Good Neighbor Podcast: Virginia Beach
Good Neighbor Podcast: Virginia Beach
Good Neighbor Podcast: Virginia Beach
Ep. 3 Finding Peace and Passion: Katie Kramer's Journey from Anxiety to Yoga Mastery in Virginia Beach
Battling anxiety in her early twenties, Katie Kramer found an unexpected sanctuary in yoga, a practice that not only soothed her mind but reshaped her life's path. This episode introduces Katie, the inspiring force behind the Heart Space in Virginia Beach, as she shares her journey from anxious beginnings to becoming a dedicated yoga instructor. Her story is compelling and heartfelt, highlighting the profound impact mindful movement and breathwork can have on one's well-being. Katie's passion extends beyond yoga, as she has crafted an intimate environment for personalized practice, offering one-on-one sessions and small classes that provide tranquility in a bustling world.
Listeners not only gain insight into Katie's professional journey but also discover her love for travel and outdoor adventures. From hiking trips to swimming in the ocean, Katie seeks joy and rejuvenation in every corner of her life. This episode is a celebration of her commitment to wellness, both for herself and her community. Join us as Katie reveals her tips for maintaining balance and integrating various workouts into her routine, all while building a supportive and nurturing environment at the Heart Space. Whether you're a seasoned yogi or a curious beginner, Katie's story will inspire you to pursue peace and passion in your own unique way.
The Heart Space
Katie Kramer
508 North Birdneck Road Suite L
Virginia Beach VA 23451
theheartspaceva@gmail.com
www.heartspaceva.com
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Denise Taylor.
Speaker 2:Hi everybody, welcome to episode number three of Good Neighbor Podcast in Virginia Beach. Today we have our neighbor Katie Kramer with the Heart Space. Hi Katie, how are you?
Speaker 3:Oh, I'm doing so well. Thank you for having me.
Speaker 2:You're so welcome. We're excited to talk about your space. You did move this year, is that correct?
Speaker 3:Yes, we moved off of Birdneck Road, moved this year, Is that correct? Yes, we moved off Birdneck Road Road, 508 Birdneck Road North, I believe, and it's been. It's a has a space that we can do one-on-one sessions and it has a space for community. It's a little smaller, in a sense of like. We're not like. I really didn't want my business model to be like a packed out yoga studio, because there's enough of those around here. Our classes are individualized and small, so it's perfect for those two things like seeing people one-on-one and having classes. So it's it's amazing. It's like the most perfect spot and it's a little hidden, which is kind of nice. It's amazing.
Speaker 2:It's like the most perfect spot and it's a little hidden, which is kind of nice, yeah, so tell me and it's really close to our neighbors that we're talking to. It's close to Burnick Point, yes, that whole area. Tell us about your yoga journey and how you've gotten to this point.
Speaker 3:Well, yoga came to me because I had severe anxiety in my early to mid-20s. I I needed to pull in an extra element to help manage my stress. And my mom, who had been a yogi for a couple of years, was like, have you tried yoga, have you thought about yoga? And I was a busy young mom and was like I don't know, I don't know if I can do it. And then I went to my first class and I remember feeling so stressed when I got there and then I forgot all about my stress after it was over and I was like, oh my gosh, I remember crying because it was so peaceful, like the brain stopped. And then, once I really understood the power of the breath and the mindful movement, I was hooked. And then I said, oh my gosh, well, I need to, everyone needs to know how to do this. And so I became a yoga teacher.
Speaker 2:That's amazing. I love that story because it really you know you're going to be able to help so many people through your own story. Tell me, how long did it take for you to train to be able to do this?
Speaker 3:So, oh gosh, it's like my life's work, to be honest with you. So I probably was born into this role, if you really want to know what I really believe. So, but I started and it's so hard to count backwards. 2009 is when I got my 200 hour and I ran Inlet Fitness' yoga program for like 12 years. So I always joke and say that like they kind of gave me like this, like safe space to raise me and I raised myself, and then I got my 300 hour with Angela Phillips about I don't know.
