Downtown's First Yoga Studio Opens in Cultural District

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Downtown Pittsburgh’s first yoga studio opens in Cultural District
Bend Yoga brings fun, friendly and rejuvenating yoga workouts to Penn Avenue corridor
Preview classes held during The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Summer Gallery Crawl

On Friday, July 13, from 5:30- 9 p.m. attendees of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Summer Gallery Crawl are invited to preview classes at Downtown Pittsburgh’s first yoga studio, Bend Yoga, located at 808 Penn Avenue. Founded by entrepreneur and owner of Pilates Sol, Marcie Callan, Bend Yoga will open this July furthering the economic and retail development of the Cultural District.

“The inspiration for Bend Yoga began three years ago when I started to wonder, ‘Why isn’t there a yoga studio downtown?’ explains Ms. Callan. “You can take individual classes at a gym or through employee programs, but there isn’t one place solely dedicated to yoga. I wanted to create a bright, open and fun place where you can get a killer yoga workout.  Bend Yoga is meant to be a non-intimidating place for all backgrounds, genders and experience levels. You won't find any gongs or incense here.”

The 2,200 square-foot space on the second floor of 808 Penn Avenue will feature the yoga studio and dressing areas as well as a retail space featuring HARD TAIL Clothing and Gaiam yoga merchandise. HARD TAIL is a Santa Monica-based fashion house specializing in premium sportswear, and Gaiam is a leading brand in the yoga industry.  Local artists and sustainable clothing designers will also be featured.

Over 20 classes will be offered each week, incorporating many yoga styles including Vinyasa Flow, Ashtanga, Iyengar, Yin and Hot Yoga. There will also be several Pilates classes.  A 200-hour yoga teacher training program will begin in October.

Ms. Callan is currently offering a Founding Member promotion. Founding Members receive one-month of unlimited classes at Bend Yoga during the first 30 days of business for $25 by purchasing online at bendyoga.com.  Founding Members will receive special discounts and invitations if they purchase before June 30th. For more information and a complete schedule of classes, visit bendyoga.com or call 412-339-9838.

A student of internationally acclaimed Pilates instructor Lolita San Miguel, Ms. Callan is a second generation certified Pilates instructor who began her career in Philadelphia in 2001. In 2003, she moved back to Pittsburgh and founded Pilates in Pittsburgh, a corporate wellness business, and simultaneously became part owner in a Pilates and yoga studio in the South Hills. In 2010, she opened Pilates Sol (900 Penn Avenue) which caters to clients interested in private one-on-one instruction utilizing the full spectrum of Pilates equipment.

She adds, “I see Pilates and yoga as lovely complements. Both practices provide incredible core strength and help to lengthen and create leaner muscles.”

Integral to her commitment to health and wellness, the core business plan of Bend Yoga factors in that 10% of all revenue will be donated to charity. She plans on scheduling yoga-centric charity events that will benefit organizations in impoverished countries as well as in the Pittsburgh region.

“Because this studio is the realization of years of dreaming, praying, waiting and searching,” notes Ms. Callan, “I decided that this business could have a social enterprise component and that Bend Yoga could have a bigger purpose than just yoga.”

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Contact: Marcie Callan
mcallan@bendyoga.com
412-339-9838

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh