We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful StewArt Yaros. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with StewArt below.

StewArt, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

There are two defining moments.

One, is when I saw a “Turning Point” the movie with Baryshnikov. As a teenager I had just been invited by some ballerinas to come and take some ballet lessons in Coral Gables Florida with Martha Mahr. Until I saw Baryshnikov I said No Way! That film and Baryshnikov changed the course of my life. I ended up studying both at SAB and ABT on Scholarship and became a Professional Ballet dancer dancing with the Basel Ballet in Switzerland and then with the Boston Ballet. And it was a beautiful part of my life. The ballet is a beautiful world.

The Second, is when I was running my ballroom and latin school called Dance International in Austin Texas. I had run the school for many years also teaching at UT Austin and striving to create quality in teaching and business practices. While running the school one of my students came to me and said they stopped seeing their therapist because of me. Woo, wait a minute. So it did cause me to take a look at how I was influencing my students. And it started a major pivot in my life away from Dance and Into Health and Well Being. What do you eat? What kind of exercise to you get? Do you spend any time in Nature? Do you Meditate? etc… These are the type of questions that I asked myself and then my future students in Balance Health(BH) the health and wellness program that I started.

StewArt, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I created Balance Health(BH) to help people be healthier and happier. I have done my best to make it accessible, affordable, easy to understand, and to implement. There are online programs that people can sign up with that are very user friendly via the website: www.BalanceHealth.guru. I also have an Instagram: Balancehealthguru and a. Facebook: Balance Health. In conjunction with the website I regularly teach yoga, t’ai chi, and meditation in the Parks in Austin and Cedar Park Texas where I live. Every weekend, Saturday and Sunday Mornings, I offer an 8am yoga and meditation and a 9:30am tai chi and meditation class. Saturdays at Rattan Creek park past the pool and Sundays at Anderson Mill West Park near the pavilion. Any one who wants to try a class out the first time is free.

Why in the parks? To help people get some fresh air and sunshine. Yes, sunshine provides essential vitamin D and other benefits. Also by being in the parks we are getting grounded. And why Yoga and tai chi? I see a lot of wisdom in their approaches to movement and see healthy benefits. It’s also fascinating to become aware of the ancient wisdom that is associated with these practices and their awareness of Energy. Or what is called Chi or Prana, or a Jedi would call it the force. In the classes all are welcome, and it’s a go at your own pace and don’t force anything. With practice you’ll improve your flexibility and strength, and find other help benefits. I also finish the classes with meditation. Why? to reboot the brain, sometimes, well often, the mind gets in the way of our health and well being.

I also teach private lessons going to people who have busy lifestyles. I teach the yoga, t’ai chi, and meditation, as well as reminding them of the importance of “what you eat matters!”

I can be reached at [email protected]. or 512-970-1343

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

It’s a lesson for me and I think it’s pertinent to a lot of people. Everyone in the US is convinced and sold on the idea by corporations and established markets that you need to eat 3 meals a day. And not just 3 meals a day but big ones and sometimes more often. It is just not true. IT’S NOT TRUE. Some people, many people can be very healthy and content on eating 1 or 2 meals a day and much smaller meals. Many people, many Americans, and I’m included will often eat out of: habit, frustration, anger, sadness, loneliness, depression, etc. Really having nothing to do with actual hunger. Many of us could make do on 1 or 2 meals a day. And doing a weekly fast of no food for a day. And there are a lot of health benefits to fasting.

And what we eat? oh, boy…… The amount of processed food is very sad for Americans and the fast food consumed is literally sickening, literally making people sick.. Yes, it’s time to eat more Vegetables and Fruit, Organic if you can get ahold of it.

Food is important. Yes the quantity and also the quality. It effects the body, your brain, and your overall health.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

As a professional dancer first Ballet then Ballroom I would say that persistence, discipline, and a commitment to excellence is what drove me. And helped define and create my reputation for quality. And I hope that the persistence and discipline has carried over into my health program Balance Health and also yoga and tai chi. I do not wish to compete as I did in the Ballroom world. I am now much more interested in health and well being for myself and others. The competition world can taint one’s life if that is all it’s about. Yoga and T’ai chi wisely let people be where they are at and be happy and healthy in their own personal growth.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.BalanceHealth.guru
• Instagram: balancehealthguru
• Facebook: Balance Health
• Youtube: Balance Health & Wellness
• Other: email: [email protected]

Image Credits
Most if not all the photos were taken with my iPhone. The Logo for Balance Health(BH) and the website for BH were developed by Big Tuna.