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    Meet Leah Westwater and Nicole Klasa, New Owners of Balanced Yoga

    “We are passionate about yoga. The practice, the people, the teachings, and the opportunities. We are thrilled to be the new owners of Balanced Yoga!” say Leah Westwater and Nicole Klasa.

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    With everything from Ashtanga to Yin Yoga on the course schedule, Balanced Yoga is one of the oldest, full-spectrum yoga studios in Columbus. Long-time owner, Donna Winters, felt the need to move on awhile back, so fervent student Westwater and joyous Baptiste instructor Klasa stepped in.

    Leah Westwater and Nicole Klasa. Photo courtesy Balanced Yoga.
    “Balanced Yoga has a long history in Columbus as being a welcoming studio with a broad yoga offering” say new owners Leah Westwater and Nicole Klasa. Photo courtesy Balanced Yoga.

    “We considered opening our own studio in Columbus, but each time we returned to our community at Balanced, we were filled with a sense of belonging and connection with the space and the other instructors and practitioners,” says Westwater. “Balanced Yoga has a long history in Columbus as being a welcoming studio with a broad yoga offering. The instructors are experienced, thoughtful and inspiring.”

    Westwater and Klasa have ambitious plans to re-construct Balanced Yoga. They hired an architect and have applied for permits to connect the street-level hot studio lobby with the two upstairs studio rooms and bathrooms. Long-time manager at Balanced, Andrew King, told me that the building, a former Clintonville bowling alley and dance studio, was uniquely constructed without supporting interior walls, so it should be a relatively smooth remodeling process.

    Klasa and Westwater have already expanded the retail offerings at Balanced Yoga. There are now more tempting yoga-related clothes, books, and other accessories available for purchase. Among items for sale are several books by famous power yoga teacher Baron Baptiste.

    Balanced Yoga’s modestly popular teacher, Greg Fisher, began the Baptiste Power Yoga program four years ago. He found yoga after becoming “broken” by weight training and learned the Baptiste style at Cleveland Yoga under Tami Schneider who is well known for her tough, but fun classes. Since 2011, Klasa and Morgan Hembree joined Balanced Yoga to expand the Baptiste Power Yoga offerings.

    Westwater became a devoted student of the Baptiste classes not only because “the Baptiste Yoga style is designed to be accessible to anyone” but also because “Baptiste yoga takes things a little further.” Like many American yoga teachers, Baron Baptiste asks students to take their practices off the mat and into “inspired lives full of passion and meaningful contribution.”

    Many things at Balanced will remain the same. For years, Balanced has had many well-trained, experienced teachers such as Beaker Prince, Kari Djuve, Lara Falberg, Mary Ann Frye and Julie McSheffery and they will continue to teach. Balanced will continue to have teacher-training and work-study programs. Popular workshops such as Thai massage and yoga with Elizabeth Miller will return as well as community programs such as free beginner’s Ashtanga taught by Joannie Delph. Soon, Balanced Yoga will also have Baptiste-style teacher training.

    “Nicole and I are focused on connecting yogis beyond the studio by offering a community to experience life with – and to thrive within” says Westwater.

    Balanced Yoga is located in Clintonville at 3526 N. High St., Columbus, OH 43214. For more information, visit BalancedYogaStudios.com.

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    Nancy Alkire
    Nancy Alkire
    Nancy Alkire has practiced yoga off and on since WOSU broadcast Lilias, Yoga and You in the 1970’s. She has attended classes with Charlotte Bell, Bryan Kest and Kino MacGregor. Since turning 50, she has become much more interested in fitness and often calls on the expertise of athletic trainer, Jennifer Schiff, and Daniel Snider (almost a) PhD in physical therapy. “I am open to polite suggestions for other yoga or fitness experiences. I love documenting and sharing.” Get in touch with her by email.
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