid building rising from the surface parking lots at Main and High streets is usually swathed in enormous banners advertising Apple products.
“This is such an amazing space,” he says. “I wanted to create a place that was more modern and urban – like being in Brooklyn or L.A. – than the average yoga studio. This space offers great views of the city.”
He has succeeded in turning a dark, empty warehouse space into a clean studio with an industrial chic vibe. Despite the steel and concrete, the space has an airy feel, and the white walls are great showplaces for art. The yoga space is cushioned by interlocking gym mats that give it a soft, spongy floor. There is a full menu of yoga classes taught by friendly, encouraging teachers. I particularly liked the power flow courses I took in the evenings, and they recently added early AM classes. Prices are very reasonable with a special going on now for $45 for an unlimited monthly pass.
Bauer works with a number of local visual artists such as Adam Brouillette who coordinates exhibits. The current exhibition “Energy Flow” is a group of bright acrylics by Danielle Poling who did the murals on the Cooke Road/I-71 underpasses. 100% of the proceeds of any sales go to the artists; per Bauer, “There are no commission or holding fees whatsoever.”
To be fair, art does also exist in other yoga venues around town. At Balanced Yoga in Clintonville, there is always a wall devoted to local artists, and ceramic works by yoga teacher Nicki Strouss are often available. Heather Sheets of OHiYoga in Olde Towne is an ardent supporter of arts in her community whether by having showings in her studio or bartering art for yoga. Yoga on High also displays and sells artwork as well as vending various objets d’art in their well-stocked yoga store. Art of Yoga succeeds in having the most amount of wall space devoted to art and the owner is certainly very artist and patron friendly.
Art of Yoga is also the current home of Columbus’ growing Acro Yoga community.
“Ryan and I met at Goodale Park during the summer,” says Jarred Keener who leads the sessions. “Ryan offered us a home for the winter and it has been perfect.”
“This is a ideal space for acro,” agrees Daniel Snider, an acro yoga veteran. “High ceiling. Cool temperature. You can do a lot in this place. And the owner, Ryan, is totally cool.”
Acro sessions meet on Sunday afternoons; students can come and go from 1 to 5 pm. Keener encourages people with any level of yoga or gym experience to give acro a try.
“It is a great way to play,” he says. “Everyone is welcome to come fly with us.”
Acro yoga sessions are donation-based. “A lot of our participants are students, so it is great that Ryan works with us see we can have yoga that we can afford.”
Photos courtesy Art of Yoga, except as noted.
Visit Art of Yoga in Downtown Columbus at 15 W. Cherry Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215 and online at ArtofYogaStudios.com.