My Story
I'm Leigh, the founder of Rooftop Yogi.
I'm a physician assistant turned yoga teacher with an entrepreneurial spirit, and I'm on a mission to merge my medical background with the healing powers of yoga.
I started practicing yoga on Youtube during the Covid pandemic, after experiencing years of unexplained physical problems. I had joint pains, weakness, skin rashes, stomach issues, insomnia...the list goes on. In the beginning, I couldn’t even hold a plank pose. But the physical benefits are not what drew me in.
I quickly learned that yoga offered an escape from my ever-increasing anxiety. My anxiety was related to my declining health and the stressors of surviving graduate school during a pandemic. A daily yoga practice became my solace and, eventually, a transformative force. With time, I regained both my physical strength and control over my mind.
In 2021, I took a leap and moved to Austin, drawn by its plentiful nature, healthy lifestyle, and eccentricities. But despite falling in love with the city, I felt a lack of belonging at home, in my apartment complex. I found this to be a common issue in Austin, exacerbated by post-pandemic isolation and the telework era. I felt inspired to solve for this issue by merging my passions for yoga and community, and Rooftop Yogi was born. There is something special about getting a group of neighbors together who start as strangers, guiding them through a yoga class above or within the city we all love, and watching a sense of kinship grow.
I firmly believe most of our physical problems are the result of mental turmoil. I see it daily in my medical practice, and I've experienced it firsthand. Anxiety, depression, self-esteem issues, and unresolved trauma are the norm. Our modern society doesn’t readily set us up with tools to work through these things, so they manifest as illness.
I believe that healing can happen when we find our community, tend to our body, and tend to our mind. That's what Rooftop Yogi is all about.
Meet Our Team
Leigh Balatgek
The founder of Rooftop Yogi, Leigh is a yoga teacher, physician assistant, and entrepreneur. She finds meaning by empowering others to be their strongest, most vibrant selves through movement and community.
She teaches for Rooftop Yogi as well as at Black Swan Yoga Austin. Learn more about Leigh above.
Find her Instagram here.
Nichole Veillon
Nichole discovered yoga over 20 years ago and has been devoted to the practice ever since. Teaching since 2021, she views yoga as both art and alchemy, a way to connect body, mind, and spirit while awakening inner freedom. She offers yoga, guided meditation, and sound bath experiences that promote deep relaxation and harmonize energy.
Her classes weave creativity and strength with balance and authenticity, inviting students to explore movement as meditation. Rooted in joy and self-expression, Nichole’s teaching encourages each person to show up exactly as they are and grow from there.
Nichole’s intention is simple: to help others find expansion, meaning, and connection, on and off the mat.
Find her Instagram here.
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.
Find her Instagram here.
Jack Lesser
Jack, leading Satsflow Yoga, is a dedicated practitioner and teacher blending yoga with the spirit of proof of work — showing up, breathing deeply, and moving with intention.
Find his Instagram here.
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.
Find her Instagram here.
Voyage Austin Magazine Interview
Areas of Specialty
Public Classes
Private Classes
Private Classes
We host a weekly class on Sundays at sunset at Vanta Athletics, a rooftop facility in the heart of downtown Austin.
Leigh also teaches 3 weekly classes at Black Swan Yoga, voted Austin's Best Yoga Studio of 2023.
Join our Sweatpals group and follow our Instagram to never miss any public class offerings!
Private Classes
Private Classes
Private Classes
We partner with apartments and businesses to offer wellness events to residents and employees. Whether you're part of an apartment community, a hospitality group, a corporate office, or a local gym, we would love to create unforgettable experiences together that will elevate your space above the rest.
Learn more above.
Primary Care
Private Classes
Primary Care
Leigh is a certified physician assistant, with experience treating various acute and chronic medical conditions including anxiety, depression, thyroid disorders, infertility, diabetes, and more.
Her treatment philosophy is a holistic one: she empowers patients to heal from the inside out. She often recommends yoga and meditation in her treatment protocols.