Inspiring Conversations with Angela Sinclair of Solful Sinclair Wellness Kansas City MO LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Angela Sinclair

Hi Angela, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I began a regular yoga practice in 1999 after my brother died of cancer I was 31. This change the course of my life to seek more preventive ways to NOT get sick. With the help of my brother before he died I found Bikram Yoga/Hot Yoga method. As I continued practicing this style of yoga I notice how much better I was feeling and doing. This hot yoga series really spoke to me. I found a place of silence and peace within me that I had never felt with any other types of workouts or activities. After a few years of practicing in a small studio in Lawrence Kansas in 2003 I went to Los Angeles California to train under Bikram Choudhury. I continued my practice and teaching part time while I was running my little hair salon in Lawrence. I have been an entrepreneur since I was 21 with the help of my families encouragement and support.
In 2007 my family moved to Westport Missouri and my husband and I opened our first Bikram Yoga College of India, Kansas City Missouri. Smile! It was a huge success from the opening day Chipotle donated food at my grand opening. Through the years my yoga community and I had potlucks and summer outside classes. We were on the local news stations, written up in many article and I am even in a mans book. I taught local celebrities, and world wide celebrities that past through Kansas City. We were all having an amazing time and feeling great! I was affiliated with Bikram since I was a certified teacher of his and I continued my re certifications to hold my affiliation but was not franchised with him. The business was very successful from the opening day of 3-3-2007. The yoga school was able to employee many Bikram certified teachers at that time as well. I soon closed my small hair salon in Lawrence and solely concentrated t on my yoga business. 2013 my daughter went through his training and we ran the business together while she was also in college for a software engineer degree.
Unfortunately in 2015 I felt the need to brake away from Bikram Choudhury and re branded my business to Hot Yoga Cure as allegations of misconduct was surfacing about my yoga teacher. The business had also went through a location change due to re development of the building I was in . Times were getting somewhat tough many other hot yoga styles were opening and I was facing some personal problems in my marriage. 2017 I certified 200 hours RYS with yoga alliance, so I could start teaching different styles of yoga classes. 2019 once again I was facing re development of a neighborhood and my lease was broken by the building owner to build a condo. My personal life came to a head my husband at the time filed for divorce right at the same time my father became terminally ill. Our divorce included my business and legal parting of partnership. I closed my business instead of moving it so I could help my family with my Dad and take care of myself and kids through the divorce. Not knowing in just a few months a world wide pandemic would occur and I wouldn’t be able to re open anytime soon. At the start of the pandemic when reopening was not an option I started teaching online yoga classes for my friend in East Lansing Michigan and I re instated my cosmetology license and went back behind the hair dressers chair. 2020 I enrolled in an Associates program for Fitness and Nutrition at Wellspring School of Allied Health in Kansas City Missouri, mainly online at the at time. 2021 I graduated and earned with honors and associates in Fitness and Nutrition and a certification in Coaching as well as a certification in Corrective Exercise Specialist through NASM. Looking back the pandemic maybe happened at the best point of my life. It gave me the time to slow down and take care of me. Spend more time with my kids and grandkids, travel and go back to school.
When the pandemic started to come to a somewhat end I was able to look for a new location in midtown the city. I started my new business in November 2023. It was a bit of a rough start as I didn’t feel organized nor did I really know my own space within this building. I again have re branded with a new name Solful Sinclair Wellness sswyoga.com located in the Made in KC building on 31st street Kansas City Missouri 64108 in suite 103.
Solful if for: Hebrew origin prayer for peace. Spanish origin Sun, One. Sinclair is for my fathers name that has always been my last name as well. I am a spiritual person and I do truly walk a yoga lifestyle. Peace and harmony is what I want for all. I have had this amazing healing yoga series in my life this whole time, feeling completely blessed. How well it works for everyone is my inspiration to continue teaching this series in the community and eventually back online.
I am re building my yoga studio as I did in 2007 behind the hair dressers chair but this time my yoga business is building slower and I am ok with that. I want more quality of time and teaching verse quantity. I am open 5 days a week and now offer 7 Bikram yoga 90 minute class, 3 of the 26 & 2 a 60 minute hot yoga class, 3 restorative yoga classes not in the heat and private fitness and nutrition coaching. In my fitness coaching sessions I assist hands on stretching with other weightless exercises. I have created ‘Open Studio Space’ time renting opportunity for other teachers to use my space as their hOMe as well. `

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My challenges of changing my last name as people knew me under my maiden name, re branding and relocating. I was closed longer than expected so most of my clientele have gone elsewhere. Certainly coming back from pandemic has really tested my love and passion for owning a small business because taxes are higher, cost of living has increased so dramatically here in the last several years. I have days I wake up feeling very defeated mainly because my targeted market is still overcoming pandemic and trying to get back into a regular workout schedule. Online booking verses people coming to class not booking online. I show up either way just in case I miss someone in which I have. As I cant control others some have held it against me of what my yoga teacher has done and how can I still use the original name of the hot yoga method.
I am challenged by how much social media has a role in businesses now and the high maintenance of posting and making stories/reels. As a single woman I have been blown away with how many contractors have tried to take advantage of me financially. The multi business building is very comfortable and comforting for me but how hard it is for some customers to find my suite. Since pandemic lifted it seems we hold ‘shame’ and ‘hate’ and those two energies are very challenging for me as some will express concerns for their safety in my business area because of the rapid increase of the unhoused population. As the area is safe the building is very secure. I do ask my students to enter through the coffee shop or the gift shop on all days of classes expect Sundays. My exterior door is in the yoga room and times of the hotter classes I don’t want to lose the heat having that door opened a lot.

