Aither Yoga’s Return to Downtown:CEO Tyler Paytas on Clean Yoga® Practice for Pittsburghers
Written by Molly Green
Aither Yoga is back in Downtown Pittsburgh, at 339 Forbes Ave. The studio was established in 2020 but shut down a few times during the pandemic. In January, Mayor Ed Gainey joined founder and owner Tyler Paytas and his team for a ribbon cutting ceremony in celebration of Aither Yoga’s grand re-opening.
Paytas is excited to reunite with Downtown, which he’s always seen as a place for experiences you can’t get elsewhere. He says, “We’ve always believed in the power of Downtown. The combination of residents, students, visitors, and professionals create a really unique population throughout the day…at night and on weekends.” Paytas used the post-pandemic momentum that strengthened the residential population to bring back Aither Yoga. Working with the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and the City, Paytas and his team were able to re-open at the same location, a building with rich history. 339 Forbes has welcomed all sorts of businesses, entrepreneurs, and communities for decades. With that, Paytas emphasizes, “Being part of the Downtown community, being part of the Downtown history, but, more importantly, being part of the future of Downtown where we can use our space to not only deliver Clean Yoga experiences, but…to engage with the community.”
In conversation with Paytas, I learned about Aither’s deliberate purification process to foster their trademark mission, Clean Yoga®. From the beginning, Paytas and his team have “wanted to have a clean studio that focused on high quality air.” Breath, a central pillar of yoga, demands clean air that many indoor facilities lack. Paytas mentions that the space includes high grade ventilation systems, MERV 13 filtration, bipolar ionization targeting dust and pollutants, and hospital grade finishes from tin ceilings to antimicrobial wall paint. This system negates mold and pollutants, and it is continuously adjusted for the cleanest possible environment.
As CEO, Paytas does a bit of everything. He’s formed a strong line-up of highly-qualified instructors and an experienced team that maintains the cleanliness of the studio. Said team is also the driving force behind Aither's retail operations in which they sell products ranging from Aither Essence hand and body cream to Manduka yoga gear. Paytas affirms, “My role is really to make sure that everybody has what they need…so that we welcome new people into the space…we’re continually able to offer more amenities and benefits to our members.”
Paytas wants to encourage anyone who is considering starting yoga to “Give [Aither Yoga] a chance because we’ve designed the space to be a neutral safe space for all…inviting you into a clean, modern, open, welcoming space.” Paytas, who himself got into yoga later in life, finds that yoga is one of the most strengthening, rewarding things you can do for your body and mind. He describes the practice as a “holistic…full-body exercise that will leave you feeling stronger, happier, refreshed, and ready to take on the day.” He also says, “[Yoga] brings emotional and mental stability…a space to step away from everyday chaos…to clear your mind and reflect on what’s important to you…and those around you.”
Aither Yoga offers classes in a multitude of styles, speeds, and proficiency types, all created around the essential philosophy of Clean Yoga®. Paytas states, “We wanted to design a curriculum that allowed both the beginner and the advanced yogi to both see a lot of benefit and a lot of variety in our schedule.” From soothing Clean Foundation, to strength-building Clean Cut, Aither Yoga has options for every yogi. In January, Aither conducted the Compete Against Khaos program that “encouraged people to get on their mat as much as possible throughout the month.” February offers a robust schedule with a broad scope of times, days, and styles.
In addition to their invigorating classes, Aither Yoga hosts events, such as comedy shows and weddings. On February 16, Aither Yoga hosted a Valentine’s “A Love Letter to Yourself” event in collaboration with Armful of Flowers. This featured yoga practice followed by a self-affirming writing session and bouquet building. Looking forward, Paytas aims to schedule more thematic events, pop-up shows, and collaborative activities that “build upon the solid foundation of yoga.”
To Downtown and surrounding communities, Paytas expresses, “We’re very excited to be back in the heart of Downtown Pittsburgh, and we don’t take that responsibility lightly. We will continue to look for opportunities to deliver unique experiences to those who work, live, and play in Downtown, and we want to invite anyone who hasn’t tried our space or…our studio yet to check us out and keep an eye out for not only cool, clean, unique yoga offerings but an ever-evolving list of events and retail offerings that will combine into a really unique destination in the heart of Downtown Pittsburgh.”
To learn more about Aither Yoga, check out their website, where you can find information regarding pricing, class schedule, and events.
