We sat down with Keiann, co-founder of Hotpod Yoga Truro. Truro is our very first Hotpod Yoga Studio to open in Cornwall and there’s so much to celebrate. Despite the heatwaves, she’s accomplished so much in the first month of opening her studio. Hear what it’s been like for Keiann and her mum from finding the perfect location, finding a greater purpose to it all, and the incredible community that they’ve built.
Why Truro? What made you feel this was the right place to bring Hotpod Yoga to Cornwall?
This was actually quite a tricky decision. Our three initial locations were Falmouth, Newquay and Truro. In the end, we chose Truro because it’s the city and central hub of Cornwall. As Cornwall’s first Hotpod Yoga studio and first dedicated hot yoga studio, we felt Truro would be the most accessible location for the wider community and would allow as many people as possible to experience the magic of Hotpod.
You’re building something completely new as Cornwall’s first Hotpod Yoga studio. What’s that experience been like so far?
Scary, exciting, rewarding… and at times, completely overwhelming! It’s felt like a big risk, but ultimately an easy decision because we believe so deeply in what we’re bringing to Cornwall.
Throughout the process we’ve been thrown plenty of curveballs and it definitely hasn’t all been plain sailing, everything that could have gone wrong has just about gone wrong, but we’ve just kept putting one foot in front of the other and moving forward.
We’ve only been open five weeks, we’ve had two heatwaves during our launch month, and yet people keep showing up. A community is forming. That’s been incredibly special to witness.
Everyone who walks through our doors genuinely matters to us. Despite the challenges, every smile, every conversation and every piece of feedback reminding us how much people are loving the experience makes it all worthwhile.
Looking back on your first few weeks of opening, what moments have made you stop and think, “This is why we did it”?
Without a doubt, the feedback.
We’ve had people tell us their lives are being transformed. We’ve had people say it’s the first time they’ve ever felt comfortable in this kind of environment, or the first time they’ve truly felt like they belong and want to commit to something that’s good for them.
We’ve watched people’s perceptions of yoga completely change, and we’ve seen people become stronger, healthier, more confident and happier in just a matter of weeks.
The support from the wider Hotpod network has also been incredible. Every time we’ve reached out, we’ve felt genuinely cared for and supported. When you’re building something from the ground up, that means an awful lot.
What’s surprised you most about life as a studio owner so far?
How much hair one shower plug can collect in a single day!
On a more serious note, it’s given me a huge sense of purpose. I’ve been at the studio every single day since we opened and I still genuinely love being there.
It feels like such a special space, and whilst it’s been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve created.
Has owning a studio changed your relationship with yoga? If so, how?
It’s made me feel even more reverence towards yoga than I did before.
I feel a greater responsibility to deepen my own relationship with the practice, its roots, and its lineage so that I can share it even more authentically with others. It’s made me appreciate even more just how powerful yoga can be and how much it has to offer people.
Yoga has always meant a huge amount to me, but now it feels even more important.
If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice before opening your studio, what would it be?
Take a deep breath, Kei. You’ve got this.
Trust the process. Trust yourself. Trust that things will work out, even when it doesn’t feel like they will. As my mum very wisely keeps reminding me- we can only do our best, we do what we can and we just keep showing up.
Don’t be afraid to stand up for what you believe is right, and don’t be afraid to pick up the phone! Sometimes a five-minute conversation gets further than ten emails ever will.
Curious about bringing a Hotpod Yoga studio to your area? Book a 15 minute call to talk through opening a Hotpod Yoga Studio with our team here.