Today we’d like to introduce you to Eva Leobold.
Hi Eva, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My path has never been a straight line, and looking back, what stands out most is that many of the opportunities that shaped my yoga life began with someone else’s suggestion. I have a degree in art and spent many years working in engineering and land surveying, with long hours and tight deadlines. Yoga wasn’t exercise for me – it was the calm in the middle of a busy and often stressful life, and it showed me that even in the busiest seasons, it’s possible to make space for yourself.
My first yoga teacher encouraged me to attend teacher training, which I did, and eventually I purchased her studio with a partner. After returning to engineering for a time and selling my share of that business, I found my way to Blue Moon Yoga. I was teaching at another studio when the owner of Blue Moon talked me into coming over to teach and offer a teacher training program with her. When she sold the studio, I stayed on to assist the new owner in running it, and eventually I was given the opportunity to take over myself.
I never set out to become a teacher or studio owner, but one opportunity seemed to lead naturally to the next. The support and confidence that others had in me gave me the opportunity to think about the possibilities. Over the years, Blue Moon Yoga has grown into more than a place for yoga classes. It has become a space where people can slow down, reconnect with themselves, and find support through yoga, Reiki, meditation, sound healing, and other practices that nurture body, mind, and spirit.
What I treasure most, though, is the community that has grown around the studio. People check in on each other, celebrate milestones together, and often continue their conversations over coffee or a snack after class. Looking back, I can see that every chapter of my life – and every person who believed in me along the way – helped shape the work I feel privileged to do today.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, although many of the challenges are the ones most small business owners face – finances, budgets, scheduling, finding teachers, and creating programs that serve the community well.
The biggest challenge came in 2020 when we were forced to close during COVID. Like so many studio owners, I had to learn how to pivot to online teaching almost overnight, with less than 48 hours to figure it out and no experience doing it. It was stressful, but our community stayed connected and we found ways to continue practicing together.
Shortly after that (within a few months), life brought another challenge. I spent four years as the primary caregiver for my mother during her battle with cancer. Those years taught me a great deal about love, patience, and priorities, but they also required me to step back from growing the business. In many ways, we’re still rebuilding from that season.
Another challenge is one I choose intentionally. I believe that Blue Moon Yoga and its spiritual community should be a place where people can show up exactly as they are – without feeling like they need to dress for social media or be camera-ready. I want people to feel comfortable laughing, crying, sharing, or simply coming to class in sweatpants and a t-shirt, knowing they can relax and be themselves. Because I value that sense of privacy and authenticity, I’ve chosen not to rely on photos and videos of students, even though that can make marketing and maintaining a social media presence more challenging.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that every season requires a willingness to adapt. The studio that exists today definitely isn’t the one I imagined when I took over 12 years ago, but it reflects what matters most to me – a welcoming community where people feel seen, supported, and accepted.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Blue Moon Yoga?
Blue Moon Yoga is a community-centered studio offering yoga classes, Reiki, meditation, sound healing, workshops, holistic fairs, and yoga teacher training. We are always adding new offerings as they arise. Although I wear the hats of owner and administrator, I’m very much hands-on. I teach classes, workshops, and teacher training, and I serve as the resident Reiki Master and energy healer. I spend a lot of time in the space and with the people who walk through our doors.
While I’m proud of all of our offerings, I’m most proud of the atmosphere we’ve created. We have students who have been with us since before the pandemic and others who have been practicing with us since I first took over the studio twelve years ago. One of my favorite things to hear is that people can feel their shoulders drop and their tension begin to release the moment they walk in. The space is approachable and we take care of people. There’s always a cup of tea if someone needs one, and our instructors genuinely care about our students. We notice when someone hasn’t been in class for a while, and we check in because people matter.
I think we’re known for our steadiness and our relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. Many people come to us during stressful times or when they’re looking for something more, and they appreciate that they don’t have to know anything or fit into a particular mold. Whether someone is trying yoga for the first time, curious about Reiki, attending a sound healing, or exploring another holistic practice, they don’t have to worry about feeling awkward or judged. We believe people should be able to explore these practices in a calm, supportive environment and discover what resonates with them.
I’m also proud that Blue Moon has become a place where teachers, healers, and practitioners support one another. I believe there is room for all of us, and one of my greatest joys is creating opportunities for people to share their gifts and serve the community together.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Hmm – I have a lot of memories of spending time in the kitchen with my Italian Grandmother, not only learning to cook, but learning about caring for people and family in the best way you knew how – hers was cooking.
But one of my favorite memories is with my grandmother on my father’s side. It’s also one of my earliest memories. We were visiting my grandmother’s house in the country. I must have been about three years old. As we drove up the long driveway, I saw her painting the rocks along the side of it white, and I was terribly disappointed because I had somehow decided they were fairy rocks, or that the fairies had placed them to keep us safe. Seeing her painting them made me think they were just ordinary rocks after all.
I must have said something about it, because she smiled and explained that they actually were ordinary rocks, but she kept them painted bright white because they showed the fairies the way to her house, the stream, and the lake beyond. Whether the memory is exactly as I remember it or has grown a little over the years, I’ve always loved it. Somehow, she found a way to honor both reality and wonder, and my belief in fairies remained intact.
Pricing:
- Drop in yoga classes are available
- Yoga class packages start at $95
- Month to month memberships start at $76 per month (4 clases per month)
- Most popular membership is $136 per month
- Special pricing is available for multi-session Reiki packages
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.blueyoga.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BlueMoonYoga-NewJersey
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bluemoonyogaNJ/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/BlueMoonYoga-NewJersey
