Check Out Raiye Harris’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Raiye Harris.

Hi Raiye, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
12 years ago, at 18, I was a freshman in college with a young mind that compared myself a lot. I thought I was fat, for whatever reason (although looking back now, I wouldn’t even want to get back down to the weight that I was then). I found myself at the rec center at the University of West Georgia most days, and this is where I found my love for group fitness classes! I tried cycling classes, zumba, and my first yoga class. At the time, I thought maybe zumba would be fun to teach but never seriously considered it. For years and years after that, I had an on and off relationship with the gym and a tricky relationship with food (emotional eating, eating because I am bored). I tried personal training, I worked out but didn’t understand the food portion. And then Crunch in Hiram opened! I left my gym that I enjoyed and came over to (crunch) because they had group fitness classes and platforms for weightlifting! This is where I found a love for strength training and working out by myself instead of only in group classes, however, I started taking a yoga class every week with my, now friend, Mitzi! Although I always loved yoga, I jumped back into it originally to improve my mobility for squats, since I was going down the route of heavy lifting and had terrible ankle mobility, (on top of just really on femurs lol). I wanted to create a space in the gym where women could come in and not feel intimidated, if they didn’t know what to do. I want to lead them in their classes so I became certified in group fitness! For about a year, I was teaching strength classes and HIIT classes. But I could tell it was a bit draining. It wasn’t where my heart was really at, even though I was in my best shape at that point in time. I was told in the first group fitness HIIT class that I ever taught that I was not very aggressive and pushing, and then I had more of a yoga tone when I taught! I still taught for a year after that with my own voice and didn’t try to change who I was as an instructor. And then I realized I wanted to get certified in yoga so I went about receiving my 200 hour registered yoga teacher certification online through YogaRenew and the rest of history! I’m always learning, it’s been a year now since I’ve been certified and every day I’m becoming more confident! I absolutely love the community I’ve made from yoga, and I can’t wait to grow it even more! I have no idea what my next step is, maybe online classes I’ve started putting videos up on YouTube, but 2026 is for starting to figure it out. I hope you’ll be along with me for the ride!

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
As far as actually being a yoga teacher, sometimes you compare yourself because you don’t sound like someone else or you feel like your classes aren’t as hard and especially when you are newer to the game, there’s so much for you to learn and so imposter syndrome is something that comes up for me still to this day and I hear it doesn’t really go away! So that makes me feel better that a lot of other people have experienced this as well. I feel like it is just a matter of expanding your education to gain the confidence that you’re looking for.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a content creator, I’ve always loved editing videos, I think I’ve had my YouTube channel since I was about 12 years old and I’m finally starting to post more regularly on there with the day in the life vlogs and week the life vlogs! I graduated from KSU with a degree in media and entertainment studies so I loved learning about more video editing, I used to be a photographer so at the time I wanted to know more about media and showing up online! showing up online is still tricky for me because sometimes I don’t feel like I have much to say! I’m still trying to figure out my niche and what will make people want to follow my journey, but for now I’m a runner, and a yoga teacher with a full-time job and I’m just trying to balance it all!

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
honestly stop doubting yourself and if you feel like you don’t have the time, just take 10 minutes a day to start! Everything doesn’t have to be done in one day, one week, or one month. Take your time getting to where you want to be and let things grow organically. if you’re nervous, teaching a class or showing up online, just keep doing it because it definitely gets better, it gets easier, and your people will find you.

Pricing:

• Private yoga session 1:1 $50
• Private yoga session group, price depends on the amount of people!
• $15 drop in at Just Breathe Yoga Center
• Classes at crunch included in your membership
• Online classes hopefully coming this year!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://beacons.ai/raiye
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theresheflowsagain
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@busybodydiaries

Image Credits
Jaida Renee Photo
Moments That Matter Studios