Here at Inner Space Yoga we are grateful to have wonderful yoga teachers and studios who are long-time supporters of the products we make. 

Valerie Kiser from Sunrise Yoga Studio is one of them. Her studio has been thriving for 20 years, and it has been voted best yoga studio in Winston-Salem for the past 11 years! Valerie is a highly accredited yoga teacher including being a certified International Association of Yoga Therapists. Sunrise Yoga has a very active schedule of classes, workshops, and teacher training programs, along with a community of dedicated, yoga-loving students. . Studio newsletters welcome new students by the dozens and spotlight those who have completed hundreds of classes at Sunrise! 

Inner Space co-owner Rebecca Simmons got to meet Valerie while attending the Iyengar Yoga National Association’s convention in San Diego, California. In a ballroom of 500 yogis waiting for Abhijata Iyengar to come out and teach, Valerie looked over at Rebecca with a big kind smile and asked, “Hey, are you one of the Inner Space Gals?” 

And suddenly that gal, who was attending her first IYNAUS convention and felt like a nervous first-time yoga student waiting for her first ever yoga class to begin, felt welcomed on a mat full of joy.

We’re sure this inviting spirit from Valerie is felt at her studio everyday.

While preparing to ship Valerie's most recent order of yoga bolsters, we thought about her continued success as a yoga teacher and a studio owner, and realized we had some questions we would love to ask her. So, we did!

Here’s our InnerView with Valerie

Inner Space: Along with being an experienced, highly qualified yoga teacher, what are some things that has helped you create and maintain a thriving yoga studio and community for 20 years?  

Valerie:  A lot of time, effort, and study (not just of yoga but of business).  It has been a labor of love though.  We create yoga “community” through the support of charity activities for organizations in our local community, we encourage folks to get together outside of the classroom, there’s even a group that created their own book club.  Our support team of office manager, teachers, and studio assistants do a great job of keeping the personal touch involved in everything we do. 

Inner Space: Nearly all the teachers at your studio are graduates of your teacher training programs. How important has that been to you, in growing and owning a successful studio.  

Valerie:  It’s been critical.  At the moment, every teacher here graduated from or is enrolled in our 300-hour program (after graduation from our 200-hour program).  I think it’s the best group we’ve ever had because we are all on the same page of what we want to offer to our students, expectations, and a strong connection within the team. 

Inner Space: Do you remember the first time you used an Inner Space Yoga bolster? Do you remember what your first impression was? Or can you describe an example of a student’s impression after using an Inner Space Yoga bolster for the first time? 

Valerie:  I had to go look this one up!  It was back in 2008 when Ang owned the business and she drove around in her yoga-bolster van delivering her products.  The quality of products has been so good that we still use those bolsters from 15 years ago in addition to adding more.  We have been selling these bolsters for many years and our students love them.  The most common comment I hear is that students love the fabrics – the patterns and colors are always awesome. 

Sunrise Yoga Studio has an online library of more than 700 recorded classes. If you are looking for classes to do from home, or anywhere. We suggest checking it out and consider joining the Sunrise Yoga Studio as a new student and taking a class! It’s a pretty good chance you’ll take a class that uses an Inner Space Yoga bolster. 

Need a yoga bolster for home, order one here. Valerie loves flat bolsters the most.