Studio Name: Evolation Yoga
Owner Name: Cindy Adams
Where: Pikeville, USA
Open since: April 2015

what’s your favorite success story at evolation yoga?

When I look back over the last year of being a studio owner, and the last few years as a yoga instructor I remember many success stories that I would love to share! Narrowing it down to just one has been a difficult decision! I have chosen to share an experience one of my students allowed me to have, which truly made my heart smile and all my hard work felt wanted and appreciated! This regular student is a college professor at the growing Upike (University of Pikeville) here in eastern Kentucky, and wanted her students to enjoy the benefits she had personally experienced since starting her practice! What an honor! The college paid for this school class to have field trip and come spend about 2 1/2 hours at the studio, practicing yoga, taking time before and after class to talk about the benefits, and allowing the students some time for Questions & Answers! I created a notebook provided with many articles shared from evolation, and many benefits that aren’t widely known shared by other evolation instructors. During Q & A time, there were some amazing questions asked, which I myself needed to look up the answers too make sure I was giving correct information. Not only did I see a group of students leave with a smile on their face, and a few of those students continue practicing today and have shared with me that they probably would have never walked into a yoga studio without that college class! I learned so much from the students questions as well, and had a chance to look over my notes refreshing my own knowledge from training! It was a great experience for me as a business owner, a yoga instructor and a student! it’s true when you here someone say you learn from your students all the time, I surely did during this successful opportunity!

why did you join the evolation collective?

I was first introduced to yoga in 2011. Soon after I attended 8 weeks of the Bikram teacher training in LA. After going back to a hometown without a yoga studio, I would have to drive over 2 hours to the nearest studio, or practice in my living room. In 2014 I found my first evolation studio and was reunited with my love for yoga. After meeting the evolation founders Mark & Zefea Drost, I started on a journey that would change my life forever. Having just completed my 5th evolation YTT, I am certified to teach meditation, flow, rainbow kids, synergy partner yoga and also a Yoga Alliance Registered instructor with more than 1,000 hours of certified hot yoga training. Evolation touched my life in so many ways that I wanted to build a yoga community, like the ones I have grown to love and share it in my hometown. I find it hard to put into words how much evolation helped me find my true self, not only by physical exercise, it also altered my general lifestyle. The way I view things are now in a more positive light, I take time to breathe, my eating habits have become healthier, due to the amazing chefs at the trainings! Most importantly I learned how to take care of myself, and what that really means, while sharing it with others! I have now taken my training skills and am running a successful evolation yoga studio in our community, building a second family!

what changes have you made since opening?

Since opening our yoga studio almost a year ago, we have made many changes, and offered many opportunities for our students. We bring in guest teachers on a regular basis from around the world. I just want our students to receive as much knowledge as possible and meet the amazing instructors that have experienced evolation trainings! Another big change we have spent a lot of time working on is finding a schedule to fit with our many variety of students. We offer yoga for everyone who wants to participate! Including many donation based classes & fun outdoor community classes, with lots of special events! We enjoy seeing family members come to class together, friends participating, college students from our new medical school, parents and grandparents all attend our classes! So we asked our students for their input and tried to make our schedule open for anyone to have a chance to come to class if they want to see how yoga heals! I myself have been encouraged to participate in even more trainings to expand our class opportunities and offer even more wisdom passed down to me during these wonderful experiences!

what are your most successful classes?

Keeping in mind that many of our students are still walking into their first public yoga class ever, and they have been very open minded to trying the different styles we offer, working to find what fits each student best! Our most popular classes are warm and hot 60 minute classes as far as attendance. I believe the students are starting out with 60 minute classes and building their way up to mentally prepare for the hot 90 classes! However, we have our regular hot 90 lovers and our flow/vinyasa lovers! We also have many students who come to all the different styles of yoga regularly! We recently started offering thai massages, which has become a huge success! Who doesn’t love a little TLC to take care of themselves after a nice, hard workout!?

why the name evolation for your studio?

I chose to continue on with sharing the evolation name here in our community. I had some amazing experiences during my time at evolation trainings and teaching in other evolation studios, as well as really connecting with the employees, instructors, studio owners, and students. Evolation created a collective and guidelines, that have personally been life changing for me. Not only did my yoga practice improve, but so did my friendships and my perspective on daily life! I simply wanted to bring that experience and offer it to my hometown. I felt with Evolation’s strong background and morals, that could help me get started on the right foot as a first time business owner! Thank you Evolation for helping me bring yoga to my home.

 What is Evolation Yoga?

Evolation yoga is devoted to helping you become more Self-centered – in an ego-free way. By combining the powerful physical properties of hot yoga with the awareness-enhancing effects of meditation, evolation’s aim is to make you healthier, happier, and more in touch with that elusive little thing called the Self.