A NEW yoga and wellness centre in Pickering is a finalist in the prestigious Rural Business Awards.

The Balance Rooms Yoga and Wellness Centre opened on May 1 in Smiddy Hill.

Created by Chantelle Dawson, the centre is a hub for both mental and physical health treatments, and it includes a yoga studio and facilities for podiatry, sports massage and mental healthcare.

The centre has also been drawing attention recently as it is teaching groups of primary school students yoga lessons.

Chantelle said that she has now taught students from both Pickering Junior School and St Joseph’s Primary School. The classes of about 30 pupils have been taking part in the lessons this term.

“They are so well behaved,” Chantelle said, “and are truly benefitting from the experience.”

The business has been shortlisted in the Best Rural Recreational or Outdoor Pursuits Business category of the 2019 Rural Business Awards. The awards were established in late 2014 by Jemma Clifford and Anna Price, two business owners from Leicestershire. Now entering their fifth year, they aim to give recognition to businesses operating right across the rural sector.