by Eugene Scott - May. 21, 2012 08:07 AM The Republic | azcentral.com

Kathleen Hines said she is on a journey to help people. She doesn't know exactly where that will take her, but right now, it has landed her in a new yoga studio in northeast Phoenix.

"A dear friend of mine asked me, 'What would you like to do for the rest of your life?' I said, 'I don't know.' He said, 'I'm going to be your partner in whatever business you decide.' "

That business is called Yoga Because, and Hines is vice president of the studio, at 32nd Street and Thunderbird Road, in a shopping center anchored by a Safeway grocery store.

"The Safeway is such a strong anchor. We've got street visibility and a lot of walk-by traffic," Hines said.

A yoga enthusiast, Hines decided to turn her passion into a career. The north Phoenix resident is working on her training to achieve a master level.

"The initial heart of the business isn't so that I can have a job, but so I could give to the community," she said.

Yoga has become much more mainstream since Hines was first drawn to it about 12 years ago, she said.

"It is a growing business," she said. "It's important to keep moving and working through restoring emotions in your body and making space for beautiful things. I think a lot of people are really knowing the value of yoga."

Yoga Because has 13 instructors and offers 42 classes a week, each 75 minutes long. After the first free class, prices vary from $13 per class for seniors to $110 a month for unlimited classes. The studio is at 3131 E. Thunderbird Road, Suite 15-A, Phoenix.

Originally posted here:
Yoga-studio owner on mission to help others