Hey, What’s An HYR Founding Member Anyway?
The HYR Founding Members, our “Heat Elite”, are woven into the very walls of Hot Yoga Republic.
Long before the music was blasting, the rooms were packed, and strangers became friends in the lobby, this small group quietly stepped forward and pre-purchased years, even lifetimes, of membership to help fund major construction, infrastructure, and studio upgrades that traditional bank financing didn’t understand, or simply wouldn’t cover.
But what makes them extraordinary isn’t just the financial support. It’s the spirit behind it. These are the people who we’ve practices with for decades, who stayed after class (or called us at 1am!) talking about new ideas, weighed in on schedules, laughed with us over sweatshirt designs and party themes, tested new classes, brought friends, spread the word, and helped shape the culture of HYR in real time.
They didn’t just buy memberships. They helped us build our home. And somehow through all of it, the chaos, the sweat, the expansion, the risk, we’ve managed to have a blast.
We have opened up our Founding Member Program to include 10 more individuals. Interested? Email Kathryn@hotyogarepublic.com
HYR FOUNDING MEMBERS
The support of these individuals lives inside these walls.
Every steel beam, every hospital grade humidifier, every bathroom tile, every packed class, every friendship formed here.
Pieces of their own hard work and hard earned money are woven into this place they helped us believe into existence.
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Alex Fee!
HYR Member since July, 2021.
Founding Member since 2024!
Years Practicing Yoga?: 20+
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Ashley Droege!
HYR Member since March, 2021!
Founding Member since 2024!
Year's Practicing Yoga? 18!
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Blair Shane!
HYR Member since August, 2022.
Founding Member since 2024!
Years Practicing Yoga? 2+
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Caren Orum!
HYR Member since May, 2021.
Founding Member since 2024. Year
Years Practicing Yoga: 28!
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Caroline Love!
HYR Member since 2022
Lifetime Member since 2024!
Years Practicing Yoga?: 18 Years!
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Charles Roell!
HYR Member since 2019!
Founding Member since 2024!
Years Practicing Yoga? 10+
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Claudia Cowan!
HYR Member since September 2021!
Founding Member since 2026!
Years Practicing Yoga? 20+
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Chuck Finnie!
HYR Member since September, 2021!
Founding Member since 2024!
Years Practicing Yoga? 20+
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Christine Bent!
HYR Member since 2023!
Founding Member since 2024!
Years Practicing Yoga? 10+
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Dermot Coogan!
HYR Member since 2022!
Founding Member since 2024!
Years Practicing Yoga? 25!
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Eric Friedlander!
HYR Member since September, 2022!
Lifetime Member since 2024!
Years Practicing Yoga?: 26!
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Kathy Burns!
HYR Member since April, 2021.
Founding Member since 2024!
Years Practicing Yoga?: 20+
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Kristie Qualman!
HYR Member since November, 2020!
Founding Member since 2024!
Years Practicing Yoga?: 15+
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Lesley Ball!
HYR Member since November, 2020!
Founding Member since 2024!
Years Practicing Yoga?: 20+
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Matt Gillam!
Matt Gilliam has been a member of the Marin community for decades. He started his career in hospitality at the age of 7 years old working in his grandfather’s bakery, Wilson’s Jewel Bakery, in San Jose, CA.
Since that time, Matt has co-founded and created one of the most successful enterprise event planning companies in the US, Enterprise Events Group.
Father, husband, and mentor to the Leadership Team of Hot Yoga Republic, we are so grateful for his unending support, creativity and most importantly his fanatical dedication to hot yoga!
HYR Member since 2019!
Advisory Board Member since 2019!
Founding Member since 2024!
Years Practicing Yoga? 30+
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Monika Chatelain!
HYR Member since June, 2021!
Founding Member since 2024!
Years Practicing Yoga? 15!
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Pauline Lee!
HYR Member since March, 2021!
Founding Member since 2024!
Years Practicing Yoga? 15+
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Renee Brewer!
HYR Member since 2023!
Founding Member since 2024!
Years Practicing Yoga? 15+
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Shashi Starling!
HYR Member since June, 2023!
Founding Member since 2024!
Years Practicing Yoga? 10+
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Stephen Hill!
HYR Member since November, 202!
Founding Member since 2024!
Years Practicing Yoga? 35+
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Sue Kalache!
HYR Member since July, 2021!
HYR Founding Member since 2024!
Years Practicing Yoga?: 15+
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Susan Brennan!
The second HYR Member of all time!
HYR Member since 2019!
HYR Founding Member since 2024!
Years Practicing Yoga? 30!
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Tracy Vuong!
HYR Member March, 2024
Founding Member since 2024!
Years Practicing Yoga? 10+
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Tracie Citron!
HYR Member since April, 2021!
Founding Member since 2024!
Years Practicing Yoga? 10+
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Tyler Pina!
HYR Member since March, 2021!
Founding Member since 2024!
Years Practicing Yoga? 15+
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Wilson Chen!
HYR Member since June, 2025!
Founding Member since 2026
Years Practicing Yoga? 10+