VITAL STATS

Studio: Owner & Instructor at Heartbeat House

City: Los Angeles, CA

Background: Kumbi is from Boulder, Colorado and has always been a health and fitness fanatic. Her background is in teaching dance as well as personal training and she has trained in chiropractic offices as well as large gyms. She studied and underwent a teacher training program in Hatha Power Yoga under Steven Earth of Earth's Power Yoga in Los Angeles. Since then, she has been teaching locally and privately as well as studying and learning under a variety of teachers. Kumbi is currently enrolled in a yoga therapy program with The American Viniyoga Institute under Gary Kraftsow.  She loves sharing the gift of yoga and fitness and loves supporting teachers and students in their endeavors to be healthy and happy.

ABOUT HEARTBEAT HOUSE

What is unique about the Heartbeat House community? The Heartbeat House community is unique because it caters to non-dancers and dancers alike in a welcoming, non-intimidating, and non-competitive environment.  Heartbeat House is home for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds looking for creative self-expression and to achieve physical fitness through the joy of dance. They offer a wide variety of styles and ways to workout and dance with an extensive schedule that spans morning, noon, night, weekdays and weekends.

What inspired you to open Heartbeat House? The studio aims to fill a niche that was missing in the Los Angeles area that is rampant with dance studios catering to the professional dancer or only for kids.  Heartbeat House serves adults who want another fun way to workout, something different from the gym, but don't want to go to a traditional dance studio.

What types of classes do you offer? Traditional and non-traditional dance styles - all with a workout spin- allowing the students to mix up their workouts between various cardio dance styles, Pilates, and yoga.

What advice do you have for parents who want to get their kids into dance? Expose kids to all different styles and observe what kind of kid they are.  If they don't enjoy it, don't force it but revisit the idea a few months later- they might change their mind!

GETTING TO KNOW KUMBI

What inspired you to become a yoga teacher, given that you come from a dance background? I turned to yoga to heal a back injury.  I love dance but find as I get older, yoga is more my speed and can be catered to any mood or physical/mental need.  For example, if I really need to burn some calories, I can do a vigorous vinyasa sequence or if I'm feeling out of alignment, I can do a more therapeutic practice. Dance and yoga are great complements to each other.

Favorite thing about teaching: My favorite thing about teaching is the connection I make with my students and the opportunity to share what I know and what I have learned.

Your go-to dance songs: Music for my yoga and body conditioning classes are very important.  At the moment I love a little indie group called XX.

Favorite workout brand: lululemon is a great brand for all the basics. I also wear a lot of American Apparel.

Personal eating style: I am mostly vegetarian and try to avoid anything artificial.

Guilty pleasure? Coffee!  I try not to drink it everyday, but the days I do, I thoroughly enjoy it.

Most memorable teaching moment: I once taught a class that was so full, there was nowhere for me to stand except for on a wood frame where the curtains hung from. There were even students in the lobby!

Ready to show off your dance moves or learn something new? Check out Heartbeat House today!