Meet Christina Rodriguez | Yoga and Meditation Teacher, Co-Founder, Inner Light Community Center

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christina Rodriguez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christina, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Starting my own business was a natural outgrowth of many years of teaching yoga in my community. I’ve been teaching part-time for about seven years, and while I always dreamed of doing this work full-time, the transition has been slow for me. I’m not a natural entrepreneur — I’m pretty risk-averse — and it can be really challenging to build a sustainable income from public classes alone. But over time, with encouragement from my students and the support of my community, I gained the confidence and skills to diversify my offerings. Now I teach retreats, workshops, private sessions, pop-up classes, and soon, teacher trainings. Thinking outside the traditional model of the 60-minute class helped me realize that not only can I survive doing what I love, but I can really thrive.

I recently co-founded Inner Light Community Center in Kennesaw, GA — a practice space that teachers/instructors and facilitators can rent to host their own creative offerings. This model is deeply empowering, allowing teachers to be more responsive to their communities’ needs, teach more of what they love, and, on average, earn more than is typically possible through the traditional studio model.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Teaching yoga part-time while transitioning toward full-time has been a major hustle. There’s no romanticizing it — I have taught (and still teach) classes around a day job and homeschooling, which means 6 a.m. classes before work and 6 p.m. classes after. I squeeze in private sessions or group meditation with clients during lunch breaks, and I often don’t get a typical weekend break. In the beginning, I said yes to every opportunity that came my way. Over time, though, I’ve learned to be more discerning, aligning my yeses with my highest values and my long-term vision. I’ve also become much more selective about who I work for and the partnerships I take on.

One thing that sets me apart as a teacher is my commitment to very clear values that guide everything I do:

I believe that everyBODY is worthy of respect and care, and I never make assumptions about someone’s health based on their appearance. When someone walks into the yoga space, I meet them with openness, not judgment.

I do not treat people as broken, regardless of their suffering, trauma, or current circumstances. I see people as whole — fully capable of healing and liberation (moksha). Because I don’t view people as broken, I don’t take on the role of trying to fix anyone. Instead, I trust in their inherent wisdom.

As a facilitator, instructor, community organizer, and teacher, my role is to create inclusive spaces of belonging where people feel free to be themselves. I aim to share the teachings of yoga in an expansive way, so that each person feels empowered to own their unique path and practice.

Finally, I teach from a place of embodiment. At its best, yoga teaching is not just about techniques — it’s a transmission of energy, wisdom, and compassion. I am committed to only teaching practices that I am personally working to embody in my own life.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Our family loves spending time outdoors, so we’d definitely start with a lazy afternoon floating down the Chattahoochee River — the perfect way to soak up some Georgia sunshine. We’d visit Piedmont Park and the Atlanta Botanical Gardens for a relaxed day in the city, and head out for hikes at Vickery Creek Falls in Roswell and Kennesaw Mountain for a little adventure. We have a 10-year-old who loves the Georgia Aquarium, so that would absolutely be a must-stop! For a casual lunch, we’d grab a bite at Grindhouse Killer Burgers or El Super Pan.

For shopping, we’d spend an afternoon in Decatur, scouting out independent bookstores — especially Brave + Kind Bookshop for the kids. We’d also explore the local shops in Virginia Highlands and make sure to stop at The Green Flamingo Plant Shop to pick up a new plant or two.

Of course, no trip would be complete without a yoga class (or two!), so I’d definitely bring them to Be Yoga in Marietta, my home studio, to experience the welcoming community there. We’d wrap up the trip with a special meal at Spring in Marietta — one of our favorite spots.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost, with great humility, I want to honor the roots of the yoga practice, which run deep. Yoga is a living tradition, and I’m grateful for the many teachers who have shared their knowledge and energy with me. I’ve completed almost 800 hours of training, and while I can’t name everyone, I am especially grateful for the teachers who offer body-positive, trauma-informed, and social-justice-based teachings. I want to particularly thank Shelia Ewers, who I studied with for my 300-hour training and who has also guided me through some major business decisions.

I am deeply grateful for my home studio, Be Yoga, in Marietta. The studio owner, Julie Eubanks, encourages instructors to show up authentically — it’s a big part of why there’s so much consistency and heart in the teaching schedule. The community I’ve found there has been truly invaluable.

I also want to thank Dr. Mary Spencer, owner and co-founder of Inner Light Community Center, for taking a chance on a unique community-based model that has allowed my independent offerings to really thrive.

And finally, I want to thank the students who choose to practice with me. You are my greatest support and inspiration, and I am eternally grateful to each of you.

Website: https://www.christinarodriguezyoga.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crodriguez_yoga/

Other: https://www.innerlightcommunitycenter.com/