Cary Yoga Collective (CYC) is a welcoming community studio offering authentic, mindful yoga practices, teacher trainings, and special events that nurture mind, body, and spirit. Rooted in connection and care, we’re dedicated to sharing the timeless practice of yoga with all who walk through our doors.
Founded in January 2022 by the owners of two beloved studios—Loretta Jo Schlatzer (Yoga-Mojo) and Heather Blanchard (Yoga Garden of Apex) — CYC was born from a shared vision to unite and serve the growing yoga community throughout the Triangle and beyond.
In November 2025, longtime CYC teacher Jim Bader and his daughter Megan became the new owners of the studio. Together, they are honored to continue the legacy of community and quality practice that defines Cary Yoga Collective, while bringing fresh energy and inspiration to guide its next chapter.
Jim Bader, RYT200
Jim Bader’s yoga journey began in 2014, when he took his first class at the fitness center in his office. At the time, he was simply looking for a way to reduce stress and stay physically healthy — he never imagined that yoga would become such an important part of his life. What started as a small step toward balance soon grew into a steady practice that offered not only strength and flexibility, but also mindfulness, community, and a deeper sense of well-being.
As his practice deepened, Jim was drawn to learn more and share what he had discovered. In 2018, he completed his RYT training with Loretta Jo Schlatzer through Yoga-Mojo, initially planning to teach part-time to stay connected to the practice and introduce others to its benefits. Over time, teaching became a true passion. Jim views yoga as a kind of moving meditation, finding peace in the rhythmic stillness it offers, and he loves helping others experience that same sense of calm and presence.
Now, as co-owner of Cary Yoga Collective alongside his daughter, Megan, Jim feels honored to continue the legacy of care, connection, and community that defines the studio. Together, they’re dedicated to creating a welcoming space where everyone — from longtime practitioners to those stepping onto the mat for the first time — can find support, inspiration, and a shared sense of belonging.
Megan Bader, RYT 200 HR
Megan Bader is a yoga teacher and co-owner of Cary Yoga Collective, based in Cary NC. As a lifelong mover, Megan first connected with consistent embodied practice through dance at the age of two and has been guided by movement ever since.
Introduced to yoga as a teenager by co-owner and father, Jim Bader, Megan was initially skeptical – more familiar with rhythm and choreography. Over time, yoga became a grounding and nurturing resource, especially through the intensity of adolescence.
For the past decade, Megan has practiced, studied, and shared yoga with a dedication to inviting students into compassionate, grounding and expressive relationships with their bodies. Her teaching centers mindfulness, curiosity, and the belief that practice can be both expansive and supportive.
Megan is also a professional dance artist and the founder/host of a movement and wellbeing podcast Conversations for the Moving Self, bringing a depth of somatic understanding to her spaces.
