Exploring Life & Business with Kara O’Briant of Zin Yoga Studio and Wine Lounge

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kara O’Briant.

Hi Kara, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today. 
I started Zin Yoga and Wine in the fall of 2014. Our space – located in downtown Garner, NC – was created with the intention of fostering community through both yoga and wine. Our two passions and businesses operate separately in one location, and although there will be no drinking at the top of the mat, you are more than welcome to stay for a glass after class! 

What matters most to us is that our space is one where genuinely and truly ALL are welcome; where folks of all shapes, colors, sizes, backgrounds, experiences, and beliefs can come together to care for and connect more deeply with self and community. Our vision is that of a watering hole – a place where ALL can come, regardless of our differences, to receive the nourishment we need. 

Our tribe is everything, and we hope you’ll join us as we skip, stumble, laugh, love, breathe, and sip our way along. We have everything from group classes to one-on-one instruction, public wine tastings with local food trucks to private wine parties, luxury retreats to yoga teacher trainings, and SO much more. 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Small business were severely impacted during 2020-2021. Learning how to navigate those unprecedented times, keeping not only my business a float but also being able to pay my personal bills and feeding two teenage boys (lol that’s hard without the crap of 2020) 

Like many yoga studios, I immediately transitioned to online classes. 

For my wine tastings, I moved them outside and offered curbside delivery along with local delivery. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
I love the community at my space. 

Zin Yoga and wine is many businesses under one name. You do not have to yoga if you only want wine/beer and vice versa. It’s a huge misconcept that people have. That’s what I loved about the space I found over two years ago. It has two buildings. Yoga studio and a separate building for wine/beer/food. Some people only come for yoga. 

Some people only come for wine lounge. Some do both. Do yoga, then have a glass of wine afterwards. 

If you love yoga come to the yoga studio where we offer yoga. 

My new downtown Garner location is two separate buildings with a breezeway connecting them in the middle. 

This location was a storage building I renovated into the gorgeous space it is today. 

7 days a week of (non-heated) yoga classes that are instructor lead. Our yoga classes are for everybody. Beginner to advanced practioner. 

Yoga teacher trainings, workshops, team building workshops, and more offered in the yoga building. 

Wine lounge (the other building) is open Tuesday thru Sunday. Weekly wine tastings, monthly seminars, wine dinners, private wine tastings, and parties. Boutique wine selection where most wines are organic or sustainable. We offer local craft beer on tap. Now offering beer tastings as well 

In the breezeway, we offer live music on Saturdays. Various other events, art, writing, book clubs 

Again, this is all about community. Bringing the people of garner and surrounding areas to a place that feels like you are visiting a friend’s house. Comfortable inviting welcoming 

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I love offering lots of events. Whether is a wellness/yoga workshop offering to something artistic flower arrangement design, art, drawing, book clubs, women’s circle 

Wine dinners 

Live music 

Lots of ways to collaborate with me!!! 

Contact Info:

• Website: zinyogawine.com
• Instagram: Zinyogawine
• Facebook: zinyogawine