AMHERST — A pilates studio in the Mill District in North Amherst is marking five years with its Open House Weekend Friday and Saturday.
Balanced Birch Studio, 77 Cowls Road, was founded by Mary Ellen Liacos following a professional dance career and teaching in public schools, as well as an interest in supporting a lifelong practice of movement education.
Balanced Birch is a Classical Pilates and Gyrotonic exercise studio offering private sessions, group classes, teacher training and wellness services.
Before creating the studio, Liacos, who came to the region during the pandemic, created a “Zen Den” in the North Square Apartments, initially with virtual sessions and classes before becoming a meditation space with mats. Eventually, this turned into the Classical Pilates apparatus space.
The location now has a Teacher Training Center for Classical Pilates USA and the studio’s expansion has allowed for increased group class offerings and a wider range of community events. This expansion also introduced a dedicated treatment room.
Saturday’s open house, titled “Under the Same Sky: Celebrating 5 Years Strong Together,” starts at 5 p.m. at the studio, but will move to the large tent along Cowls Road, where there will be music, dancing and raffle items and food and wine for sale from three other Mill District businesses, Provisions, 3 Amigos and Carefree Cakery.
