Karley Bolz

I started practicing hot yoga around age 15. At first, it was simply my favorite way to exercise. As someone who never felt comfortable in the traditional gym environment, yoga felt like the perfect fit — a safe and cozy atmosphere with someone guiding me every step of the way.

What I didn't realize then was how much my relationship with yoga would deepen over time, and how it would grow into an essential tool for supporting my mental health as my practice became more consistent. It became my outlet, the place I return to reset, regulate, and reconnect with my body.

"Yoga has gotten me through the most challenging times in my life."

It took me a long time to realize that what I needed from yoga wasn't to always push my limits or do the hardest pose. I learned that slowing down and using blocks for support is how you improve and stay free from injury. Most importantly, I realized that some days, just showing up and breathing is really all that matters. I love that yoga is a practice that can be modified to evolve with you, no matter what season of life you're in.

Inner Fire Yoga has been my home studio for the past five years, and I couldn't be more grateful for the community and the incredible teachers I've had the opportunity to practice with and learn from. When I say that yoga got me through the most challenging times of my life, it was the teachers at Inner Fire Yoga who inspired me to keep showing up. My best advice for someone who is just starting is to try as many classes and teachers as you can. Everyone connects with yoga a little differently, and Inner Fire Yoga offers a wide variety of teaching styles and classes to explore.

I'm currently on a career-switching journey from Landscape Architecture to Nursing. Aside from yoga and focusing on school, I love to garden, explore the amazing network of bike trails around Madison, go on climbing and backpacking adventures with my friends and boyfriend, fill my home with as much color and artwork as possible, cook delicious meals, and obsess over my two cats.