Cindy Brewer Purser has been teaching yoga in Albemarle for nearly 17 years.
Now, after a brief break in having a physical brick and mortar location, Purser has opened a new Albemarle Pilates & Yoga studio at 350 Pee Dee Ave., Suite 201, in the Lillian Mill building in downtown Albemarle.
Purser opened APY on March 31, 2008 in a historic house she renovated on North First Street. It closed in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There was no way to be six feet apart in the space and have enough students to pay the bills. It was a heart-wrenching decision, but in the end it all worked out,” she said.
“I’ve never stopped teaching,” she added. “I began teaching virtually from home, doing 20 Facebook live classes and 15 private Zoom sessions per week. I also created a Patreon page with classes that is still up and running. At that time I was also teaching yoga at Pfeiffer University and I taught yoga/pilates classes at Stanly Community College.”
Purser would later offer classes in a small room at the back of Larry McGuire’s realty office and at a space offered by The Talent Company. Later she offered classes at original location of Vac & Dash on Main Street.
When she learned that building was up for sale, she had to search elsewhere.
“I talked to Paul Childress who told me he might have the perfect spot for yoga and pilates studio, and he was right,” she said. “This new space couldn’t be any better for me and the students. I have plenty of room so I purchased more Pilates Reformers so I can now offer Reformer Group classes and I have Aerial Yoga swings there for group classes as well. I offer yoga, pilates, barre and meditation classes on the mat in large groups as well.”
The studio has classes Monday through Saturday, and Purser is adding more instructors to offer more classes.
“I teach mostly the morning and afternoon classes, and one night a week. So I’m bringing in some talented teachers to offer more evening and Saturday classes to fit all of our students’ schedules. The schedule can be found on my website site, AlbemarlePilatesAndYoga.com,” she said.
“I’ve been so very grateful to all of the students who’ve stuck with me through all of the moves and transitions so that I could continue to share these loves and passions of mine and still make a living,” she added.
Purser became interested in yoga after becoming injured as a dancer, dance teacher and choreographer.
“I injured my back dancing when I was only 19 years old and went on a journey to learn how to heal and stay healthy so I could continue dancing and living the kind of life I wanted,” she said. “That’s how I found pilates. I lived in Atlanta in 1999 and began a pilates teacher training program at Body Awareness Studio with Leslie Clayton in Buckhead. When I moved back to Charlotte in 2000, I began teaching pilates and a yoga studio, The Bodhi Tree. I started taking yoga there and realized that it was beneficial to my body, but even more so for my mind and mental health. So I became certified with En Yoga Teacher Training with Lesa Crocker there. I eventually went on to study with one of my biggest inspirations in yoga, the author of ‘Meditations from the Mat,’ Rolf Gates. I later studied at Breathing Deeply Yoga Therapy Training School to become a yoga therapist. Recently I added aerial yoga to my trainings with ULU Yoga and I’m loving teaching this style of yoga.”

B.J. Drye is general manager/editor of The Stanly News & Press. Call 704-982-2123.