“Yoga is the perfect opportunity to be curious about who you are.”

Mindfulness. Alignment. Breath. Flow. Relaxation. Community.

Backwards Yoga, located in Eldridge, Iowa, offers vinyasa yoga classes for all levels. These include non-hot yoga classes, hot classes (ranging from 80-105 degrees), a variety of workshops designed to deepen your practice, cardio & Bootcamp classes, private yoga sessions, and private group sessions. We are also a Yoga Alliance certified school and offer teacher training programs for 200-hour certification. Our creative and friendly instructors offer challenging classes to improve flexibility, strength and balance for the mind and body.
Backwards Yoga’s owner, Kela Ganzer, is a North Scott graduate and grew up in rural Scott County. Her parents are Dean and Tina Ganzer of Donahue, IA. Kela grew up with back pain her entire life while being diagnosed with scoliosis at an early age. At the age of 12, she went through a spinal fusion surgery, in which they placed 2-13 inch rods along her spine to straighten the curvature. After her surgery, Kela was limited to mild sports and exercise. While Kela entered college, she decided to try yoga for the back pain of carrying her book bag across campus. She instantly felt the pain relieved through her spine. She continued her journey through college and decided to share her love for yoga with others. She has since completed her 200-hour Yoga Alliance certificate, 500-hour Yoga Alliance certificate, Pre-natal Certificate, and SUP Yoga Certificate.
Ganzer wanted to give back to her North Scott community by starting a small yoga class while renting space at the local daycare in 2014. It was here that the desire to grow the yoga community started. Backwards Yoga evolved into a hot studio in July 2015 in the downtown area. We have become an extended family and offer each of our community members a yogi experience. Eldridge has embraced the studio and given us our unique small town feel. Our atmosphere is welcoming and open to all levels of yogis. We are proudly serving the Quad City area and encourage people from Davenport, Bettendorf, Rock Island, Moline, and Dewitt to come out to Eldridge and see why we are worth the trip.
Backwards Yoga proudly gives back to the North Scott Community by hosting a Blessing Box for donations of non-perishable items and school supplies; hosts community events at local businesses to enhance partnership among growing businesses; donates back to the North Scott School District; and is a sponsor to many little league baseball, softball, and soccer teams.

See what we're up to!

"Backwards Yoga is amazing! The instructors are awesome and very knowledgeable. The studio is always looking to improve and wants client feedback. Kela is an inspiration, she loves her community and is always giving back. I highly recommend Backwards Yoga!" --Lisa

Jigar Gor

"Backwards Yoga is AMAZING! The staff/teachers are VERY knowledgeable and always know how to make you feel great! I love that they offer unique workshops, and use local business to host “backwards brews” - SO much fun! Plus, Kela the owner loves to put community as a priority and give back as much as she can by having a Blessing Box, Red Table, and sponsoring MANY local businesses/events right here in our own backyard. All around fantastic! :)" --Nikki

"I’m not typically one to write reviews on line, but in this case I think it’s important to share what an outstanding studio Backwards Yoga is. Every session I attend is a new positive experience. The instructors are very knowledgeable and are willing to give students modifications for poses depending on flexibility, body type and experience. It’s a great studio for beginners and advanced students alike. If you’ve never been to Backwards Yoga or aren’t sure if yoga is for you, you owe it to yourself to stop in and practice. You won’t be sorry!" --Mike

Rolf Gates

“You cannot change everything around you, but you can create a better world within yourself”

Shubhanshu Tiwari

“Life is a balance of holding on & letting go.”

"When you find peace within yourself, you become the kind of person who can live at peace with others."

Peace Pilgrim

“Yoga is possible for anybody who really wants it. Yoga is universal…. But don’t approach yoga with a business mind looking for worldly gain.”

Mysore Ashtanga Yoga Guru, Sri Pattabhi Jois

“True yoga is not about the shape of your body, but the shape of your life. Yoga is not to be performed; yoga is to be lived. Yoga doesn’t care about what you have been; yoga cares about the person you are becoming. Yoga is designed for a vast and profound purpose, and for it to be truly called yoga, its essence must be embodied.”

Aadil Palkhivala

"The divine light in me bows to the divine light in you."