In January 2001, Darla Austerman, Kimberly (Johnson) Washburn, and Lauren Barnert-Hosie  merged their considerable intellectual and professional resources to create Open Spaces Yoga Center, LLC.

That Year they launched their endeavor by opening in a 600 square foot studio in Wagon Wheel, AZ. Two years later, with encouragement and support from Mosty Donahue at Spa Estique, they pulled up stakes and moved to a far more spacious 1502 square foot space in the Ponderosa Plaza, Lakeside (right on highway 260), where the business continues to thrive to this day.

Life's changes, redirection of professional focus, and family needs brought the most recent transformation to this business entity. Lauren assumed the reigns of the organization, with Darla and her husband moving to Washington State and Kimberly expanding her nurse practitioner women's health practice in Show Low. (Kimberly and husband, Steve Washburn have opened "Yoga Caliente" -  in The Gym in Pinetop where she and others teach "hot yoga"). This change in ownership was conducted with the greatest of equanimity and compassion of all concerned and represented the highest understandings of the root of yoga....compassion, humility, loving kindness, and selfless service.

The yoga center was completely renovated at the end of 2011 when the "yoga wall mural" designed and executed by Ken Hosie was created (the only one of it's kind in the world).
Open Spaces has continued to expand it's offerings to the general public with an emphasis in Iyengar yoga, and depending on the season, other styles of yoga are offered to suit every individual's need. After 3 years of intensive yoga therapeutics study, Lauren has begun offering (2017) Yoga Therapy Classes for those with health issues that require therapeutic interventions.
Lauren is an IAYT (International Assoc. of Yoga Therapists) certified instructor.

Meditation is an integral part of yoga practices and has been led by Master teacher Ken Hosie spanning many years at OSYC on Sunday mornings. Sound, Tone & Chant, (a 7 week intensive practice to explore the indepth relationship between creating vocal sound and creating community) has been offered several times.  OSYC has yearly hosted intuitive sound healer Patricia Hurley (Santa Cruz, CA) here to offer transformative private sessions to those in the White Mountains.
 
With our commitment to serve the community, Open Spaces  has hosted tours of Tibetan Buddhist Monks, who have given teachings, pujas, offered Tibetan Herbal healings, House blessings, divinations and created sand mandalas due to the generosity of local individuals.   OSYC also regularly hosts special workshops, programs, performing artist events and public talks.

Open Spaces Yoga Center is fully equipped and offers all levels of practice to accommodate the broadest possible needs of the young and old, the infirm, the sports-minded, healthful-living enthusiasts and those in search of evolved spiritual practices through yoga  and meditation.  
 
Without the devotion to yoga of our many fine instructors, OSYC wouldn't have attracted and maintained the diverse and dedicated students, who over the years have made Yoga a regular part of their lives.  To our students we are forever grateful for bringing themselves to the path of yoga. To the OSYC staff and students we extend our deepest heartfelt thanks for ensuring that yoga thrives in the White Mountains.