10/04/2025
25 Years From the Heart—Celebrate With Us!
It’s hard to believe it’s been 25 years since our grand opening in the fall of 2000! Before that, we were each teaching independently at the Dominican Center at Marywood and in other spaces around West Michigan. The name From the Heart Yoga was born in 1997, inspired by the Sanskrit word Kula, often translated as “Community of the Heart.” The idea came from the Kularnava Tantra. At the time, that might have felt a bit esoteric—so Behnje chose From the Heart Yoga Center, a name that beautifully captured the essence of how we wanted to share these practices.
In 2000, we opened our doors on Fulton Street alongside Prasad Café. From the very beginning, our vision was community: a juice bar and coffeehouse, massage therapists upstairs, a full schedule of yoga and tai chi classes, and a vibrant calendar of workshops. Over the years, we’ve welcomed world-class teachers whose generosity and wisdom—alongside Behnje and Rick’s dedication to teaching locally—helped shape and grow the yoga and tai chi scene in Grand Rapids. Teachers such as Sifu Lee Hoa Yen, Desirée Rumbaugh, Prof. Douglas Brooks, Jamie Allison, Shantala (Benjy and Heather Wertheimer), John Friend, Sianna Sherman, Sonam Targee, Kathy Reider, and many others have all left their mark here.
At the same time, Behnje and Rick continued to guide students in deepening their knowledge and practice through weekly classes, workshops, and teacher trainings—cultivating a strong, dedicated community that has grown together over the years.
This fall, we celebrate not only 25 years as a studio, but also 25 years of welcoming Desirée to share her knowledge, experience, and heart with our community. Gratitude and Love to everyone!
❤️
