We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Theresa Hansen. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Theresa below.

Alright, Theresa thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

Opening the first yoga studio in Cheyenne, WY was a risk. At that time, almost 10 years ago, yoga was not as mainstream as it is today. Folks in Wyoming had heard of yoga and what some instructors called yoga (glorified stretching), but were unfamiliar with a true yoga studio and yoga practice. I was met with a lot of resistance in the beginning, people believed yoga would conflict with their religious views and practices without any willingness to have an open mind around the concept of yoga. Even still many people will comment that what I offer is demonic and it conflicts with religious beliefs.

Theresa, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a Wyoming native raised on a ranch. I had never heard of yoga or practiced yoga until I moved to Arizona where I obtained my first special education teaching position. While living in Arizona I dabbled in yoga. I attended a class taught by a woman with polio in one arm. I thought, “If she can do it I should be able to do it too.” Then, like most people, I purchased a DVD to do yoga in my living room with Denise Austin (yep she wore the leotard). A friend invited me to a yoga studio in Scottsdale and during that experience I thought yoga is not for me. These girls are all skinny, beautiful and dressed head to foot in Lululemon. They made every posture look beautiful, while I was a sweaty mess slipping on mat trying to grab my foot. I stopped doing yoga.

Fast forward 3 years. I returned to Wyoming, joined the YMCA and was asked to teach a Group Strength Class. I took the courses became certified and was an instructor at the Y. They offered a yoga class there, I tried it and it felt more like yoga to me. Normal people in normal gym attire trying their best. Enter a new fitness facilitator to the Y, Marianne. She had great ideas and infused a sense of energy into the dingy YMCA. She taught a yoga class, her class was magical. I loved everything about it. She invited me to meet her yoga teacher Boulder and do a partner class. A group of us went and it was a blast!

I discovered Rainbow Kids Yoga, a yoga program designed for kids. How perfect?! I was teaching in the school district, I could teach kids and they weren’t scary. I received my certification and returned to school to start an after school yoga club. The kids loved it and wanted more. I was still doing yoga with Marianne and she had begun her yoga teaching program with the teacher I had met in Boulder. Marianne encouraged me to start teaching kids yoga classes, which I did. I loved it, it was so fulfilling to see these small humans finding such joy in moving their bodies and learning to love themselves and each other. I wanted more. I wanted to teach adults. I quizzed Marianne on her program;the time commitment, what did it entail, what she did there and would there be a time I could get certified.

The Universe works in very magical ways. All of the trainings conflicted with my school schedule, they were expensive, did I truly have the time to devote to this kind of learning. Then the stars aligned. Shannon offered a summer intensive program. Perfect! I have summers off, I can make this work. And that is how it began. I started to teach adults while I learned. The brave souls who showed up to my classes thought they were great, they told their friends…people wanted to do yoga with me. The end of that summer I was a 200 hour Registered Yoga Teacher.

The rest is history. I have been studying and teaching yoga ever since.

I believe that everyone should have access to yoga and feel welcomed into their bodies just as they are.

I offer classes in my studio, I offer many different events in and out of my studio. I believe in community connection and bringing small businesses together to highlight what we each do so well. I offer retreats in Wyoming and out of the Country. I have taken groups to Little Corn Island, Saratoga, WY, Glenwood Springs, CO, and in June of 2023 we will be going to Costa Rica.

The teachers I would like to recognize who have taught me so much: Marianne Fischer, Shannon Paige Scheinder, Gina Caputo, Amy Ippioliti, and Mary Clare Sweet. I would not be the teacher I am today without these influential women in my life.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

I believe I have been successful in my field because I live the Cowboy Morals. I never expect anything to be given to me. I work hard for my business to be successful. I am quite stubborn and will not give up. I am constantly brainstorming new and fresh ways to infuse yoga into my community to expose people to the practice of yoga. I am a people person; I love meeting new people and learning about their stories. Most of my yoga students become my friends. I truly care for people and want everyone to be successful in their lives and live to their fullest potential.

I teach from the heart and speak from my own experiences, I feel that people can relate to me and that makes them comfortable. If you are going to try something new and completely outside of your comfort zone you must trust the person guiding you.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I continually offer the best of myself to curate the most meaningful and effective yoga classes. I provide my students an experience that they will share with their families and friends. The only reason my business is successful is due to the fact that I have happy students who enjoy my classes and they tell their friends and coworkers.

I am consistent, I am organized, I am honest and I am fair.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.little-lotus.com
• Instagram: littlelotusyogawyo
• Facebook: Little Lotus Yoga
• Yelp: Little Lotus Yoga

Image Credits
Photo credit to Theresa Hansen.