Meet Kara Kiefer, Founder of SOZO Yoga Studio in Trilith and Mom to Jacey-Kate and Brooks. She and her family currently reside in Fayetteville, GA. Kara is passionate about helping “people live their best life through mind, body, spirit wholeness which is exactly what SOZO means.“ In our Q&A, Kara shares her favorite Mom Hack and Working Mom tips below.
What is your background? Tell us about your career. I graduated from University of Alabama with a Secondary Education degree with emphasis in Math. I taught high school math for 9 years before having our daughter, Jacey-Kate, then decided to stay at home with our kids. I was introduced to yoga a little over 4 years ago and absolutely loved it after my first class. I ended up changing all of my exercise routine to be 100% yoga because my body felt better than ever and it was such a great workout.
What called you to open your Yoga Studio, SOZO? I eventually wanted to be able to walk to the studio where I taught and practiced, plus bring yoga to Trilith where I live, so I started down the road to leasing space and opening SOZO. I also felt a calling on my life to help other people live their best life through mind, body, spirit wholeness which is exactly what SOZO means.
What is the best thing about your job? The best thing about my job is hearing how people’s lives are changing, whether it’s the fact that they can touch their toes again, or that their practice has helped heal and change their minds where they were once stuck. The people are absolutely the best thing about my job!
What is your best “working mom” tip? I am fairly new at juggling a career and being a mom so work-life-balance has definitely thrown me for a loop over the last 6 months. I’m working everyday to be more present when I’m with my kids, but I know for me, I have to get up earlier than everyone else in my house so I have time for myself in the morning. I read scripture, pray + enjoy that first cup of Everyday Dose before the sun rises so my cup is full before the chaos begins.
What is your favorite “mom hack”? When I don’t know what to do for dinner, I text friends for a pot luck!
What do you love about Peachtree City and the surrounding areas? I love that Peachtree City is so close to Trilith and that there are so many women owned businesses! The golf cart paths are really cool and the lake makes the city feel a little more like the country.
What TV show are you loving right now? Book? Movie? Podcast? I just finished Daisy Jones + the Six! The book was incredible and the show was just amazing, too. It felt really in line with the book. I wish it wouldn’t have ended.
Is there anything else you would like to share with our Moms? I’d love for all the moms out there to know that yoga is for everyBODY and when I say everyBODY, I mean every single body that exists on this planet. One of our demographics that we really wanted to pinpoint and invite to our studio is the middle age woman because most of us put our kids, family, careers ahead of our own personal needs. I believe if we are able to fill our cup up, we can pour out + show up better for others. Starting a yoga practice or picking up where you left off is a way to reduce stress/anxiety, increase endorphins + ultimately feel better about yourself. There are so many different types of yoga, truly a place for everyone to start, we just have to make it a priority. Whether it’s SOZO or another studio in the area, I challenge moms out there to take a bold step and work it into your schedule for at least a month and see how different you feel and how your mind changes over time.
