In January 2014, temperatures in Cincinnati dipped as low as -6 °F. The chill wasn't just unpleasant—it wreaked havoc on piping systems beneath the ground. But when a pipe froze and burst at The Breathing Room, the center's passionate owners and instructors decided to turn their bad luck into a blessing.

Instead of throwing their hands up in despair, they set to work making their yoga and Pilates studio into even more of a serene retreat than it had been before. They embarked on a full renovation, installing radiant floors to emanate therapeutic heat, and building a new second Pilates space and locker room. Today, the new and improved studio welcomes students to classes ranging from Booty Everywhere, a barre-fusion class that sculpts students' bodies with ballet-inspired movements, to Cardio Pilates, which centers around challenging Reformer workout techniques. An aesthetician, massage therapists, and Ayurvedic specialists have also joined the team, and a fluffy white canine named Silas regularly attends classes to help students fine tune their downward dog poses.