Michelle White, owner

The Hot Spot Yoga and Massage

336 S. Main Ave., Unit B

Warrenton

503-961-3004

thehotspotyogandmassage.com

After being diagnosed with tendinitis in her shoulder, said Michelle White, she thought her career in yoga and massage was over. But the 100- to 110-degree temperatures of her hot yoga studio, she said, provides exercise and helps her continue to do massage. The studio holds classes between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. For a full schedule, visit thehotspotyogandmassage.com

How would you describe your business?

“A place for people to come in and do yoga, to do yoga in the heat. It allows for detoxing. It’s hard. It’s strenuous. You’re lunging, and you’re doing all these crazy things, and it’s really hot, and you’re sweating, and you’re going through all these movements and learning how to breath and the art of yoga — in the heat. It forces you to meditate. When you’re in hot yoga, you can’t think of anything else but the heat. And then once you get past the heat, you’re just thinking about the pose. I guess what my concept was to have a place where people can come and have the yoga, get in touch with their body and then have massage area — so sort of a wellness-type package.”

What’s the concept of your business?

“Originally, I was diagnosed with tendinitis in my shoulder, so my massage career I thought was over. Instead of being bummed about it, I went to yoga school before I was diagnosed with tendinitis. I didn’t think I would ever teach yoga, and I talked to my husband and said ‘what if we opened a hot yoga studio on the coast.’ There’s nothing here. It’s really big in the city. And if anybody should have a hot yoga studio, it should be the coast, because it’s cold here all the time. We talked about it, and kind of put it out there, and I met with Tabitha. She’s the owner of the Rustic Salon. And we kind of correlated. She wanted to have a hot yoga studio and a massage therapist, and I happen to be both of those.”

Who is your usual clientele?

“I have athletes that come in. I have some really hardcore rock climbers. I joke that I collect nurses. I think like 80 to 90 percent of my clientele might be nurses. I’m tapping into the Coast Guard community, and all different fitness levels. So I have some really fit people, and I have some people that are just trying to get back and become physical again, trying to lose weight and do it in a really healthy manner. They’re all able to take the same class, and everybody is able to challenge themselves. It’s not about your physique or how you look. I wanted to create a healthy, loving environment where people could share my passion for yoga.”

What are some of the quirks or challenges of running your business?

“I’m a mom, and I’m running my own business. I think that’s the biggest challenge right there is learning how to shut off. Because I’m new, and I’m in the beginning of ‘where can I take my business; how much do I want to grow; how am I going to get people to come in; how am I going to get people not to be afraid of the idea of yoga; how can I reassure this person coming in through the door who maybe is a little overweight and is feeling uncomfortable…?’ Down to the learning how to shut off and just be with the kids.”