Speaker 3:I think I graduated in like 2012. And then I started teaching teachers to become teachers, and that's been about 10 years that I've been doing that, and so it's been very rewarding being a student and being a teacher, being a student and being a teacher, and so it's been very rewarding being a student and being a teacher, being a student and being a teacher. And so for about 16 years, I have been leading classes and at like breathwork, meditation and asana, which is yoga movement, and teaching teachers for about 10, which is wild to say out loud.
Speaker 2:That's awesome, Tell me, it sounds like you really enjoy your work and that's part of your fun in your life. But outside of yoga, what do you do to unwind and have fun?
Speaker 3:Well, I love traveling and I can get out of town any way I will. I love hiking and I've been fortunate enough to go on a lot of hiking trips, with and without my little person, and I also. What else do I like to do? I love swimming in the ocean and I really do enjoy working out.
Speaker 2:What other kind of workouts do you do besides yoga?
Speaker 3:I spin and I also, yes, and I love to run when my body allows for me to and lifting weights and I just feel like, um, anytime I can be alone with myself, or maybe even with my music, that is like such an I have. I don't know, I find a lot of um I don't know how to use the word Like I really enjoy my, my own company, which is, I know it's kind of funny, but I really like that. It's kind of so I can get it in time. You know what I mean, and so I enjoy that. And then I'm just trying to think I do love like a good dinner, like anyone, and quiet, like it's a quiet time.
Speaker 2:What's your favorite Virginia Beach restaurant? I know this is a little off script, but no, it's okay. It sounds like you might be a little bit of a beauty.
Speaker 3:I love the vibe of Love Song and the owner is oh yes, I love the doll face and such a. They're a nice family and so I love Love Song and we love Sushi Vice. They're newer but I've known Trey since we were like in elementary school so we go there and but you know, it's kind of nice just to like. Love song reminds me of like going, like eating in your like dining room, living room area with like the lights and the vibe is very low key and I just really like it and the food's really good.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and it's a perfect spot. I think so. Can you describe one hardship since you've opened this business or life challenge that you think would help another business owner maybe in their journey?
Speaker 3:Do you mind repeating the first part of that question? This is a good one. I like this. I want to just make sure I'm answering wholeheartedly.
Speaker 2:Can you describe one hardship or life challenge that you've experienced and overcome and that would help another business owner maybe struggling with the same thing?
Speaker 3:So I highly recommend listening to your own intuition, because I think we outsource so much information to a social media director and like a business coach and all these other things but people. But I do think that innately, like if you were called to open this business, whatever it is, that information will come, if you can get really still with it. And so I think intuition and trust, strengthening the trust in self Intuition is a little too that's, I know, kind of a woo woo word, but it's important to trust yourself first, like strengthening that, because that I had to do that myself, which is how I landed it.
Speaker 2:I think that's very mature. It's really hard to sometimes turn off the noise and really listen to, like sometimes you are the smartest person in the room when it comes to your decisions for your business.
Speaker 3:So I love that advice. Well, to sit with that power takes a lot of cultivation because we're, I feel, like our community not our community per se, but our culture does not teach us that we know everything, we that we're. It's kind of like being a little bit of a rebel to sit in your own power, knowing I am the smartest person in the room when it comes to my business. I love how you said that.
Speaker 2:And your life experience. I think we are inundated, quite frankly, so much with so much information and so much advice it's sometimes hard to tune it out. Tune all that out. Do you feel like yoga would play a good place in most business owners? I feel like just from the beginning of this conversation, it sounds like we all need a little bit of the yoga mindset to be able to run a business need a little bit of the yoga mindset to be able to run a business.
Speaker 3:So I have been so fortunate to learn the eight limbs, the eight limb path of yoga, in such a very intense way, because asana movement, which is what we call yoga in the West, is actually the third limb of yoga, that there are two limbs or that want to, we want to master those as well, and we I say we meaning that me I want to live by those, and the first one is just practicing nonviolence himself and like compassion, so like when I'm in a situation I am always turning to myself, going does this feel good, do I feel good?
