Meet Jolin Conine | Yoga Instructor & Studio Owner

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

Hi Jolin, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I was deeply impacted by the way the hot yoga practice changed and saved my life, and when I saw how it had changed and saved my students’ lives, I was inspired to share it with others. But when we moved to Athens there was no hot yoga, let alone a hot yoga studio that offered what I had experienced and what I was teaching. I knew this transformative practice was exactly what the Athens community and surrounding areas needed.

What should our readers know about your business?
At Fuel Hot Yoga, we have an incredible community. Fuel is the place you come to feel supported, to laugh, to cry, to sweat, to feel inspired, to find your strength, and to find your community that Fuels Your Life and Feeds Your Soul. We offer hot yoga and hot Pilates classes to empower you so you can empower your life. Each one of our instructors has personally experienced how transformational this practice is. The love and passion they bring, you will experience in each of their classes. From your very first class at Fuel, you will feel supported. We say, “Come once, and you are family!” We also really take the time to get to know each one of our students so that we can know exactly how to support them, not only in their practice but in their lives. We are an all-inclusive yoga studio where one of our core values is Service. We believe in bringing this practice off the mat and into the Athens community and the world through love and service.

We offer a beautiful yoga studio that’s fitted with reclaimed wood and 14-foot wood ceilings in one of the historic foundry buildings in the heart of downtown. We have an amazing high-tech heating system that not only purifies the air but constantly brings fresh air into the yoga room, so you have an incredible space to practice in and feel amazing when you leave. We believe that love is in the details. We get compliments all the time on how clean our studio is, and we know those details really matter to the experience our students have every time they show up on their mats to practice.

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.
If my friend were visiting Athens, I would start off with a morning nature walk or a run with my dogs at Memorial Park. I love how quiet the trail is despite being right in the middle of Five Points. It’s my morning meditation to be in nature every day. Then we would head over to Fuel Hot Yoga to catch a hot yoga class, of course! After class, we would walk over to 1000 Faces Coffee to enjoy a coffee or matcha tea. And then head to Journey Juice for a cold-pressed juice. For lunch, we would head over to the National for their amazing power lunch. The National has a wonderful array of locally sourced cuisine, where each item on the menu is a plate of art. Before dinner, we would walk downtown to visit the local shops. I also love Indie South for inspiration and finding unique gifts for friends. For dinner, we would go to the Last Resort. I love their kale salad and salmon. And nothing beats watching the sunset from the Georgia Theater Rooftop. Fuel occasionally offers yoga classes on the rooftop with Fuel for the community; it’s a beautiful view from the rooftop. Before heading home, we would stop by Condor Chocolate for one of their homemade truffles. There are so many unique spots in Athens, and that is part of what makes this city so special: the community.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have to thank my husband and my mom, who have supported me 100% since the day I had the idea of opening Fuel Hot Yoga in Athens. Even though it was our very first business, we were learning as we went and really had no idea what we were getting into! They both supported me every step of the way. Throughout the years, my husband has done so much behind the scenes that often goes unnoticed to help with studio operations or big events. When we first opened, I was the only teacher, the only front desk, the entire marketing team, and the cleaning crew. I did everything! He often came after work to help me close the studio or help me on the weekends. I can’t imagine doing this without him. When I first had the idea to open the studio, I knew it would be a big financial investment, and we would have to take out a significant loan to open the studio, so I also knew it was a big leap. I was very passionate about opening the studio, and I have to thank my mom because she believed in my vision and has supported me through all the waves of opening a business. I feel very grateful to have her guidance and support.

Website: www.fuelhotyoga.com

Instagram: @fuelhotyoga

Facebook: www.fb.com/fuelhotyoga

Youtube: Fuel Hot Yoga @fuelhotyoga

Other: TikTok @fuelhotyoga

Image Credits
Photography by Jason Thrasher @thrasherphoto