Health Heroes: Radiance Yoga
I got to talk with Kishie and Susie about the history of their studio Radiance Yoga. It’s always energizing to hear so much passion about an endeavor, especially one that helps so many people. You can join them for classes in-person starting April 2021, or with their on-demand program any time!
What prompted you to start Radiance Yoga?
Kishie and Susie had a coffee date in 2014, where they both talked about what their dream yoga studio would look like. They envisioned a peaceful retreat that offered a diverse range of yoga classes. They imagined a space where egos, judgement, insecurities and negativity were left outside, and people of all ages and walks of life would come together with yoga as the central guiding path. As music lovers, they both knew that music MUST be a part of every class. The dreaming process was so much fun, they decided to make it a reality! Radiance Yoga Studio opened its doors 6 months after that conversation. The community that grew out of that first coffee date has exceeded our expectations, and has given us so much faith in the power of yoga to connect people in profound ways.
How has it evolved?
Radiance began as a single yoga studio and a carefully curated retail boutique. As time passed, Kishie and Susie started slowly downsizing the boutique so that yoga could be their primary focus. In 2019, Radiance added a heated studio to their location. Radiance's primary goal is to offer "yoga for every one and every body," and the heated studio offered a haven for the yogis who like their yoga hot. In 2020, the evolution continued when the pandemic created the opportunity for Radiance to become an online yoga studio, and Radiance ON-DEMAND was born! Our virtual studio (with over 150 diverse classes and meditations) gives yogis the opportunity to practice on their time, at their pace and in any location!
How has the pandemic affected Radiance Yoga?
The pandemic has had a deep impact on Radiance: it quickly shifted from being a thriving in-person business, to a well-loved “Namaste at home” business. The blessings of technology have allowed Susie, Kishie and the Radiance team to continue offering yoga via Zoom and their new On-Demand channel. It has been beautiful to see how the Radiance yogis became such an integral, shining part of each other’s lives during the pandemic. Yoga (whether in person, on zoom, or online) is a powerful connector and anchor. The “pandemic pause” has also served as an incredible opportunity to re-vision the direction that Radiance will take. We are DELIGHTED to announce that we will be reopening for in person classes mid-April!!
What are you most happy about with the business?
We are so happy that our yoga community truly feels like a chosen family. We support each other in so many ways: as a group we share laughter, comfort, celebrations, hardships… The camaraderie is very heart-felt, and we are so grateful for the loyal community and the many who are dedicated to self-growth.
What are some goals going forward?
We anticipate re-opening the doors of Radiance Yoga in mid-April, and we cannot even wait to see everyone’s smiling faces! At this point, we are keeping our goals very low-key, and simply look forward to reopening with renewed appreciation for the collective shared experience of practicing yoga together. We are going to have so much fun!
If you had one chance to sell someone on yoga, what would you say?
We wholeheartedly believe that yoga is for EVERYONE. If you have tried yoga, and it didn’t resonate, that simply means you need to experiment with some different teachers and classes until you find YOUR style. There are so many different kinds of yoga; there is fast yoga, slow yoga, challenging yoga, restorative yoga, relaxing yoga, anatomy-focused yoga, spiritual yoga…. the list goes on and on.
All styles have the ability to connect your mind, body and spirit, move stuck energy, dissolve emotional blockages and ease chronic physical pain. Susie likes to say, “After yoga, I feel like I have seen a therapist, had a great massage, and saw some of my best friends.” It’s also important to remember that there’s no such thing as “being bad at yoga.” Yoga meets the practitioner exactly where they are, and each experience is perfect. We would love for you to come to Radiance and start, or continue, your yoga journey with us!
