Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Stanley.
Hi Karen, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Center of Gravity Yoga and Pilates has been in business since 2015. It was the dream of several yoga instructors in the area to create a welcoming space to build a community for wellness in our small county of around 26,000 people. Many people said that we couldn’t do it in a town this small. Several of us had been teaching at various locations for many years, but never in a dedicated yoga studio.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Every business has its challenges. The first one was finding a space that was accessible to as many people as possible while still being affordable. Later, we lost our first studio space and had to find another space and renovate that space all within a few months. Luckily, we had some very motivated students and our families who stepped in to help us lay flooring, paint, and move things down a flight of stairs, across town, and up another flight of stairs to the new studio. For all the work and the inconvenience, our new space is 1000% better than the previous one. So it all worked out in the end.
The biggest obstacle we encountered, like so many others, was having to shut down for COVID-19 just 3 months after we moved into our new space. All while trying to buy equipment to pivot to a fully online business and then to a hybrid model. Again, our clients were rock stars and most made every effort to continue to come to class while streaming from their homes until they could come back into the studio. Since then our numbers continue to steadily increase as we try to offer classes that are inclusive and interesting to our community.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Center of Gravity Yoga and Pilates, LLC?
Center of Gravity is a full-service yoga, Pilates, and fitness studio in the heart of Lexington, Virginia. We offer in-studio classes, many of them also livestream for remote students. Several of our teachers specialize in personal training for yoga, mat Pilates, and fitness training. In 2026, we also brought several group fitness classes into our fold, in order to offer our students more options for their passes. We do not have a monthly membership, but offer a variety of packages to suit our clients needs.
We are known for building community in our studio and also participating in our community outside of our doors. The three owners, Wendy, Karen, and Kristen all have strong ties to the community from both the studio and other endeavors. We are proud of the professionalism and inclusiveness of our teachers and how many of our students have become our biggest cheering squad, welcoming in new members and helping them feel welcome.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
If you allow people to be seen and heard, they will become long-term patrons and friends. Our business is always personal first. Our clients are interesting people with stories and families and we enjoy hearing about their lives and joys and commiserate with their struggles.
Pricing:
- Monthly unlimited pass – $96
- 10 class pass (good for 3 months) – $100
- 6 class pass (good for 3 months) – $72
- On Demand Video Library – $22/month
- We also offer 3 class and drop in passes, and have discounts for full-time students, seniors (60+) and military/veterans.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lexingtoncenterofgravity.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/centerofgravityyoga
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cofgravity
