Gal Yaguri. Photo courtesy of Balaboste
A company in Hastings-on-Hudson brings therapy and sustainability to the forefront of home organization.
With the celebration of Earth Day in April, we wanted to introduce you to a local business that takes organizing to a whole new level — a green level! Balaboste was started in 2021 by Gal Yaguri, who has 20 years of professional experience in global business operations and an interior design certificate from the Parsons School of Design but decided to make a change in her career.
“My last job was with a leadership development company,” says Yaguri. “There, I gained professional language and skills that enhanced critical thinking as well as an ability to communicate more thoughtfully and hold space for others, which are critical aspects in the work of space organization.”
She loves HGTV shows, home design, and was always the friend who gave tips and advice to help them organize. “Balaboste is the perfect culmination of my studies and professional experience combined into one offering,” she says.
Balaboste is a Yiddish word that means “good homemaker.” But Yaguri finds that being a good homemaker like her grandmother and many women before us is not just someone who cleans, cooks, and keeps things tidy, it is a lifestyle and a practice.
Her organizing philosophy is two-fold, wellness in the space (therapeutic) and a deep focus on sustainability and zero waste.
“I have been exploring somatic and mindfulness theories, which I thoughtfully weave into everyday practice,” says Yaguri. “This informs the work I do with a heightened focus on the impact of energy in a physical space.”
She says objects hold energy and with too many objects in a space we can feel overwhelmed or uncomfortable. People who are downsizing, which makes up about 50 percent of her overall clientele, may go through a range of emotions during the editing process. This is where the therapeutic approach comes in. She meets the client where they are and they work through the process together. Then comes the inevitable question: What do you do with all that stuff?
“I have been exploring somatic and mindfulness theories, which I thoughtfully weave into daily practice”
—Gal Yaguri
Yaguri has innovated the space organization field by offering sustainable solutions for the removal and management of unused goods. Currently, she has more than 20 organizations where she donates items so they don’t go to waste. She is also spearheading a Take It or Leave It garage, a reuse space in Hastings on Hudson.
As for her organization, services are offered as three options:
My Space, which is a full project-management service that supports big life events, such as downsizing, renovations, partings, or new beginnings.
My Self, which is a space-organizing service helping to declutter, sort, and repurpose.
Finally, there is One Step at a Time, which can begin with a small project, like a drawer or a cabinet. This service is offered virtually or in-person.
Balaboste
Hastings-on-Hudson
balaboste.com
Related: Spring Cleaning Guide: How to Get Rid of Anything in Westchester
