When did you decide to open your own studio?
HA: So from there, that's where I decided to get trained. At the same time I rehabbed my ankle, and I moved to Portland. So I did my initial training in Portland, then moved back and did my second training here in the city with the Kane School. I taught at a studio in Chelsea for about 4 years, and when I left there I started working for myself with private clients. I did that for two years before I decided to open the studio.
I opened the studio because I wanted to be able to do larger classes, and I also wanted to be able to control the environment more. We opened it in 2013 in the summer. For a lot of the studios that were around, the vibe was kind of medical. There's a really big focus on rehabilitation, which is super important, but that doesn't mean it has to be sterile and boring either. So as far as opening the studios, I have a particular style that I have developed which is very contemporary and faster-paced.