Meet Leigh Balatgek

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Leigh Balatgek. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Leigh below.

Leigh, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?

I think my optimism comes from a deep belief that the universe is always working in our favor, we just have to pay attention. Life constantly sends us subtle signs and synchronicities, and I’ve learned that by trusting my intuition and staying open to possibility, things tend to unfold exactly as they’re meant to.

This belief has guided me through many chapters of my life so far – moving to Austin from Pennsylvania, finding my fit in the medical world, becoming a yoga teacher, building certain relationships and ending others, creating a business, etc. try to approach everything with the mindset that there’s a lesson, a redirection, or a bigger plan at play. Entrepreneurship, in particular, has strengthened this trust. It requires stepping into the unknown again and again, and always involves some failures, but I’ve found that when I follow my inner knowing, the right doors open. My optimism isn’t about blind positivity (cuz bad moods happen) – it’s about deeply trusting that, even in uncertainty, I’m on the right path.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I technically have 3 jobs right now – I’m a physician assistant in geriatric medicine, a teacher at Black Swan Yoga, and the owner/manager/main teacher for Rooftop Yogi. This is pretty on brand with me in general – I love to stay busy and always need something to look forward to. I recently adopted a cat named Mellow from one of my patients, I spend a lot of time with my friends, and I loooove to travel – this year, I have plans to go to Europe, California, Colorado, and some other places!

Among all of this busy-ness, my main focus at the moment is growing my Rooftop Yogi community through weekly events and strong partnerships. I currently partner with various apartment communities around town to host yoga classes as a resident event. I also offer a weekly public class every Sunday night at Vanta Athletics, and signups are through Sweatpals. Every first Sunday of the month, this event is a collaboration with Body Art Run Club that includes a 2-mile run, a cooldown yoga class, and either breathwork or a soundbath to end the evening.

We are always looking for vendors and partners for our Sunday evening classes, so if you’re part of a wellness brand or product, let’s chat!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

1 & 2. Staying open and saying yes: there were many times that an opportunity presented itself that at first, didn’t seem like it would pan out, but when starting a business journey, you need to take every chance you can get! This is how some of my most important connections got made.

3. Combining education: it’s no secret that my true passion is teaching yoga, yet I spent a lotttt of money to become a physician assistant. I still practice as a PA, but hope to make my way out of medicine in the next few years. Rather than seeing that as a waste, I choose to look at it as a necessary step to my entrepreneurial journey. As a PA, I have a deep understanding of the human body, which helps me to construct my flows in a safe way that feels good for students. I also now have experience working with all types of people, on matters as personal as their health and wellness, and that’s not always something that comes naturally! Lastly, my current job as a PA is flexible, autonomous, and financially rewarding- all things that are necessary in order for me to pursue my entrepreneurial and yoga teacher passion.

So, I would say no matter what point/education/career path you are starting from, find the ways that that current role can support your transition into what you really want to do. I promise, no experience is a waste!

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

Yes! I am looking for owners/tenants of buildings or parking garages with rooftop spaces. My mission is to host yoga classes all over the city, and to find one main space that can serve as an elevated, outdoor studio space.

I am also always looking to partner with apartment communities and businesses to bring yoga directly to them.

If any of that sounds like you, I’d love to chat!

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Eyal Amsellam

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