We’ve been impressed with Solful Sinclair Wellness Kansas City MO LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am know for teaching very strong Bikram Yoga classes. Most of my students have become yoga teachers of different styles and school of though. Because of my ability to pull out of people what doesn’t serve them and help them find themselves, reading body language helps for come to where a person is to help them feel less intimidated and scared. I am direct with honesty and sometimes that gives me some hate reviews. I am Ok with that. I am also known to admit my mistakes talk face to face making eye contact and learn from them. I can inspire people. I don’t compete with anyone. I am constantly seeking knowledge.
I am proud of my new business name and what it means to me. My purple and red logo that is a half flower on an horizon plane like a sunset with the center circle the third eye. I have had that logo since 2006 and that simple design and the idea of my passion is what began the manifestation of the visualization I have and that is how it all became actual. I am proud of that plus creating.
What will set me apart is my Open Studio Space, renting time when my business is not using the space instead of hiring teachers or trying to offer out of my scope. Allowing people to try entrepreneur before undertaking a huge investment.
At Solful Sinclair Wellness, my mission is to provide high-quality yoga classes that are accessible to everyone in person or online. As well as keeping my yoga class cost affordable for people. I believe that yoga can help improve physical, mental and spiritual health. My specialty is the Bikram Method/26&2 as well as the foundation of re building my business. What sets me apart is my experience and knowledge. I am very into networking, if I cant help a person I will refer them out to somewhere or with someone else. My Corrective Exercise Specialist certification goes hand and hand with yoga therapy. My Open Studio Space to give others an opportunity to teach without having employees and helping my renters to make more money for themselves and to share their knowledge with others in their field of interest in which is different then mine.
2021 I earned with honors an Associates in Fitness & Nutrition. Inspired from teaching yoga and seeking holistic health from Asanas, yoga postures. I enjoy coaching individuals with the approach of listening and meeting people where they. Through seeking my own wellness with movement and nutrition I have become inspired to help others offering more than just hot yoga with my others Certifications I have now.
I am located in the Union Hill area, in the ‘Made in KC’ building. The studio is in Midtown, just a few minutes from downtown Kansas City, Missouri.
I offer 3 types of yoga classes to suit different needs and life styles as well as private coaching sessions for Fitness and Nutrition. I am a Corrective Exercise Specialist and can help assist you with your physical therapy exercises and other stretching and weightless exercises.

Bikram Yoga/Original Hot Yoga is a set series of 26 postures with 2 breathing exercises practiced in a heated room of 105 degrees. The series of Asanas Poses in the order systematically cleanses the organs, increasing flexibility, increasing immune system, strengthening muscles and keeping our skeleton system aligned. Created to be challenging and intense for what we think of yoga. When practicing in the heated room please listen to your body, taking it easy and breaks when needed. This method has proven its self to work since it came to the U.S. in the 70’s. It is more of a scientific yoga series tested by Doctors. This class is 90 minutes Hatha yoga poses and is suitable for all ages with any health condition, also soon will be available online. This class is offered Monday 4:45 Wednesday 9:30 am 4:45 pm and 6:30 PM. Friday 9:30 am Saturday and Sundays at 10 am

Express 26 & 2 is a condensed class of the 90 minute class. It is also heated to 105 degrees. This class helps us get going on a Monday morning at 9 am and is our happy hour Friday at 5 pm, Sunday at 4 pm

SSW Restorative Yoga is a 50 minute in a room heated with infrared panels to 80/90 degrees With this lower temperature and type of heating in mind we hold poses longer and work on breathe while the heat warms the soft tissue and create more healing. This class is at a slower pace and more flow of Asanas/Poses are practiced during this class, we also will use the walls and props. This class is an ideal way for people to achieve a better over all ‘daily lives’ a great introductory to yoga and props are welcome and provided. This class is offered Monday at 7 pm, Saturday and Sundays at 9 am.

My classes offered are designed to be inclusive and welcoming to all, and I strive to create a safe and supportive space for everyone to practice in.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
The risk I felt I took was financial. As odd as this can sound to take the risk of trusting people and what they say and don’t say. Two of my old students helped me get all my equipment, mirrors duct work everything I could use for my next build out of my old rental space. When the George Floyd march happened on the Country Club Plaza half through the pandemic these students claimed the trailer they store my equipment in was stolen. Even though they never notified me about the incident. When I called to come get my stuff they informed me all was gone except for my mirrors and a few other things that they took out to use before the robbery. Odd but ok. When I asked to come get them they refused that I could have my mirrors back. They also informed me they had the other stuff recycled and taken to the dump but yet still wouldn’t give me back all my mirrors, and didn’t even reach out to me for me to even try to come get my stuff before they got rid of the last of my stuff. All this equipment I had to replace was quite expensive. Making my decision to reopen based on having nothing to build out with and to have to re buy mirrors, heater, other equipment was difficult since I had limited funds. I dipped into and use my retirement savings to reopening my business without taking any loans. Keeping my overhead low is the only way I will be able to rebuild my clientele.

Pricing:

• $20 drop in class
• $29 for 2 week trial
• $65 an hour for coaching
• $99 for unlimited classes
• $150 for 3 coaching sessions

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sswyoga.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solfulsinclairwellness/
• Facebook: Solful Sinclair Wellness
• Youtube: Kansas City Bikram Yoga