We rise by lifting others.
Meet your teachers
Heather, Cory, Kelsie, Bobbi, Sarah, Brandy, Kenzie, Allison, and Sandee. Amber, Leah, Tirza & Denise not pictured. Learn more about us below.
Cory Hamilton, RYT-200, TSY
Cory Hamilton was born and raised in Northern Ohio and has been a resident of Union County since 2005. She has been employed as a legal advocate for crime victims since 2011 and is passionate about assisting survivors throughout the justice system and beyond. Cory is trained in trauma informed care and believes in a holistic and individualized approach to healing. She has practiced yoga since 2015 as her avenue for self-care and is honored to help lead others in their yoga journey at Balanced Tree.
Heather France, RYT-200, TSY
Heather France began taking yoga classes as an alternative form of treatment to aid in managing hip pain. As time went on, her practice evolved into both a mind and body experience. Intrigues by her broadening perspective, she decided to take teacher training at Balanced Tree Yoga Studio to evolve her practice. After graduating in 2020 she decided to commit to helping others begin their own practice. Heather is an avid nature photographer. She enjoys traveling, live music, and gardening at her home in Richwood.
Bobbi Craft, RYT-200, TSY
Bobbi Craft started yoga after hip replacement surgery to regain strength and flexibility. She quickly fell in love with the practice and decided to learn more. She is a July 2020 graduate of the BTY YTT program & is also certified in Mindfulness & Trauma Sensitive Yoga. She believes yoga is for everyone regardless of age or health conditions. Bobbi has lived in Richwood almost her entire life and enjoys the small town community. Married for over 30yrs to her husband Butch and together they raised one grown son, Kyle. As a couple they they enjoy concerts as well as spending time with friends and family. Bobbi's other hobbies include reading, photography, and gardening. She believes there is no better therapy than playing in the dirt (and yoga). She is feels blessed to be part of the community of caring that Balanced Tree Yoga Studio has cultivated and looks forward to seeing you at the studio!
Sandee Lauer, RYT-200, TSY
Sandee Lauer was born and raised in Waldo, and a resident of Prospect, Ohio for 35yrs. She is a council member for the village of Prospect, a volleyball official, and works for META Solutions. With her husband, she has 3 grown children and 2 grandchildren. Sandee has practiced yoga since 2007. Beginning with a wonderful Yogi, who no longer teaches. He inspired her to attend YTT at Balanced Tree, graduating in 2021. YTT was a wonderful experience in broadening her understanding of all aspects of yoga. Sandee believes yoga has greatly helped her well-being and will welcome anyone to share space with her at the studio.
Allison Merritt, RYT-200, TSY
Allison Merritt has practiced yoga since 2017 and completed the Balanced Tree Yoga Teacher training in 2021. She is honored to be a part of this community and share her love of yoga, which profoundly changed her life for the better. Yoga taught her to slow down, to be present, and to practice kindness within her hectic schedule. Allison was born and raised in Columbus, and has lived in Union County since 2009. Besides teaching yoga, she enjoys spending time with family & friends, belly-dancing, reading and traveling.
Brandy Spurgeon, RYT-200, TSY
Brandy Spurgeon is a mom of 2 humans, 5 cats, and a mini farm. She has been on her yoga journey for over 5 yrs and completed her 200hr YTT in 2018. She is certified in trauma informed yoga, including trauma informed for youth. Her favorite pose is tree pose, always feeling a strong connection toward trees & the woods. She also loves savasana, knowing that pausing for a few moments is incredibly beneficial.
Kenzie Johnston, RYT-200, TSY
Kenzie Johnston is a 2021 graduate of the Balanced Tree Yoga YTT program. She started practicing yoga in 2018 when the studio opened its doors in Richwood. While she never thought she would become a yoga junkie, she certainly never saw herself earning her certification or even teaching classes, but she was wrong. She fell in love with all the eight limbs of yoga during YTT and it has forever changed her life, for the better. Kenzie works to incorporate the “yogi” lifestyle in all she does. A teacher at heart, she is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in agriculture communication, education and leadership while working for OSU Extension in Delaware County. Kenzie loves all that the studio has to offer the community and hopes to see you on the mat soon!
Denise Falzone, RYT-200, TSY
Denise Falzone took a high school yoga class and was impressed with how much yoga helped with the stiffness, aches and pains that occurred from distance running. Denise moved from New Mexico to Ohio with her Mother, Husband and four dogs in 2014. Denise found that yoga helped her stress and seriously started to take yoga classes in 2016. When the opportunity arose to take Yoga Teacher Training in 2021 with Sarah Scott, she became certified in Yoga and Trauma Informed Yoga. Denise is passionate about nature and spends her spare time gardening, growing Tallgrass Prairie Native Plants, bird watching and is a Certified Ohio Volunteer Naturalist.
Kelsie Elkins, RYT-200, TSY
Kelsie Elkins is a 2020 YTT graduate. She has fallen deeper into her practice over the past few years, and could not be more thankful. Originally taking her YTT for a mind, body, soul, and self-love journey, and along the way she fell deeper in love with the way yoga makes her and those around her feel. With some encouragement, she took a big, exciting step and gave teaching a shot. Her desire is to learn and grow with every person she comes across at the studio. Sharing and receiving the love and light that each and everyone of us has to offer.
Leah Connor, RYT-200, TSY
Leah Connor is a current resident of Marengo, Ohio and has lived in Ohio her entire life. She has been a preschool, special education teacher for 8 years. Leah has been practicing yoga for 14 years and received her RYT-200 in 2017 through an amazing teacher training program designed for educators called Breathe for Change. This program focuses on teaching movement and mindfulness to young children. Leah is also a certified Birth Doula and loves supporting women through pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. Leah's goal is to bring self-love and mindfulness strategies to people in every life stage.
Amber McKenzie, RYT-200, TSY
Amber McKenzie is a 2020 graduate of the Balanced Tree YTT program, but has been practicing yoga for many years. What started as a way to stay injury free while marathon training, became an unexpected, (and on-going) journey of self-reflection and love. She is proud to be a voice for the voiceless through volunteering for several central Ohio animal advocacy organizations, as well as CHOICES for Victims of Domestic Violence in Columbus. Amber is the proud mama of 2 dogs, Lyric and Adan, and a rotten (but adorable) cat named Puck. Her love of yoga is surpassed only by her love for her husband, Heath, of 20yrs. Together they will travel almost anywhere to see live music, and love spending time at their home in Marysville. Growing up in a small town, Amber understands the importance of bringing yoga to ALL communities. She truly believes that everyone can benefit from yoga and is thrilled to guide others on their own journey.