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A New Heights Yoga Studio Brings Austin’s Laid-Back Exercise Vibe to Houston — and Its Unique Payment System May Shock You

BY Catherine Casey // 06.25.16

This week brought us the International Day of Yoga. It seemed like a good time to head to Black Swan Yoga Studio in the Heights where Kansas-born co-owner and instructor, Claire Victoria Asmann, gave us the inside scoop on all things yoga.

Claire first did yoga at age 18 — she was invited to take a class at a gym she was working at. Formerly a runner, she suffered from intense knee pain due to pressure from running and a childhood injury. Asmann was reluctant to try her first yoga class, but she left the studio hooked. “The sweating, moving, breathing,” felt amazing to her. Her passion for yoga stems from the rehabilitating effects it has on her body.

Night classes are especially popular at BSY Houston. Photo courtesy of studio.
Night classes are especially popular at Black Swan Yoga Houston. Photo courtesy of Black Swann.

One of the most attractive things about yoga to Asmann is that she is able to do it every single day. The practice of yoga offers a “balance of strengthening and lengthening without putting too much pressure on your body,” she says. Asmann has been able to practice in places like the Dominican Republic and Amsterdam, but Yoga on the Rocks at the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado is on the top of her bucket list.

The Heights studio is the first Black Swan location in Houston. The brand also has three studios in Austin, where Asmann did her teacher training. Black Swan Yoga offers a unique approach to yoga. Each class is drop-in and donation based.

Black Swan’s goal is to make the practice affordable and available for everyone. Asmann’s pleased that Black Swan Yoga has brought some of the Austin’s laid-back, relaxed spirit to Houston.

The studio prides itself on having a variety of teachers who are free to play their own music and teach however they see fit. All the classes are flow-based, but the instructors add a personal touch to each class. From a slow-paced, restorative sessions to an intense workout-based classes, Black Swan Yoga has an instructor for every yogi out there.

My favorite part of the studio was the local art on display in the lobby. As pieces are sold, the artists are rotated to expose yogis to the local art scene. Currently, Rob DiTeodoro‘s work hangs in the studio; the Houston artist also painted the intricate designs on the walls in the dressing rooms.

Here’s a quick look at the class we took:

Black Swan Yoga Studio in Houston is co-owned by Asmann and brother-sister duo Roland Keller and Olivia Keller.

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