Meet Heather Blanchard

Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Blanchard.

Heather took her first yoga class in 1995 at a local fitness club where she worked. At the time, her passion for movement stemmed from a lifelong love for dance, and she was fond of the lengthening and alignment yoga provided. Upon being asked to add yoga to the fitness classes she offered, Heather worked with a local instructor to learn some simple hatha sequences. Soon, yoga became her favorite class to take, and she searched for a deeper understanding of the tranquility found through her physical practice. In 1998, she was trained by Triangle Yoga to teach special populations at Duke’s Diet & Fitness Center. Their vast knowledge inspired her to explore many different styles of yoga, and she began a regular home practice. In 2005, Heather took a hiatus from teaching fitness and yoga classes in order to care for aging parents and her young children. During that time, she took classes at various small studios and gyms but truly missed her community of students. In 2012, she was ecstatic to begin renewing certifications and discovered the Yoga Garden in Apex. She truly loved the rich history, science and anatomy, and variety of styles taught through Yoga Garden’s school and found it encompassed far more than other programs. Heather joined the staff in 2013 and continued studies with the studio’s Founder and Former Owner, Dharma Richards, over the next seven years.

Heather is a self-described yoga, anatomy and essential oils geek. “After years of teaching yoga, I yearn to expand the benefits of this ancient practice, both mentally and physically, to students everywhere. I’m passionate about sharing knowledge while continuously learning myself and believe that each moment spent in a limb of yoga is a gift that translates off the mat to our everyday lives. It’s a privilege to share that with students and to follow my dharma of giving back to others.” Heather lives in Cary with her husband Eddie and has three daughters that are the light of their lives. She was truly honored and grateful when Dharma approached her in 2019 to talk about transitioning The Garden into new hands and is excited to offer the nurturing teacher training programs, classes and workshops our community has come to love through exceptionally trained and dedicated teachers.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Absolutely not! With national yoga studio chains popping up throughout the Triangle over the past few years and the impact of COVID-19 to fitness clubs and studios alike, amongst other service businesses, the road has been challenging. Maintaining the client base, we started with and retained for so many years since opening in 2009 was a struggle. What makes our studio unique is dedicated teachers who offer a variety of classes that speak to your soul in their own style, our historic location in the heart of downtown Apex, and the sacred, calming space that is created for each and every student. Outside of classes and workshops, we offer Yoga Alliance Teacher Training Certifications for those wishing to deepen their practice or teach others.

We definitely had to think “outside the box” to survive in this business. That means offering free classes and workshops regularly and adding plenty of options for people to try Yoga Garden without purchasing a membership. Clients can drop into any class with a love donation, buy class passes, or attend a workshop. The pandemic caused us to up our technology skills last year and offer livestream classes, along with, by the end of May, an OnDemand option.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Over the past decade, we have grown a friendly, nurturing, and encouraging studio, school, and community surrounded by those who enjoy yoga. Whether you want to experience yoga for the first time or as an everyday lifestyle – we welcome all to our studio with open arms.

Being locally owned and operated in a beautiful historic building in downtown Apex, convenient to Raleigh, Cary, Holly Springs, and Fuquay-Varina, our intent in designing the studio was to create an intimate, boutique-style atmosphere which affords practitioners a nurturing space to deepen their practice while enhancing their mind-body connection. Our teachers offer a variety of uniquely different classes infused with sincere spirituality in a tranquil space that invites students to tune in and explore the never-ending benefits of the science of yoga.

Our brand is well-known, as the studio has stood the test of time. We see ourselves not just as a yoga studio but also as a wellness center connected to gurus who specialize in offering other healing practices like Reiki, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and Yoga Psychology. We offer classes for children and adults of all ages and abilities. Our classes are for EVERYBODY.

This is a difficult business to find success in, and we are grateful to continue serving students throughout the Triangle and to live our dharma of giving back to others.

Pricing:

• First Class Free
• 5, 10 & 20 Class Passes
• Monthly Memberships from $99

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.yogagardenapex.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yogagarden/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Yoga-Garden-of-Apex-146064821594