43
For Hubbard sisters, yoga and massage are a natural pairing
By Sarah Lehr
hubbard
Terrie and Trina Rich, co-owners of Om Yoga Studio, are Hubbard women through and through.
The sisters grew up in Hubbard, live in Hubbard and have chosen Hubbard as the location for their new business venture.
The Rich siblings opened Om Yoga Studio, 15 N. Main St., and Healthy Balance Massage Center, 10 E. Liberty St., in January.
Downtown Hubbard, they said, was an ideal locale.
“In a small town, we always have to go out to outside Hubbard for anything,” Trina Rich said. “The next-closest massage or yoga studio might be in Hermitage [Pa.], Niles or Boardman. So, we decided, let’s bring this to our home town.”
That decision has paid off, according to the sisters.
“It’s a close-knit community,” Trina Rich said. “The positive is that people from Hubbard will always support each other. It does make a difference to be known throughout town.”
Dana Smelko, an instructor and manager at Om Yoga Studio, said Hubbard’s business district has been an asset.
“We have people who come and say they like to go for yoga class or a massage and then afterward, they love that they can go to the salon or get coffee,” she said.
Smelko noted that yoga can produce physical benefits, such as enhanced flexibility and strength, in addition to mental benefits, such as decreased anxiety.
She urged people not to be intimidated by yoga.
“You don’t have to be a pretzel,” Smelko said. “We have offerings from beginner level to advanced. There’s always a modification for any pose. It’s not a competition.”
The studio has a maximum capacity of about 25 students. Clients can reserve classes online or over the phone. Walk-ins also are accepted.
Terrie Rich, a nutritionist, certified chiropractor and believer in holistic healing, says yoga and massage are a natural offshoot of her wellness center, Natural Health and Wellness Center at 967 W. Liberty St., where she offers acupuncture and chiropractic care. Yoga and massage are a natural pairing, she said.
“This gives everyone who walks through this door one hour for themselves,” Terrie Rich said. “It’s an overall healing experience.”
She added with a laugh, “So everyone in Hubbard’s a lot happier.”
Contact Om Yoga Studio at 330-568-2080. Contact Healthy Balance Massage Center at 330-568-2070.