A Northeast PA Yoga Studio Built For Real Life - Boundless Yoga

Tight hamstrings, a busy mind, and the belief that you have to be “good at yoga” before you start keep a lot of people stuck. We’re cutting through that story with Chris Loebsack of Boundless Yoga Studio, a Northeast PA yoga community that’s been growing for nearly 14 years and was born from something even more grassroots: Chris traveling to teach workshops, events, and teacher trainings before building a home base.

Chris shares the personal beginning behind her work, starting yoga in high school while dealing with juvenile fibromyalgia, stress, and not feeling comfortable in her body. What began as a simple attempt to get out of her head became a steady path toward healing, confidence, and eventually owning the very studio where she now helps others. We also talk about the surprising truth that many great teachers start out reluctant, and how the practice can bring you out of your shell through consistent movement, mindfulness, and learning to be present.

We dig into a big misconception that stops beginners cold: “I can’t do yoga because I’m not flexible.” Chris explains why yoga meets you where you are and why progress is built over time, not earned up front. Then we zoom out to the business side of wellness, from old school flyers to social media to AI-powered content, and why personal connection is still the best marketing tool for any local business. If you’re looking for relaxation, mindfulness, yoga for beginners, and a real sense of community, you’ll feel right at home here.

Subscribe for more conversations with local business owners, share this with a friend who “can’t do yoga,” and leave a review so more neighbors in Northeast PA can find the show.

Transcript

Show Welcome And Guest Tease

SPEAKER_00 0:05

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Joe Longo.

SPEAKER_01 0:17

What's up, everybody? Welcome back to the Good Neighbor Podcast, live Northeast PA edition. Are you in need of some relaxation, some yoga, some mindfulness? Well, this might be closer than you think. Today I have the pleasure of introducing your good neighbor, Chris Lobsack with Boundless Yoga. Chris, thank you so much for being here with me today. How are you doing?

SPEAKER_02 0:39

I'm doing great, Joe. Thank you so much for having me.

Boundless Yoga Origin Story

SPEAKER_01 0:42

I'm so happy to uh be able to spend some time and chat with you. And we're all excited to learn more about Boundless Yoga. Could you tell us about Boundless?

SPEAKER_02 0:53

Um, Boundless is interesting because although we have a studio location now going on 14 years, it started as uh a traveling company where I was teaching workshops and events, teacher trainings, but I was going to other studios to teach, and then eventually we created a home base.

SPEAKER_01 1:10

Wow, 14 years already.

SPEAKER_02 1:13

Yeah, it's crazy.

SPEAKER_01 1:14

That's a that's amazing. How did you stumble into the world of yoga and then studio ownership?

Healing Through Yoga With Fibromyalgia

SPEAKER_02 1:23

Uh I was actually really young at the time. I was in high school and I was struggling with uh juvenile fibromyalgia. I was stressed, I was not comfortable in my body. And at that point, they were still learning a lot about the juvenile form of fibromyalgia. So I didn't have a lot of answers. And my mom took me to my first yoga class just to you know try and get me out of my head. And it was, you know, became a huge part of my life that helped me heal and then eventually became my business.

From Reluctant Teacher To Owner

SPEAKER_01 1:54

Wow, that's amazing. So it really um had some healing benefits for you. And how about being the business owner, the studio owner? When did that, how did that come to play?

SPEAKER_02 2:09

Well, that was kind of wild because initially I never really wanted to be a teacher. I was very shy. I wanted to stay on my own mat, but at the time I was also, I was in transition between jobs, and the old studio owner uh of what used to be Sindari Yoga um kind of coaxed me into taking teacher training just for myself. But she saw something in me, I guess, that I didn't notice yet. And um, once I started teaching, I just loved helping people. I loved connecting with the community, and it also brought me out of my shell. And a few years after that, then she sold me the studio because she was in a life change and I just continued on.

SPEAKER_01 2:49

Isn't that interesting how it happens where someone was like, hey, maybe maybe you should do this? Like, no, I kind of want to stay over here in my shell. And and then we take those steps, kind of very similar with my first teacher training. The studio owner said, Hey, you know how to make websites, and I need one, and you should probably do a teacher training. So, what if you make me a website and you do the teacher training as a as a barter? And I'm like, I don't want to teach. Here we are.

SPEAKER_02 3:21

I often find some of the most reluctant teachers actually they they make great students, they are more introspective, they really think about things, and they they see it from the the more introspective perspective, which often um helps coax others out of their shell as well.

Biggest Yoga Myth For Beginners

SPEAKER_01 3:41

Yeah, yeah. And we all need a little a little coaxing. And in this, you know, business that you're in, what are some of the myths and misconceptions?

