Today we’d like to introduce you to Carly Harrington.
Hi Carly, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Looking back, my path hasn’t been a straight line. Instead, it has been a series of experiences that kept leading me toward the same purpose: helping people live healthier, more meaningful lives.
For much of my career, I worked in the healthcare and cancer space, eventually serving in executive leadership roles within nonprofit organizations. I was fortunate to work alongside many talented, compassionate people, and I genuinely believed in the mission of improving lives. Over the years, I also had the privilege of leading and mentoring dozens of people. What I loved most about my work went beyond achieving organizational goals. It was helping people discover their strengths, find their voice, build confidence, and grow into the leaders they were capable of becoming.
As the years went on, though, I found myself spending less time focused on people and more time navigating bureaucracy. The work that had once energized me gradually became emotionally draining, and I realized I had lost the sense of purpose that had drawn me into my career field in the first place.
Around that same time, yoga began to play a larger role in my life. What started as a form of exercise started to feel like much more. It gave me space to slow down, reconnect with myself, and remember what it felt like to live in alignment with my values. The more I practiced and studied, the more I realized that what I loved most was helping people directly- watching them discover that they were stronger, more resilient, and more capable than they believed.
What I’ve come to realize is that my passion for helping people grow never actually changed; it simply found a new home. Today, I still have the privilege of watching people discover strengths they didn’t know they had, build confidence, and reconnect with who they really are. The setting may be different, but the heart of the work is remarkably similar.
Leaving a secure executive career wasn’t an easy decision, but it was the right one. For the first time in a long time, I feel like my work and my values are fully aligned.
I’m fascinated by the intersections of movement and breath, as well as ancient wisdom and modern neuroscience, and how they all come together to support whole-person wellness. Yoga is a powerful tool, and to me it’s never been about touching your toes or mastering impressive poses. It’s about learning how to regulate your nervous system, quiet the mental noise, build resilience, and reconnect with yourself.
That philosophy became the foundation for Arise Yoga & Wellness.
I intentionally created Arise to be different from the stereotypical yoga studio. My hope was to create a place where even someone who walked through the doors feeling intimidated, anxious, stiff, out of shape, or convinced they “aren’t a yoga person” would immediately feel like they belonged. Our motto is, “Come as you are. Arise from within.” That’s more than a tagline. It’s the philosophy behind everything we do.
Today, through yoga, coaching, meditation, breathwork, and wellness education, I have the privilege of helping people create lasting change- physically, mentally, and emotionally. Instead of spending my days in meetings, I spend them helping people move with less pain, manage stress, build confidence, heal emotional wounds, and rediscover parts of themselves they thought they’d lost. For me, that’s what meaningful work looks like.
Opening Arise here in Excelsior Springs felt especially meaningful.
This community has healing woven into its history. More than a century ago, people traveled here from across the country seeking the restorative benefits of the mineral waters. While the methods may have evolved, I believe that spirit of healing is still very much alive. Excelsior Springs is on the verge of a renaissance, fueled by passionate entrepreneurs, local businesses, and community leaders who are breathing new life into downtown while honoring the city’s unique heritage. One of the things I love most is the incredible community of women-owned businesses that have become such an important part of downtown. There is a genuine spirit of collaboration here. We celebrate one another, support one another, and recognize that when one business succeeds, it helps strengthen the entire community. I’m grateful that Arise gets to play a small role in that story by continuing Excelsior Springs’ legacy of wellness in a modern, welcoming, and accessible way.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The biggest challenge wasn’t learning how to teach yoga. It was having the courage to leave a stable, successful executive career and build something completely from scratch.
Starting a wellness business isn’t just about teaching classes. Overnight you become the instructor, coach, marketer, accountant, social media manager, event planner, cleaner, maintenance person, and entrepreneur. There are days when you’re wondering if anyone will show up, and other days when you’re trying to keep up with everything that comes with owning a small business.
Building a community takes time. Trust takes time. There aren’t any shortcuts.
One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned is that growth rarely happens on our preferred timeline. And that’s one of the same lessons yoga teaches. You can’t force flexibility. You can’t rush healing. You show up consistently, you stay present, and over time something begins to change.
That mindset has shaped not only how I teach, but also how I’ve built Arise. Rather than chasing growth for its own sake, I’ve focused on creating a place where people feel genuinely seen, supported, and welcomed from the moment they walk through the door. I believe if you care well for people, the rest has a way of following.
In many ways, building Arise has become its own yoga practice. It has required patience, resilience, humility, and a willingness to trust the process. When I reflect on this journey, I can honestly say that leaving my previous career wasn’t about walking away from something. It was about finally walking toward the work I was meant to do.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
One of the things I’m most proud of is that Arise Yoga & Wellness isn’t built around a single service. Rather, it’s built around meeting people where they are.
Some people walk through our doors looking for a great yoga class. Others are searching for relief from stress, chronic pain, burnout, or simply the feeling that they’ve lost touch with themselves. Rather than believing there’s a one-size-fits-all solution, I wanted to create a space that offers multiple pathways to wellness because every person’s journey looks different.
Our weekly schedule includes yoga classes for a variety of experience levels and goals, from gentle and restorative practices to more dynamic, strength-building flows. We also offer specialty workshops and events throughout the year that allow us to explore topics more deeply, whether that’s mindfulness, nervous system regulation, self-discovery, or personal growth.
One area I’m especially passionate about is coaching. My background in executive leadership, combined with my training in mindset and somatic coaching, allows me to help people bridge the gap between knowing what they want and actually creating lasting change. Coaching gives us the opportunity to work one-on-one to identify what’s keeping someone stuck, build practical strategies for moving forward, and create meaningful change that aligns with the life they want to live. Whether someone is navigating a career transition, rebuilding confidence, managing stress, or simply trying to become the person they know they’re capable of being, I love walking alongside them in that process.
Beyond classes and coaching, we also offer infrared sauna sessions, breathwork experiences, and customized private events for bridal parties, birthdays, friend groups, and other special occasions. We partner with local businesses to create memorable wellness experiences and offer team-building programs that help organizations strengthen communication, reduce stress, and cultivate healthier workplace cultures.
If there’s one thing that sets Arise apart, I hope it’s that people feel genuinely seen here. We strive to create an environment where everyone feels welcome—regardless of age, flexibility, body type, fitness level, or experience. You don’t have to look a certain way or know the poses to belong here. You simply have to walk through the door.
At the end of the day, my goal has never been to build a yoga studio. It’s been to create a community where people feel supported as they become healthier, more resilient, and more fully themselves.
What matters most to you? Why?
For me, success isn’t measured by how many classes I teach or how many members we have. It’s measured by the moments when someone tells me they’re sleeping through the night again, their back pain is improving, they handled a stressful situation differently than they would have six months ago, or they finally feel comfortable in their own body. It’s hearing someone say they feel at home here, or that they’ve found a sense of community they didn’t realize they were missing. It’s watching friendships form that continue long after the yoga mats have been rolled up. Those are the moments that matter the most.
Pricing:
- New Student Special- 2 Weeks Unlimited Classes $39
- Various Membership Levels Available
- Drop-in Class $20
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.arise-wellness.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ariseinexcelsior/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581590536442
