We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kacie Steinmetz a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kacie, thanks for joining us today. It’s easy to look at a business or industry as an outsider and assume it’s super profitable – but we’ve seen over and over again in our conversation with folks that most industries have factors that make profitability a challenge. What’s biggest challenge to profitability in your industry?

When the world went on lock down, everyone had to pivot on ways to entertain themselves and, more importantly, ways to maintain their health.

And we all went online.

in-person group fitness took a long-lasting hit.

Everyone discovered ways to practice through many different types of fitness options at schedules that were convenient (because you could cue them up on demand), in a place that was comfortable, with just a few pieces of equipment (if any), at a cost that was more affordable than most gym memberships.

So all the classes went online, and teachers and studios slashed prices to make the live virtual group workouts more accessible. When the pendulum swung and people were ready to get back to studios and gyms, some virtual classes continued but attendance waned. It began to be a dance between what the people want – convenient, in-home virtual classes or the community and energy of in-person classes. And when the resources are spread thin between the two, but attendance is largely unpredictable, profitability becomes largely unpredictable as well.

We are lightly and gently dipping a toe back in the waters of virtual classes but also adding more and more in-person classes with a wider variety of class formats. And we continue to learn to enjoy the dance between the two as we go!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I began practicing yoga in 1999, drawn to its ability to create both physical and mental balance. In 2005, while pregnant with my son, I earned my first yoga certification, deepening my understanding of how movement and breathwork support overall well-being. Over the years, I’ve taught yoga in various settings, always returning to the practice as a way to navigate life’s challenges with greater ease and resilience. In June 2020, I took a leap of faith and purchased Shine Yoga, a studio dedicated to helping people reconnect with themselves and their bodies in a supportive, welcoming space.

At Shine Yoga, we offer a variety of yoga classes, including gentle flows and active flows, restorative yoga on mats and in yoga hammocks, Inside Flow dancing vinyasas, and even stand-up paddleboard yoga during the warmer months. We also provide trauma-informed yoga teacher training, Reiki energy healing, sound healing, and life coaching services specializing in relationships, communication, and sexual health. My work extends beyond the studio through corporate wellness programs, workshops, and retreats designed to help individuals and businesses create sustainable well-being practices.

What sets Shine Yoga apart is our commitment to fostering a space where people—especially women over 35 along with their families—feel safe, seen, and supported. Many of our clients are navigating life transitions, from shifting family dynamics to career changes and hormonal shifts, and they need a practice that meets them where they are. Whether through gentle movement, deep rest, or personal coaching, I help my clients reduce stress, reconnect with their inner wisdom, and cultivate a sense of empowerment in their lives.

I’m most proud of the community we’ve built at Shine Yoga; students are not anonymous when they practice with us. Since taking ownership, I’ve worked to create an inclusive environment where people who might feel intimidated by traditional yoga spaces can find belonging. It’s incredibly rewarding to see clients walk through our doors, unsure of what to expect, and leave feeling more confident, peaceful, and connected.

If there’s one thing I want people to know, it’s that yoga isn’t about perfection—it’s about practice. It’s about showing up for yourself, listening to your body, and embracing the journey. At Shine Yoga, we’re here to support that journey in whatever way feels right for you.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Owning a yoga studio has been one of the greatest lessons in trust, resilience, and alignment. There have been moments along the way that tested me deeply—moments of loss that ultimately led to growth.

Early in my ownership of Shine Yoga, I faced an unexpected challenge when three teachers left within a matter of weeks. At the time, there were some contract negotiations happening for workshops, and a new studio was opening nearby. I had been cautioned by both the former owner of Shine Yoga and the co-owner of the new studio to watch my back. When those teachers resigned—two with notice but carrying an energy I could no longer keep in the space—I had to make the difficult decision to let them go immediately. What made it even more difficult were the anonymous texts I started receiving about private studio business, a reminder of just how much noise can surround leadership. It was a gut-wrenching moment, but I knew I had to stay focused on my vision for Shine Yoga rather than the external drama.

Fast forward to this past month, and I found myself in another season of unexpected transitions. Two renters in the studio left abruptly, and a teacher resigned in response to a necessary change in our pay structure. The shift from a flat rate to a per-person rate was designed to create sustainability for the studio while giving teachers the opportunity to earn more—if they were willing to invest in growing their classes. But when I had asked Spirit for people I could trust and who also trusted me, within 24 hours, those three people had given their notice. Instead of feeling discouraged, I felt liberated. It became clear that their departure wasn’t a loss, but a clearing. I was being released from the weight of people who didn’t fully believe in me or the direction I was leading Shine Yoga.

Both of these experiences reinforced a truth I now hold close: not everyone is meant to walk this journey with me long-term, and that’s okay. Running a business—especially one in the wellness space—is about alignment. I trust that the right people will find their way to Shine Yoga, just as I trust myself to keep showing up, growing, and leading with integrity.
Resilience isn’t just about surviving setbacks; it’s about knowing when to release what isn’t serving you so you can make space for what will. I am here for the long haul, committed to creating a space where people feel safe, supported, and empowered—both on and off the mat.

Do you have any stories of times when you almost missed payroll or any other near death experiences for your business?

If there was ever a “near-death” experience for Shine Yoga, it was when my husband lost his job. The studio had not been wildly profitable—yet. It’s always been more of a passion-fueled labor of love, and my husband’s income helped sustain not just our family, but occasionally the business as well. So when his position was eliminated, we suddenly found ourselves at a crossroads: Do we keep pushing forward with yoga and coaching, or do we start making some really hard decisions?

It was a gut-check moment. I had to ask myself if I truly believed in what I was building, if I was willing to fight for it. And the answer was yes. But belief alone doesn’t pay the bills, so we had to make some shifts—big ones. We started implementing changes that would create sustainability, not just for me but for the teachers, the community, and the future of Shine Yoga itself. And as with any big shift, there was pushback. Within a short period, the two renters who had been using the space left abruptly, and a teacher chose to walk away rather than adjust to the new pay structure.

At first, I was concerned about the uncertainty of the ripple effects these changes might have, but instead of feeling like a loss, it felt like a gift. The universe was making space for something bigger. Those who weren’t aligned with the next phase of Shine Yoga moved on, and in their absence, I felt a deep sense of freedom and possibility, and it was almost immediate that people began to move into our orbit at Shine who are aligned and guiding us in new directions with their special gifts and talents. This wasn’t the end of the journey, it was a rebirth.

That moment solidified something for me: resilience isn’t just about surviving. It’s about recalibrating, trusting, and adapting. I didn’t buy this studio just to watch it fade away like many others in the industry have done. I bought it to help people, to build a community, and to create something lasting, a legacy for physical and emotional health. And that’s exactly what we will continue to do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shineyogavabeach.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shineyogavabeach
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shineyogavabeach

Image Credits

Shawn Sawyer Photography; Magnolia House Studios