ASHLAND — Lauren Howman has spent her career supporting and helping women.
She and her husband, Kyle Howman, own Restore & Balance Medical Services at 19 W. Main St. in Ashland. The business offers female-focused beauty and wellness services, according to its website.
Howman said the business has started to outgrow its current downtown space. This opportunity for growth aligned with a need she saw in the community. It’s also sparked Restore & Balance to embark on a new journey.
“I just saw a gap in the community and we need more yoga,” Howman said while standing inside the now open Restore & Balance Yoga Studio.
Located at 703 Cottage St., still near downtown Ashland, the new yoga studio welcomed its first unofficial class Saturday evening. A group of participants were invited into the space to help smooth out any wrinkles ahead of its opening on Monday.
The space is suitable to eventually house Restore & Balance Medical Services as well, Howman said.
“We’re just looking for a way to increase access in our community to movement — all forms of movement in a safe environment,” she said.
Britni Smals, studio director at Restore & Balance Yoga Studio, led the unofficial first class of 15 participants Saturday. She’s been practicing yoga for slightly more than two years and teaching for about a year.
Smals received her 200-hour certificate through Flex Yoga in Wooster and is actively working on her 500-hour training. She will be managing the studio and offering several classes per week.
“I always tell people that I think it’s incredibly brave to even step on their mat for the first time, because it’s scary,” Smals said. “I just want people to know that movement is accessible to them no matter where they’re at and we’re going to meet them on their mat no matter where they’re at.
“Whether they want chair yoga or they want to do restorative or they want a hot power class, we’re going to meet them where they are,” she said.
The studio’s schedule will be posted weekly to its Facebook page, as well as the Mindbody app. Howman said the goal to start will be about two classes per day. From there, scheduling will largely be constructed around what the community is seeking, she said.
“We have the ability to do classes anytime we want. We have a dedicated studio director in Britni and so we want as many classes as the people want,” Howman said.
