Who’s Behind the Counter: Leslie Coombs at Avalon Yoga Studio

Catonsville Patch: How long have you been in business in Catonsville?

Leslie Coombs: In 1997, I opened the Avalon Studio for Movement and Dance. I had been teaching swing dancing around Baltimore since 1987, and I wanted to open my own dance studio. At first I was on Frederick Road (where the Piano Man is now) and then I moved to Mellor in 2000 (where Peace of Pizza is now). I had a ballroom there with a $25,000 gymnastics floor. It was great for dancing. Later I found my focus shifting more to yoga and I turned my dance business over to one of my students and committed myself to yoga. I opened this studio (77 Mellor Avenue) in 2008.

Why did you choose Catonsville?

Coombs: When I taught swing dancing, I was the only person outside of New York City who was teaching real Lindy Hop. I had studied with Frankie Manning who was the first dancer to add aerial moves to the Lindy Hop. I had so many students coming from all over. I chose Catonsville because it was easy to get to.

What do you like about being in Catonsville?

Coombs:  When I was looking for the perfect place for my studio, I kept thinking about Avalon. One of my favorite books is The Mists of Avalon, and I love the swing song "Avalon." Like the Avalon of the King Arthur legend, I thought it might not exist. But I found it here.  That’s where the studio name came from. I moved to Catonsville in 2000, so now I live here too.

What is Community Yoga?

Coombs: Community Yoga was the idea of one of my students. We offer it three times per week, and it is a way to make yoga accessible to everyone at all levels. It is an inexpensive, one-hour class that rotates all the teachers on our staff. It is really more of a guided practice than a class.

Do you have any specials or loyalty programs for customers?

Coombs: We have flexible ways to pay for classes. The more classes you take in a 10-week session, the cheaper they are.

What’s a typical day like?

Coombs: In the morning I have tea, read, and do my own yoga practice. Then I walk my dog and sometimes garden. I often help with my grandchildren. I come to the studio to do office work in the afternoon and in the evenings I teach.

What is your busiest time of year?

Coombs: I have just finished this year’s teacher training. It is an 11-month program of study one weekend a month. In addition, there is a practicum of observation and practice teaching in the spring. So spring is definitely my busiest time.

What kind of yoga do you teach?

Coombs:  I teach Hatha yoga, which is not a “brand.” There are literally hundreds of these different brands of yoga now, but they are all Hatha yoga. I call my personal style “slow flow” because it is a slow and meditative style of movement that honors the process of getting from one place to another. With beginners, I teach simply, one posture at a time. That process is about welcoming them home.

What’s one of the hardest things about your work?

Coombs: One of my students brought me a present in a bag last night. I asked, “Is it a left brain?” The business part of this is very hard for me. I love teaching and working with people, but I’m not creative with making a vibrant business.

What are you proud of?

Coombs: Maybe it’s just coming off the graduation of my students yesterday, but I feel amazingly proud to be guiding people to grow into doing work that is so wonderful. I’m beyond proud; I feel privileged and blessed.

What are you looking forward to?

Coombs: In September, we are starting a program called Living Yoga in which we will offer a variety of workshops to take yoga off the mat and bring it into life. Some of the ideas are Yoga and Gardening, Yummy Yoga, Yoga and Yarn, and a Yoga Reading Group.

If there is one thing you think is needed in the business community, what would it be?

Coombs: I would love to have a healthy grocery store in town.

What's been the best piece of advice you've received over the years about running a business? 

Coombs: I haven’t had much business advice. I don’t seek it; that’s my problem. But I guess it would be my sister who keeps telling me that I have to take the business side of all this more seriously. I get advice with my teaching and guidance in my study of yoga.  That’s what I focus on and where my heart lies.