Speaker 2:Do I feel safe?
Speaker 3:Am I offering compassion to myself first? That way is everyone else experiencing that, you know, I mean. The second one is actually truthfulness too, and that's a tough one sometimes because we want to get ahead and sometimes you have to lie. We don't have to lie, but so there's. I mean, I could go on and on about that, so there's a whole thing. But just being mindful and you're actions is, yes. I think everyone could benefit be having a little bit more mindfulness, because that builds trust.
Speaker 2:It might be so does your studio offer beginners sessions and knowledge about yoga, or what is your? Is your studio more catered towards people who who have been in yoga for some time?
Speaker 3:No, I have, um, I love a novice, like new students is. I. We all have a beginner's mentality. A lot of my teachers, um, have gone through my teacher training and they are new teachers, and so we we always, even if you've been practicing for years and years and years, there is always something new to learn, and whether that is emotional or physical, I offer we have everything yoga basics, but we call it B because it could be yoga, beautiful yoga, bright yoga, brave, because it's so brave to start anything, and so it's yoga B. And then we have multi-level classes which could be geared towards somebody brand new, to somebody who is there for just like to connect with their body that's been doing yoga for a while.
Speaker 3:And movement. Then we actually have non-yoga classes, we have movement classes and meditation. I also have a meditation club that I started. I love that. Yes, so it's like free to the public, anybody can come. And it's like free to the public, anybody can come. And it's one Friday a month. It's on my website and my schedule. But, yeah, it's Meditation Club. It's literally like people. We sit in silence and we should chat a little bit, kind of talk about what's going on in the community, and then we just peace out and so it's. It's just pretty chill. It's been cool. It's been really cool to have like something different.
Speaker 2:So tell me in terms of this is just a great, great segue. Um, what is something about your business that there's a misconception about? About yoga, or like meditation or things like that? What would be a misconception that you would want to address if you could? Okay?
Speaker 3:Well, there's so many um, okay, first. First one is you do not have to be flexible to do yoga. Number one yes, we just only flexible in your brain, and that just means open mind, because we don't want you really bendy. That's actually very dangerous. So that is something I, if I had. I'm like I really wish that I could just like put that on every single marketing thing ever, that you do not have to be flexible to do yoga. The other thing is is that meditation is really just a concentration, and nobody, even the Dalai Lama, does not have a clear mind, and so there's so many tools that we talk about, even at the club, but in class as well, and I'll be doing a new year's um like 101 education for meditation. I do a lot of workshops. Right now we're in the midst of the chakra system. We're about to get to the third eye, which is, um, the sixth chakra, so we're almost finished because there's seven main ones.
Speaker 2:But I do a lot of education because there's a lot of misleading information out there yeah, I remember learning about it when I was younger and definitely my mind has changed about what it, what it is. So, um, if people do want to get involved with this studio, tell us your website, where you're located and kind of your typical hours. I know they may be different for different sorts of programs, but your your website and information and how people can get in touch with you.
Speaker 3:So you can find us at www. theheartspaceva. com. Www. theheartspaceva. com. That's where you can look up our schedule and courses, and then also there'll be a link for cause. We also do privates as well. And then you can find us on Instagram at the heart space VA. Also. We're 508 Birdneck road North and we're around back, so we have our own little spacing behind the shop and I have a sign in the front that you will see our sign. So I think that I answer all of that. Yes, that's where you can find it and then our hour.
Speaker 3:Yes, go ahead. Oh no, I was going to say our hours where we take rest day on Monday, because it just seems to be like a slower business day right now. So but we have classes Tuesday through Sunday.
Speaker 2:Thank you, katie Kramer, with the heart space, for being with us today. Thank you, katie Kramer, with the Heart Space, for being with us today. Loved learning about yoga and your passion for this community. Thank you so much for being here.
Speaker 3:Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 2:It was so nice to see you. Yeah, you too Thank you.
Speaker 1:Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to GnPVirginiaBeach. com. That's GnPVirginiaBeach. com, or call 757-797-8505.