MOUNT VERNON – Knox County native Terri Lewis, owner of Hot Yoga Escape, first returned to the area three years ago.
While Lewis had experience as a yoga instructor and always knew she would have her own business some day, she did not plan for things to happen exactly as they have.
Her family has owned and operated Kokosing Valley Camp and Canoe for years, and Lewis said she grew up in the family business. The canoe side of the organization began in 1969, with her parents adding the campground in 1989. Her brother took over the family business in 2004.
When Terry returned to Knox County, she didn’t have plans for what she was going to do, though she was open to possibilities. Her family wasn't even sure how long they would remain in the area at first, Lewis said.
“Originally, we were just transitioning with my husband’s job,” she told the Mount Vernon News. “And then once I was home, I just wanted to stay home. I wanted to be close to my family.”
To the week, Lewis had spent 21 years living in different places with her husband, a former Air Force pilot, before they came back to Knox County.
“We’ve always followed my husband’s work,” she said. “I’ve been a stay-at-home mom for the past 8-9 years now.”
Then, a few months ago, she saw the opportunity to combine her 14 years of experience with hot yoga with the opportunity to purchase Hot Yoga Escape.
“The more research I did and talked to my husband, we just felt like it was a good fit for our family,” Lewis said.
They began the process of buying the studio prior to COVID-19, and Lewis said they have adapted as well as they can. They finalized the purchase in September, but Lewis said it was hard handling the two months when the studio was completely shut down.
“We are still limited by COVID,” she told the News. The studio is open, but class size is limited from 20 down to 12.
They have added space, enabling them to hold additional types of classes aside from the studio’s hot yoga, which is yoga performed in high-heat conditions that benefits those with conditions such as arthritis, Lewis said. They are also now able to offer massage therapy and reiki.
Hot Yoga Escape
812 Coshocton Ave., Building 2, Unit 1
Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050
740-397-YOGA
www.hotyogaescape.com
