Revelstoke’s newest yoga studio is a reincarnation.
Business partners Sheri Zebroff and Shendra Kelly operated Balu Yoga on Illecillewaet Road, but closed it down a couple of years ago.
They were both busy starting families and opted to work with Taproot Yoga on Mackenzie Avenue.
Upon hearing news that Taproot was closing down at the end of March, they brought on new partner Noëlle Bovon about a month ago and have been going all out to get the newly-renovated studio open for this weekend.
Bovon describes the new partnership. “We came together because we found we’d be a good balance,” she tells me as the four of us sit cross-legged on the floor of their studio. The partnership allows the trio to balance family, time and financial commitments into a business they feel will be a sustainable fit for the community.
The street-level location features a roughly 500-square foot naturally-lit main studio and two treatment rooms where Zebroff, a Registered Massage Therapist, and Kelly, a Registered Physiotherapist, will practise their healing modalities.
Energy Therapist Frieda Livesy will also practise her blend of healing at the location, including Reiki and Soul Consulting.
It’s too early for a full description of the new location yet -- decorations were still being unpacked when I dropped by. Almost everything is brand new. Some touches include custom tile work in the entrance and a hand-painted wall mural in the yoga studio. Curtains and a one-way mirror will keep the street-level studio private.
Balu Yoga & Wellness will be Revelstoke’s new home for yoga. About 10 instructors who were teaching at Taproot will be continuing their services at Balu.
Shendra Kelly hopes the studio and treatment spaces will combine into an overall wellness package. “We believe that yoga is a therapy,” she says, adding they hope to create a space where people can feel relaxed and grounded.
Sheri Zebroff hopes Balu will be somewhere people can “experience their true potential” and be “a place to be comfortable spiritually.”
Noëlle Bovon welcomes everyone down to their Friday, April 8, 7 p.m. grand opening Kirtan ceremony, which will include chai tea, chanting, drumming, music and other celebrations. “Come help us make this space what we’d like it to be.”
You can find Balu Yoga & Wellness online (baluyoga.com) and on Facebook and Twitter (@baluyogawellness). Their pages will go live in the coming week.