Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebekah Werner.
Hi Rebekah , we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I began practicing yoga in my teens, but it wasn’t until after having my first child in my early 20s that I really began to rely on my yoga practice for my overall well being. I noticed that the more I practiced, the more balanced I felt. Although I’ve always had a love of walking, hiking, and paddle boarding, I generally viewed “exercise” in more of an old-school way: HIT workouts, homemade circuits, pushing to my limit, you know the routine. I relied on yoga to bring me back to balance.
Yoga remained a supplement to my exercise routine throughout my 20s and into my 30s. Somewhere in my early 30s, I noticed that I was spending more days in the yoga studio than anything else. Tired of all the injuries, overly sore muscles, stops and starts, I dove into my practice and allowed it to become part of my everyday. This is when everything changed…
For the last 10 years, yoga has been a huge part of my life. Yoga keeps me strong and fit (I can still hike and paddle with the same pace as before), but more importantly, it provides me with the mental and spiritual benefits that far surpass the physical benefits. I like to tell people that say “I can’t practice yoga because I can’t sit still.” that “I can sit still because I practice yoga.”
Teaching yoga is my way of giving back to the community that I love. When you love something that you know can help others live life to the fullest, it’s only natural to want to share it.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I started Unita Yoga (offering yoga everywhere but a studio) when the world had been shut in from COVID-19. Though we were all still masking indoors, the outdoors provided a safe space for us to be together. Once everyone went back to their various yoga studios, gyms, and other normal routines, attendance for pop-up yoga classes began to decrease across the board.
In a vibrant city like Raleigh, there are a plethora of options available every day of the week! The biggest challenge for yoga everywhere but a studio is breaking through all the noise and letting your audience know what you are offering and when.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I practiced yoga for 20 years before ever stepping foot in a studio! I founded Unita Yoga during the height of the COVID 19 epidemic to peel back the curtain and show people what was going on in yoga studios in a fresh and approachable way. Although I love teaching advanced yogis a heated flow class with plenty of options to scale up their practice, I also find great joy in introducing people to the practice of yoga.
In all Unita Yoga classes, we strip away all the shiny stuff and focus on what matters: you! Each practice is designed to bring you out of your mind and into your body. We began by creating a warm and welcoming environment where every person is welcome. We unite breath with movement (vinyasa) through intentional poses (asana) to clear out stuck energy so we can find rest/stillness/peace (sivasana).
I am the most proud of how we teach every body! By removing the preconceived barriers (age, weight, not enough experience, having too much experience, you fill in the blank with your own barrier), we create a safe, inclusive space where all are welcome. “Unita” means “Unity” in Italian. Yoga is for everyone so let’s unroll your mat!
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My husband and three daughters are my biggest cheerleaders, but my friends and extended family have supported me along the way as well! Every class/retreat I’ve attended has brought me to where I am today. Thank you to the countless teachers that have guided me over the last 30 years. It’s so important that we continue to learn from and inspire one another!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://unitayoga.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unitayoganc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unitayoganc/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unita-yoga/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/UnitaYogaNC
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@unitayoganc
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/unita-yoga-raleigh
- Other: https://linktr.ee/unitayoganc
