Connie Youngblood

Over 40 years ago, when her daughter was just three, she began her fitness journey in earnest, seeking a way to get back into shape after having two children and craving the camaraderie of group exercise. This was during the heyday of "dance aerobics," and the best place to take a class in Meadville was with Carla Chisholm. During this time, classes were held in various church basements and even in a racquetball court. The opening of The Body Firm, the predecessor to Keystone Strength, was a game-changer, providing a dedicated space for these enjoyable classes.

About four months after The Body Firm opened, she was asked to teach Rock Aerobics to pre-teens and Kids Aerobics to K-6 children. Not long after, she transitioned into teaching adults Low Impact Aerobics, which remains a staple in her schedule today.

Her initial impressions of yoga were less than enthusiastic—she thought it wasn't for her, that it moved too slowly, and couldn't possibly be a serious workout. However, she soon realized she was mistaken and discovered the benefits of yoga when she began taking classes at The Body Firm and the YMCA in the early 2000s. Yoga became her sanctuary, helping her relieve stress from her role as a school administrator. She developed increased flexibility and found that yoga enhanced the benefits of her other fitness classes.

Eventually, she became certified in yoga and developed the Relax/Refresh yoga format that she teaches today. This format is a blend of Hatha, Yin, Pilates, and Iyengar Yoga styles. Over time, she has incorporated props like blocks, straps, and Pilates balls to keep practices engaging and to increase flexibility and strength. Her classes feature a variety of music, including traditional chants, nature sounds, modern yoga flow music, and even familiar tunes like those from Elton John and The Beatles.

Her yoga practices are designed to enhance overall fitness and appeal to a broad audience, from young athletes to retirees, because everyone can benefit from stress relief, purposeful stretching, increased flexibility, and strength training.

Her professional credentials include certifications in aerobics and yoga, with studies at Pro Health Fitness Center in Merritt Island, Florida, and Zen Yoga in Cocoa, Florida. She also holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Foundations, Research, Technology, and Leadership from Youngstown State University and served as a professor in Middle and Secondary Education and Educational Leadership at Edinboro University. She is a retired public school educator and former school superintendent, having dedicated 41 years to public service.