Today we’d like to introduce you to Aliyah Indra.
Hi Aliyah, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Yoga has been part of my life for more than 20 years, and in many ways, Dear Yoga grew out of everything the practice has taught me about slowing down, paying attention, and staying connected to myself through change.
I’m a Portland native, but I spent nearly a decade in New York City, where I taught yoga while also working in design and exploring different creative and professional paths. Living in New York shaped me in a lot of ways. I loved the energy, diversity, and creativity of the city, but eventually I felt a strong pull back toward Portland, closer to family and the landscapes that had always felt like home.
When I returned, I began imagining a space that brought together the things I cared most about: movement, design, mindfulness, and genuine human connection. I didn’t want to create a studio that was simply a place to take a class and leave. I wanted to create a space where people could slow down, feel welcome, build relationships, and have an opportunity to reconnect with themselves.
That vision became Dear Yoga in 2024. Since opening, I’ve learned that owning a small business is both more challenging and more rewarding than I ever could have imagined. There is a lot of behind-the-scenes work that people never see, but there is also something incredibly special about watching a community take shape around an idea that started in your own head and heart.
Dear Yoga is still evolving, as am I. But the heart of it remains the same: creating a warm, inclusive space where movement can be a doorway into greater presence, connection, and community.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, although I think that’s probably true of most small businesses. Opening Dear Yoga has challenged me in ways I couldn’t have anticipated, both professionally and personally.
One of the biggest challenges has been balancing my creative and community-focused vision for the studio with the very real financial and operational demands of running a small business. The financial realities can be difficult, especially when you care deeply about keeping classes accessible, paying instructors fairly, and creating a beautiful, welcoming space. There are often competing priorities, and finding a way to honor all of them isn’t always easy.
The past couple of years have also taught me just how much emotional energy goes into building something of your own. There have been moments when I’ve questioned whether I was doing the right thing or wondered whether I could make the business work long-term. At the same time, those challenges have forced me to become more resourceful and resilient, and much clearer about what is truly important to me.
One of the hardest and most valuable lessons has been learning that protecting the heart of the business sometimes means being willing to adapt the path to get there. Dear Yoga continues to evolve, and I’m learning how to make it financially sustainable without losing the warmth, accessibility, and sense of community that inspired me to open it in the first place.
It’s still very much a work in progress, but I’m proud of what we’ve created so far. The moments when I walk into the studio and see people practicing, talking, laughing, and connecting remind me why I took the leap in the first place.
We’ve been impressed with Dear Yoga, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Dear Yoga is a women-owned and operated yoga studio and community space in Southeast Portland. I created it to be more than a place to take a yoga class. I wanted it to feel warm, personal, and welcoming, where people can come as they are, reconnect with themselves, and build genuine connections with others.
We offer a range of classes including Vinyasa, Hatha, Yin, and Restorative Yoga, along with specialty classes focused on mobility, meditation and other complementary practices. We also regularly host workshops, sound healing, special offerings, and community gatherings that invite people to explore different aspects of the practice and connect beyond the mat.
Accessibility and community are also really important to me. Along with our standard memberships and class pricing, we offer equity pricing and donation-based classes to help make the practice accessible to people in different seasons of life.
What I’m most proud of is the community that has grown around the studio. Dear Yoga has become a place where people come not only to practice, but to connect, learn, gather, and feel like they belong. That sense of belonging is really what I hope people experience when they walk through our doors.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Absolutely. Dear Yoga would not be what it is without the support of the people around me.
My family and friends have been a huge source of encouragement, especially during the many moments when building a small business has felt uncertain or overwhelming. Their belief in me and in the vision for Dear Yoga has meant more than I can really put into words.
I also owe so much to the incredible team of instructors and facilitators who share their gifts, knowledge, creativity, and passion with our community. They bring so much care and intention to what they do, and they are a huge part of what makes Dear Yoga feel like Dear Yoga. I’m continually inspired by the different perspectives and practices they bring into the space.
And, of course, the community itself deserves a tremendous amount of credit. Our members and students continue to show up, support one another, try new things, and help shape the culture of the studio. What started as my vision for a space has become something much more collective, and I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped build, support, and believe in Dear Yoga along the way.
Pricing:
- Drop-in Yoga Class:$25
- Monthly Unlimited Membership: $129/month
- Annual Unlimited Membership: $99/month
- 5 Class Pack: $85
- 10 Class Pack: $150
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dearyogastudio.com/
- Instagram: @dearyogapdx
