Today we’d like to introduce you to AYA Yoga.
Hi AYA Yoga, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
The three of us share a similar backstory: teaching yoga—let alone owning and running a studio—was never something we had planned for or even imagined as a realistic dream. We all found yoga at a time in our lives when everything else was in a state of unravelling – and ended up doing our yoga teacher training as a desire to put some pieces back together and forge a new path for ourselves. The three of us met as yoga teachers at our former studio, GIVE Yoga, in Columbus. We became friends and were planning to host a yoga retreat together in 2023. When we met with the owner of GIVE to discuss our plan she dropped a huge bomb on us: Would you three be interested in buying the yoga studio instead?
None of us had any immediate plans to open a studio and in many ways questioned if we were ready – but the call was too strong not to answer. Once we really sat and started to dream up AYA, we realized that we were given the great gift of opportunity, and had a responsibility to the existing yoga community to see it through. Sometimes you need someone to believe in you before you believe in yourself, and we’ll always be thankful to Leah Westwater for that push.
Part of our uncertainty in becoming yoga studio owners is that none of us fit into the mainstream view of what a “yoga professional” looks like. We realized that we had the opportunity to re-write the script and create a yoga space for people from all walks of life, that present in all different types of ways, and that’s where we came up with the name AYA (As. You. Are.). It’s been a great privilege to co-create this community with all the other humans that feel safe, seen, and celebrated in our studio.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not at first – but we’ve learned so much along the way. Coming from a place where none of us had any plan to open a studio, we were catapulted into a situation where we had four months to come up with a business plan, a brand, a mission, and the money to purchase the existing yoga studio. In a perfect world you’d take some time to get all of these resources and ideas together, but we had to do it on the fly. The intensity of that time before opening was without a doubt stressful, but the immediacy of everything also required each of us to fully throw ourselves into the process, which ultimately created some serious magic.
Since then, we’ve had some steep learning curves of learning how to run a business, how to work together effectively as a team, and how to stand up and be leaders in the community. But anytime things get uncertain or rough, we come back to the reason why we jumped off the cliff in the first place – the community, and the practice. That’s what keeps us focused and motivated to keep moving forward.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about AYA Yoga ?
We are a yoga studio offering a wide range of classes—from hot power vinyasa to yin restorative, kundalini, Katonah, and meditation. With 24 weekly classes, we believe there’s something on our schedule for everyone at every stage and season of their practice.
A cornerstone of our studio culture is memorialized in our name: AYA: As. You. Are. Our teachers and community work together to create a space where everyone is welcomed warmly, without expectation or pretense. Our community is built on authenticity, connection, and above all, a deep reverence for the practice of yoga in all of its forms.
Our weekly schedule includes classes focused on meditation, pranayama, and yoga philosophy. We regularly host educational workshops and events that are oriented towards a wide spectrum of yoga and wellness practices and topics.
We see yoga not just as movement on a mat, but as a way of living—with curiosity, attention, and reverence for both self and the world around us. This vision was the foundation of our studio, and we’re proud that it’s become a living, breathing value in our community.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
There are so many ways to connect with and support our work! As a queer and minority-owned studio, we deeply value collaboration and community care.
Here are some ways you can get involved:
– Join us for classes, workshops, and retreats.
– Support local by shopping small with our consignment partners.
– Stay in the loop by following us on socials and joining our email list.
– You can also give back by attending our donation-based community classes, where 100% of proceeds support local organizations aligned with our values.
To give yourself the chance to explore, we recommend starting with our 2-week Unlimited New Student Membership for just $35. It’s the perfect way to try out different classes, meet our teachers, and see how AYA feels for you—without any pressure to commit long-term right away.
Pricing:
- Monthly Unlimited Auto Renewing Membership for $109
- Single class drop in for $20
- 10 Class Pack for $170
- 20 Class Pack for $300
- For our full range of membership and class pack options check out our www.liveayayoga.com
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.liveayayoga.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liveayayoga/
Image Credits
Kate Sweeney
