Sumits Hot Yoga balances business with fitness
Jocelyn Kilgore has learned a balancing act — literally and figuratively. By operating as vice president at Bucket Media and as a new co-owner of Sumits Hot Yoga, she balances two jobs. By witnessing the way yoga transforms her clients and herself, she also balances her lifestyle.
“Yoga changes people’s lives for the better,” Kilgore said in an email. “It’s something different to each individual. It has already and continues to make a huge impact in each of our lives every day.”
In May 2015, Kilgore — along with her husband, Bob, and Kilgore’s in-laws, Kelly and Fred Bietsch — purchased Sumits Hot Yoga. They hoped to play a bigger part in a company the four of them already loved. Having spent three years as active members at Sumits, the group already had big ideas, and they were about to institute quite a few changes.
Kilgore and her co-owners expanded class offerings at the studio, including new “flow” classes, alignment workshops and “Invert & Restore” classes. Several instructors furthered their training with trips to Costa Rica and Thailand, where they have learned and practiced yoga techniques. The team also started a Yoga In The Community program, which offers free, donation-based classes throughout Columbia and supports local charities.
The team also brought retail savvy to the yoga experience. They remodeled the studio to include a larger selection of retail brands, including Lululemon, Onzie, Beyond Yoga, Spiritual Gangster and ALO Yoga.
“We have recognized the need in our community for the quality yoga and athletic apparel products for men and women that we are providing,” Kilgore said. “A lot of the brands … aren’t available anywhere else in town. Lululemon is an excellent example of that.”
Finding time to juggle retail, classes, and another job has been a challenge for Kilgore and for her three co-owners, all of whom are involved in other businesses as well. But Kilgore says that each owner has taken on different responsibilities that accommodate schedules to effectively manage Sumits. Their onsite manager, Molly Sutton, allows them to focus on business outside of yoga.
“We all work together really well with the same ultimate goal — to make a positive and nurturing environment for everyone who walks through the door,” Kilgore said. “Everyone really believes in the yoga and the part we each play in making the Sumits experience amazing.”
Kilgore’s balancing act always brings her back to her clients’ transformation. While the ownership of Sumits is new, the mission remains the same: to provide the best instruction and the best yoga experience in Columbia.
“It seems that a lot of clients come to us initially to improve their bodies physically,” Kilgore said. “Many find that the mental benefits actually eventually outweigh the physical … We love sharing this gift and passion with as many people as we can and are grateful for the opportunity to do this through our ownership of Sumits.”