Benefits are for anyone, and anyone can do it

How did this business get started? “When we opened the yoga studio, our goal was to make yoga accessible to all. We wanted to create a space for all types of people, regardless of their yoga ability,” said Claire Grimm, who opened Tipsy Lotus Yoga Studio on South Reilly Road in 2016. “I started working at another yoga studio prior to opening my own, and I took over that studio from the previous owner. My staff, my husband and an army of people have helped to build this business. We painted and redecorated the space by adding bamboo floors and adding a painted wall mural. The name, Tipsy Lotus Yoga, was chosen because we want beginners to feel welcome. It’s OK not to be perfect or to have prior knowledge about practicing yoga.”

Why did you choose this business? “I got into yoga when we moved to Fayetteville from Michigan. My husband is active duty military. I wanted to meet people, and I fell in love with yoga. I had a previous back injury and I used it to help heal my back.”

How is this yoga studio unique? “There are other amazing yoga studios in town, but we stand out in several ways. We stress that yoga is available for anyone and for any body type. Anyone can do it. We also cater to beginners. We are here to help with anxiety issues, too. I have also suffered from anxiety. Yoga helps me to relax. It focuses on breathing, which is calming. The yoga mat is a safe place, where we try to do everything with intention. The yoga poses we practice will vary and each has different benefits for your body.”

What are your most popular classes? “We offer 20 classes. Each one is about 60 minutes long. The Hot Yoga class and the free military classes on Sundays, at 6 p.m., are the most popular. We have lots of men, and a lot of soldiers in our classes. Probably 70 percent of those who attend are men. Free hot yoga classes are open to active service members. It costs $10 for military spouses, and for everyone else it is $12. Hot yoga is practiced in a room heated to 100 degrees. The heat benefits joints and muscles, and is good for flexibility. The muscles are warmed through heat and movement.

“We also offer warm residual heat yoga, restorative yoga — such as our Core and Restore class, with 50 percent core strengthening and 50 percent restorative poses, as well as non-heated yoga that includes yoga for beginners, gentle and prenatal classes, kid-friendly classes and Acoustic Asanas with music.

“The warm meditation is a 45-minute meditation in a 90-degree room with guided meditations and breathing exercises.”

What are some of the benefits of practicing yoga? “There is a mind-body connection. Yoga uses movement, stretching and breathing to bring about harmony in the body and mind. It helps you to relax and reduces stress. It is also good for anxiety disorders and PTSD.”

Who are your key people? “We have four certified yoga instructors. Our staff is wonderful and amazing, and all are great teachers. Erica Virgen has been with me since day one, and helps me with everything. She has been practicing yoga for over 10 years. Kelda Nolan is a former competitive figure skater who has been teaching yoga since 2015. She is also the skating director at Cleland Ice Rink at Fort Bragg. Amber Warden was introduced to yoga nine years ago, in college, which then tuned into a lifestyle and a passion. She especially enjoys the Hot Vinyasa and the restorative yoga. Luna Wynerick teaches the meditation classes.”

What is the economy’s effect on the business? “We’re seeing an upward trend. Business is picking up and every month is better than the month before. Summers tend to be a little slower than the rest of the year.”

What is the best part of owning this business? “I love being able to impact our military community, and also being able to help new people who have never tried yoga before. The benefits of yoga are available for anyone and anyone can do it.”

What is most challenging about running this business? “We built the yoga studio from the ground up. As with most businesses, it is a challenge to keep growing and moving forward. There is a big investment of time and energy when running a business, and a certain amount of anxiety that goes along with it. Yoga helps me work through that anxiety. One of my goals is to make it comfortable for people so they will enjoy it.”

What else would you like people to know? “The drop-in price for a yoga session is $12 for anyone who wants to try it out. On Sunday, it is free for military members. There are also a range of class packages available, and military members with an ID get a 10 percent discount. The yoga mats are provided, and we encourage everyone to wear comfortable clothing, and to bring water to drink, and a towel.

“In addition to yoga instruction, we offer yoga teacher training. Two hundred hours are required to become a certified teacher. For more information, visit tipsylotusyoga.com or check out our new app, Tipsy Lotus Yoga.”

Alison Minard

• Owner: Claire Grimm

• Address: 512 S. Reilly Road

• Founded: 2016

• Employees: 4

• What is it? Yoga studio with classes for beginners, as well as mixed level classes, and yoga instructor training.

Tipsy Lotus Yoga Studio