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Studio Owner Learns To Be Flexible

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By SARAH ROTHWELL, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 10, 2007

Updated: 10/08/2007 07:11 pm

NEW TAMPA - Nine years ago, Adrienne Reed was a stay-at-home mom. Then, a friend invited her to take a yoga class.

Today, Reed, 38, owns Namaste Yoga Studio, 17508 Preserve Walk Lane. She trains professional athletes, has her own television show and recently started a yoga clothing line. In January, she will begin selling her products on the Home Shopping Network.

Reed, a former software engineer, never imagined a fitness class would turn into a full-time career.

What was your first yoga class like?

A friend asked me to go. At first, I didn't want to. I thought it was going to be boring.

I'm a high-energy person, and I thought it was just going to be meditating. My friend kept bugging me until I said OK. I got there, and it was nothing I imagined it was going to be.

It was a power yoga class. I left there sweating. I liked it because it was a good workout, and when I left I realized that while I was there, I didn't think about anything else.

How did you go from student to teacher?

Four-and-a-half years ago, I was living in Silicon Valley taking yoga classes and wanted to move somewhere where the weather was better.

When I got here, I noticed there weren't any yoga studios close.

I decided opening a studio was what I was supposed to do. We're celebrating our fourth anniversary this month.

What led you to make a workout DVD?

About a year after I opened the studio, I wanted to do a DVD. So, I approached WUSF and they said they'd help me make a DVD if I did a television show.

Since then, I've done 65 half-hour shows for public television. They air nationwide, and I just made my 10th DVD. It's going very well. They are for sale on my Web site, www.adriennereed.com.

When does your television show air locally?

It airs at 5:30 and 11:30 a.m. on Channel 16 and at 6 p.m. on 619, the digital channel, Monday through Friday.

Tell me about your clothing line, appropriately named Adrienne Reed.

I released the first line about a year ago. A new line is coming out in January and will be sold on the Home Shopping Network.

The clothes are made out of all organic fabrics. I worked directly with a designer. I made the choices for prints and colors. I wanted to make sure the clothes were quality, that they wash and wear well.

You don't want to spend time taking your fitness clothes to the dry cleaners. You don't want to have to pull and tug at your clothes.

The new line you can wear to yoga and then still go out to lunch or the mall without feeling awkward because you're in your workout clothes. The colors are browns, creams and pinks. They fit the body well.

What other projects are you working on?

I'm co-authoring a book about how to use yoga as a form of fitness training. I only practice yoga. I don't run or lift weights or do anything else.

People ask why my arms are so toned; it's completely through yoga.

The book is about how to use power yoga to keep your self in shape. There will be specific routines for months of workouts.

We just got a literary agency. I'm hoping for the book to release in 2008. We haven't decided on a title yet.

What is power yoga?

There are so many different styles of yoga. I teach power yoga. It is hard-hitting.

I have professional athletes who come to me thinking it's going to be boring, and then I kick their butt. Power yoga is about strength, endurance and flexibility.

I'm here to make students feel good about themselves, to make them work hard and sweat. I don't push a lot of meditation. I tell my students to focus on their body and what it is doing in that moment.

What can students expect from classes at Namaste?

We have classes seven days a week. We have all levels of yoga, Pilates and tai chi.

We have morning, afternoon and evening classes. We have 12 instructors.

That's a lot of people, with a lot of different styles. Students should look into the different styles and decide what they're looking for.

How do you find time to teach with so many other projects going on?

Well, I just took a six-month break from teaching at Namaste. I'm still going to keep my personal training appointments. I just won't be teaching the group classes. I need time to focus.

What do you do when you aren't working?

My children go to Academy at the Lakes. I am really involved at the school.

Once a year, I invite the students to Namaste on a field trip. They call me the yoga lady.

Do your children take yoga?

Yes. My son is 9, and my daughter is 7. My son was recently in Fit Yoga magazine because he made his own pose up.

Why do you think you achieved success in the yoga business?

It took a lot of hard work, drive and focus. It was a little bit luck.

I work seven days a week, but it doesn't feel like work. It's a dream for me. I am a very fortunate person.

Sarah Rothwell can be reached at (813)865-4845 or srothwell

@tampatrib.com.

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