Interview with Beyond Yoga on FranklinHomePage.com!
Beyond Yoga and owner Keleah Anderson had the privilege of being interviewed by FranklinHomePage.com in early September, and we are sharing the interview with you below!
By EMILY R. WEST
After falling into a lull, Keleah Anderson found a way to teach yoga again.
After teaching yoga for the last 15 years, Anderson considered teaching her practice differently with Beyond Yoga. The new one-room studio is located off of South Royal Oaks in Franklin.
Rather than just for physicality, Anderson wanted her clients to have spiritual fulfillment, too. So, she decided to add a Christian component to her sessions.
“It was a process,” she said. “I really started incorporating a devotional or thought for a day even before I was teaching yoga. I would start out with a quote or thought of the day with my other workout classes, and it morphed into a Bible verse. When it came to yoga, I thought, ‘Why couldn’t this intention be my devotional or scripture?’ And it naturally began to go that direction.”
On Anderson’s foot is a tattoo that represents her branding for her new business and a symbol that represents her whole studio. A thick, black circle contains a goose that looks in flight.
“The goose is Celtic,” she said. “Christians refer to it as the holy spirit and the circle prayer. Before each practice, I pray a circle around the room. A circle has no opening. There is no way of doubt and fear to come. I would say it’s the foundation.”
Anderson offers three type of classes – restorative, gentle and power. With all yoga, a mental and spiritual benefit are both key components in the practice, in addition to the physical gain. And since incorporating Christianity into her practice, Anderson has seen a myriad of customers interested in that approach.
“Before I knew it, classes were packed with people,” she said. “And people wanted to set their intention on loving God or loving other people. It just grew.”
After a soft opening in May, Anderson will officially cut the ribbon on her business this week.
Emily West covers Franklin and Williamson County government and schools for Home Page Media Group. Contact her at emily@franklinhomepage.com. Follow her on Twitter via @emwest22.