The Yoga Common was started by two sisters with a passion for movement and a heart for healing. When Erica Whalen & Cynthia Rayner discovered the studio, it was a tiny community in Midtown Manhattan in need of some love and inspiration. Today, we have grown to two studios in New York City & Austin, serving busy cities with healing sanctuaries full of heart and soul. Erica is a former professional dancer with a BFA in ballet and modern dance. She has been teaching yoga for nearly 20 years. Cynthia is a recovering management consultant who believes small businesses can do great good in the world. Erica was a “mover” from an early age. As a child, she never sat still. Her family called her Tigger because she bounced everywhere. She watched TV while hanging upside down from the back of the couch. One day, her Mom found her unknowingly standing on her head. Cynthia, on the other hand, was a “thinker” who always had her head stuck in a book. She loved to write and think up new business ideas, most of which never made it past the brainstorming phase.