SPEAKER_02 3:51

Oh goodness. The biggest one is I can't do yoga because my hamstrings are tight. I think if I had a dollar for every time that I'd I'd be you starting another company. Um but the truth is you don't have to be anything to start. You start where you are and everything works progressively. It's um it's a consistent way to keep yourself healthy, that you don't need any pre-existing um idea of flexibility, strength, health, wellness. You start where you are and you can build from there.

SPEAKER_01 4:23

Yeah, and I can definitely um vouch for that as well because I was also that guy. It was like, I can't do that. I'm not flexible, even though I was an athlete, I wasn't flexible. And wouldn't you know it? After some time, I became flexible.

SPEAKER_02 4:38

Well, and I didn't think I could relax either. I was, you know, go, go, go. I was at university, you know, studying biology and chemistry and like I'm in all this heady stuff, and I didn't know how to sit still at all. And yoga is a balance between movement and then also learning to be present with yourself. Um, so it often gives you uh some of what you want and a lot mostly what you need.

Marketing Then And Now

SPEAKER_01 5:02

Yeah, so so true. Um, so we all know that marketing is a huge part of every business. What are you doing to target your customers and attract them and actually get them on the map?

SPEAKER_02 5:15

Yeah, it's crazy because it's changed over the years. I've you know been doing it so long now, and especially even before I had the brick and mortar. I mean, we started, you know, really old school flyers and you know, build personal connection and then social media hit the scene. We really targeted there. And then, of course, you know, the with all the new AI waves, that's really helping to create more promotions, reels, you know, content. But in many ways, it's coming back to old school. It's you know, the biggest thing that will help somebody connect to a space is the personal connection. Even something like this, you and I just having a talk with one another that says, you belong here, it's safe space, and come on out and hang out with me. So I think people are really craving, like letting go of all of the excess and just coming back to the simplicity.

Podcast Dreams And College Radio

SPEAKER_01 6:02

And with that, have you ever thought about stepping behind a microphone and having a podcast?

SPEAKER_02 6:08

I have. Um, you know, I've I've dabbled with things. Um, you know, some of it's uh part of time management, but uh, I actually used to have a radio show when I was in college. So there is a thread sometimes that tugs me back in that direction.

SPEAKER_01 6:21

Oh, that's awesome! That's awesome. College radio spinning spinning the tunes.

SPEAKER_02 6:26

WESS over at East Strasbourg University many, many years ago.

Life Outside The Studio

SPEAKER_01 6:30

Oh, that's so great. So great. That's one of the regrets of my college life that I didn't explore the college radio. I listened, but I didn't know. Well, you're doing it, right? Right. I just I I needed to catch up. I needed to catch up with it. Um, outside of work in the studio, what are you what are you doing for fun?

SPEAKER_02 6:49

Uh spent a lot of time with my husband and uh rock climbing, of course, doing my own yoga practice. And I'm in that season where I'm just like, I want to like really get out and make my yard comfortable and just have the sanctuary in my home.

SPEAKER_01 7:04

Yeah, I'm all about that sanctuary, and especially here in Northeast PA, it's so beautiful. And I often say it's I mean, you know, we're we're not far away. And it's like it's just hard for me to leave my sanctuary here because I'm in the woods and it's amazing.

SPEAKER_02 7:20

Yeah, it's peaceful and and scenic and you know, just a great place to live.

Community First At Boundless

SPEAKER_01 7:26

100%. So if you can tell our listeners one thing that they should remember about boundless yoga.

SPEAKER_02 7:35

I would say even more than just coming for a physical workout, we really um focus on building community. That when you come in, you're not just a solo person on the mat. I think people are really surprised at the friendships they make, um, the connections they have, uh, and the joy that comes from community.

SPEAKER_01 7:54

Yeah, it's a very special place. And how can our listeners find out more about Boundless?

How To Find Boundless Yoga

SPEAKER_02 7:59

Uh, you can email us at infoboundlessyogastudio.com or check out our website, boundlessyogastudio.com, uh, or give us a call, 570-664-0956.

SPEAKER_01 8:11

Wonderful. Chris, thank you so much for your time for our quick chat and filling everybody in about boundless yoga from me and everyone at the Good Neighbor Podcast. We look forward to all of your success in the future.

SPEAKER_02 8:25

Thank you so much, Joe. I appreciate you.

Closing And Nomination CTA

SPEAKER_00 8:28

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to GMPNEPA dot com. That's GMP NEPA dot com. Or call five seven nine zero eight four three.