Don’t you ever get tired of working out?” one of Ann Mazur’s former coaches asked last fall while visiting her newly opened yoga studio and fitnesswear shop inside Charlottesville’s Dairy Market.
It was a fair question for Mazur, who juggles running an online business and in-person store, a strong social media presence, marathons, teaching yoga at her own studio and the University of Virginia, designing for her athletic clothing line, rescuing kittens, and a rigorous daily training regimen of swimming, running, and yoga.
And yet, Mazur’s answer: “No.”
Exercise is quite the opposite of a chore for this woman of many hats and workout shoes. “That is my break from everything else I’m doing.”
Her love of varied workouts is part of her secret sauce. It keeps things interesting, keeps her balanced—and keeps burnout at bay. It’s also why she jokes that she’s “the least psycho runner ever,” nourishing her mental and social wellbeing with friends from different athletic fields and the calming nature of her practice. “I totally attribute the longevity of my running career to my yoga,” Mazur says. “Ironically, if you take the time out to do yoga, you can do everything else more efficiently and better, because you’ve gotten rid of all the stress.”
When someone’s feeling low, Mazur’s first suggestion is simple: move. Reconnecting with one’s body and feeling the rhythm of activity can calm the mind. Even a 30-minute daily commitment can shift everything. “It can double as your social time after work and become something you really simply love to do,” she says. “It will have an impact on the rest of your life and how you feel.”
Last year, Mazur ran the Pittsburgh Marathon and set a personal record in a 5K race. She founded Runners Love Yoga in 2012, an online yoga education brand for runners seeking similar benefits, amassing over 30,000 Instagram followers on @RunnersLoveYoga. There and on the brand’s website, she shares videos of yoga poses and workout plans tailored for runners. “It’s so smart to have something else so that you don’t have all your eggs in one basket,” Mazur says. “That way, if you are hurt and can’t run, it’s way less devastating.”
Among Mazur’s many baskets is Relay Active, her yoga studio and sportswear store. “It’s so motivating to get a new outfit that makes you feel strong and like you look good to get you to go out the door for your workout,” Mazur says. Comfort, functionality, and style are key to the line’s synergy, featuring no-pinch waistbands, authentic tie-dyed pieces, glitter colorways, and Ecotech-certified fabrics. Products range from casual tees to sleek leggings, comfortable shorts, tennis skirts, crop tops, headbands, and more. Practicality is paramount—if an item of clothing can have a pocket, it will, even the comfort-fitted, stylish sports bras. These feature a smart back-panel pocket between the shoulder blades, perfectly sized for a smartphone—eliminating the need for chunky arm sleeves or holding your phone in hand while running, encouraging ease of movement and increased focus on the strides ahead.
At the studio, Mazur and one other teacher offer yoga classes on weekdays and select Saturdays for private events or special Kitten Yoga days. Mazur’s approach is all about embracing the highs and lows of trying new workouts and the centering nature of yoga. “It’s not the level of advanced poses that you can do that makes you a good yogi—it’s you listening to your body and taking it day by day,” she says.
“I don’t plan every class,” she adds, citing 16 years of teaching experience and a Ph.D. in English from UVA as guideposts that help her respond spontaneously to students and use language that resonates. “It makes it a more authentic class. I like creating on the fly and responding to how the room is doing.”
Though people may joke that she’s not using her doctorate, Mazur says it’s quite the opposite. In fact, she says, “My Ph.D. has been critical in everything I’ve been doing. It’s all about language and research—even writing for marketing and pinpointing details for products.” Her detail-oriented approach helps her guide students through poses, noticing when they need more guidance when adjusting from one pose to the next, and where they’re ready for more of a challenge. “My time in English has given me a really good
ability to read the room and know how to slow things down or speed things up.”
Of course, adding kittens into the mix doesn’t hurt.
Mazur and her husband’s three cats—Boo Boo, Butters, and Little Nuggie—had long made cameo appearances in her Runners Love Yoga videos. Their unexpected charm sparked the idea for Kitten Yoga, a playful class held on select Saturdays at Relay Active. During these special sessions, adoptable kittens from local shelters like the Louisa Humane Society and the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA (CASPCA) roam freely among the yoga mats, delighting participants. “It’s a great way to trick people into trying yoga out,” Mazur laughs—and it often leads to successful adoptions. Louisa Humane Society alums Tootsie and Snuggles are just two of the many success stories.
The classes regularly generate $200 in donations for CASPCA and have kicked off a ripple effect across Charlottesville. One UVA sorority recently hosted a kitten yoga event inspired by Mazur, and Progress Studio has launched its own feline-forward sessions. The reason for the trend’s popularity? According to Sara Stone, director of advancement at CASPCA, it’s simple: Dopamine! “What’s cuter than something oh-so-tiny, oh-so-precious? Working out is not everyone’s best friend, so it’s a sweet way to add joy to it,” she says.
It was Mazur who had originally approached CASPCA with the idea, and Stone says her passion for the cause was instantly clear. “I found out very quickly she was a cat fanatic,” she recalls.
Stone attended the very first CASPCA-partnered Kitten Yoga class and remembers fondly watching the kittens respond to the class environment. The shy ones tucked themselves into the folds of yoga mats, while the bold and curious curled up in armpits or darted playfully through the maze of limbs.
Having grown up with a mother who owned a yoga studio, Stone is no stranger to the nuances of a well-led class. Even amid the unpredictable chaos of kitten antics, she noticed how calmly and intuitively Mazur guided the session. “She led a really relaxing flow class, inviting people to be in and play in the space. She really read the room and followed its cadence, cognizant of people wanting to make friends with the kittens,” Stone says. “She has this beautiful, welcoming nature.”
Since its start, Kitten Yoga has directly led to the adoption of 16 kittens—and counting. In that time, Mazur herself has welcomed two more cats into her family: Koozie and Gio. The latter, a sleek little black cat, is a Kitten Yoga alum who never left.
The entire premise of Kitten Yoga feels like a reflection of Mazur herself: grounded in wellness, full of heart, and powered by purpose. She also donates one percent of Relay Active’s proceeds to animal rescue organizations, a tangible expression of her values.
With cats often snoozing nearby or brushing against her during practice, Mazur’s yoga mat isn’t just a space for exercise—it’s a safe space, a place of calm, connection, and care.
“If you prioritize your physical well-being, then your mental and emotional wellbeing come along with that,” she says.
Coordinated sets from Relay Active’s Ribbed Performance collection.
Relay Active’s Kella Pocket Crop Top features a handy phone pocket.
This article originally appeared in the June 2025 issue.
