MEET OUR EXPERIENCED INSTRUCTORS

The Hearts Behind Higher Ground Rooftop Yoga

At Higher Ground Rooftop Yoga, our team of yoga instructors are passionate about creating accessible, community-centered wellness experiences. From vinyasa and yin yoga to meditation, breathwork, sound healing, and special events, our teachers bring diverse backgrounds and teaching styles while sharing a common goal: helping students feel stronger, more connected, and more at home in themselves. Whether you're attending your first yoga class or have been practicing for years, you'll find supportive guidance and welcoming community at Higher Ground.

LEIGH BALATGEK

HG was founded by Leigh Balatgek, a physician assistant (PA)-turned yoga teacher-turned entrepreneur. Leigh loved the relationships she formed with patients as a PA, but modern medicine never fully aligned with her holistic approach to life. Then, as a yoga teacher, she felt even closer to the role she hoped to play in the world, but still had the desire to create communities of people who felt hyper-connected, both to one another, and to the world around them.

After years of hosting rooftop yoga events across Austin through her company Rooftop Yogi, that vision has evolved into a dedicated outdoor home for community-centered movement, and Higher Ground was born.

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CASEY GEIGER

Casey is a 500hr RYT with over a decade of practice and 6 years of teaching under her belt. Her classes link breath + movement and invite you to explore longer holds, with themes of self-compassion, ahimsa, and empowerment woven throughout. Expect flows that can meet you wherever you are - whether you’re feeling strong, sleepy, or somewhere in between - and a space where you’re genuinely welcome to show up as yourself.

Originally from the Carolinas, Casey works full-time in digital marketing and believes deeply in the importance of mental health, the magic of a really good hot dog / diet coke combo, and the fundamental goodness of humanity. When she’s not on the mat, you can find her reading, hanging at Lazarus Brewing, watching sports, or laughing hard enough to forget what was funny in the first place.

A woman with curly hair in a white t-shirt and tan shorts is sitting on a kitchen counter, smiling. Behind her, there's a white wall with a wooden shelf holding several potted green plants, including a large palm, a snake plant, and a pothos. The kitchen has a sink with a faucet, a soap dispenser, and white cabinetry below the counter.

cami cooper

Cami began her yoga practice at age 3, following along with her grandma and dad, often on the beaches of Virginia. While her practice has ebbed and flowed all throughout her life, yoga has always been a core part of her identity.

She stepped into the role of yoga teacher in 2024 and built a pop up yoga community in Austin called Relentless Optimism Wellness. She's a strong proponent of fostering a beginner's mindset, no matter where you are in your yogi journey, and believes that yoga should be fun even when you're challenging yourself.

Liz Tyrrell

Liz found yoga in 2006 and quickly saw its transformative benefits on her physical and mental health. What began as a way to exercise grew into a way of living with more intention. She’s been teaching since 2009 after earning a 500 hr certification in hot hatha yoga, and later trained in power vinyasa yoga at the 200 hour level, followed by additional education in yin yoga. In her classes, you’ll find an empowering and accessible experience for all body types, ages and walks of life.

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amy brunet

After years of working in education, Amy found yoga as a way to slow down, feel more grounded, and better manage the stress of everyday life. What began as a personal reset quickly evolved into a practice she felt called to share. Her classes are rooted in intentional movement and awareness, blending strength and balance to guide students out of their heads and into their bodies.

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REILLEY CONNELLY

Reilley teaches yoga from a place of integrity, presence, and authenticity. With over 11 years of personal practice and 400+ hours of training in Baptiste and Vinyasa flow, her classes blend intuitive movement, breath, and a touch of playfulness, because she believes healing can be both deep and joyful. Inspired by her background in intuitive dance, she invites students to connect with their bodies and move in ways that feel natural and freeing. Her intention is to help you live with more awareness, intention, and ease in your everyday life.

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REMI MANNA

Remi is a former college athlete who spent years pushing her body past its limits. Yoga became the first space where she learned to slow down, listen to her body, and create a healthier relationship with movement. Her classes are rooted in slow, grounded vinyasa sequencing with a strong focus on alignment and body awareness.

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RAE SCHILLER

Rae believes in the power of breath and in making yoga both fun and challenging. Her classes blend mindful awareness with energizing sequences, helping students build strength, balance and presence. Expect breath work, challenging holds and opportunities for play.

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JACK LESSER

Jack is a dedicated practitioner and teacher blending yoga with the spirit of proof of work — showing up, breathing deeply, and moving with intention.

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MEG RIDGWAY

Meg has taught yoga for 13 years and she is deeply passionate about supporting others on their journey into embodied wholeness. She believes the body awareness, mental fortitude and inner-coherence developed through a consistent yoga practice are important tools for self-understanding and authentic living.

In practice together, you’ll focus on regulating your nervous system through a delicate balance of developing new strength and releasing deep-set tension, all at a steady pace of breath. You’ll explore dynamic flows, creative transitions and challenging postures in a way that is accessible, regardless of your experience. Meg intentionally designs each class to help you feel more grounded, connected to your heart and expanded in your mind.

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RAMONA VON LEDEN

Like many, Ramona started practicing yoga for the physical benefits, but as her practice grew and deepened, the mindful and spiritual aspects of the practice were what drove her to want to study and teach yoga herself. With a PhD in neuroscience and a background in competitive athletics, she brings a blend of science, mindfulness, and athletic movement to her classes. Expect a strong but playful practice, with a focus on exploration of self through both movement and breath. In her free time, she enjoys training in muay thai, hiking with her dog, baking all sorts of goodies, and of course, practicing yoga.

Jolie Umstead

Jolie is a yoga teacher who is just trying to spare the lives of bugs. Her desire is to provide yoga to everyone through an open & curious space of growth, meditation, and a little bit of fun. She loves connecting with students, getting them to laugh and enjoy their class while encouraging personal growth! She does her best to enjoy life but knows that sometimes things get real, and every now and then we just need an hour resting on the mat with a teacher offering space. 

Jolie has been practicing yoga for over 15 years, after finding a studio in NJ. She became certified with her 200 hours, rooted in Vinyasa, in 2020, and has been teaching since 2021. She completed her 300 hours, rooted in Anusara yoga in 2023, and is now enrolled in an additional 508 hour program with Janet Stone.