New Yoga Studio Promotes Wellness, Relaxation

It started as a fluke.

The week before Thanksgiving last year, Amy Rogers was headed to a business in Carrollwood, and parked in front of a yoga studio nearby. Instead of going to the business, she stopped inside of the yoga studio. She'd read about its health benefits and wanted to give it a try.

"They had a donation class on Sundays," she said. "I fell in love with it."

Now, Rogers has opened her own studio, in Carrollwood. The studio opened in March, after Rogers and her husband brainstormed a game plan for the business on Christmas Day last year.

"By Feb. 9, we had the lease signed for here," she said of the business at 4507 Gunn Highway. "We worked for 39 days of construction to get it going."

Rogers said that even though she's new to yoga - she researches and talks to her yoga teachers' classes to learn more - she's not new to healthy and alternative living.

"What I love about yoga is that you get an incredibly intense workout without over-stressing your body." she said. You have the de-stressing factor with music and the atmosphere."

She said her business not only offers yoga, but massages, too. She's also looking to hire an acupuncturist and reflexologist.

Rogers also offered some advice for people reluctant to try yoga.

"I think if they can come with an open mind and just experience and see how good they feel after a class, it's hard to find the words to explain how good they feel," she said. "It took once for me."

Kate Nucci, a Carrollwood resident, said she stumbled upon the yoga studio after going to her favorite restaurant, Conga's, which is next door.

She had practiced yoga years ago, and wanted to try it again.

"I absolutely love it," she said. "They are very personable, and do wonderful work."

Harmony Yoga & Wellness Center, 4507 Gunn Highway, is open seven days a week, and offers classes like gentle yoga, yoga flow and power yoga. For prices and more information, call 813-374-0392.