Meet Heather Artman | Owner, Las Olas Yoga

We had the good fortune of connecting with Heather Artman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Heather, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The cornerstone of our mission at Las Olas Yoga is community. From the moment I opened Las Olas Yoga, I have ensured that everything we do is focused on cultivating a space and environment that feels welcoming, inviting and like a second home to everyone that walks through the door. Not only do we (the staff and teachers) make personal connections with each member of our community, but we help foster relationships between students at our studio because we believe that strong relationships are the foundation of successful communities. Our lobby resembles a living room and we have tea available and plenty of time between classes for socializing. We also offer social events, workshops, and other activities outside of our yoga classes that bring members together. Yes, yoga is at the core of what we do but the yoga we practice extends beyond the 60-minute physical classes that we offer.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I was an IT project management consultant for 20 years. In 2005, I began practicing lunchtime yoga at an organization where I was consulting. On days I practiced, I noticed a huge difference between how I felt and how I interacted with others in the afternoons vs the mornings. After several years of practicing yoga, I decided to become a yoga teacher and subsequently, opened a yoga studio. It was a huge shift to walk away from my professional career in IT to follow what I knew was my purpose. I had put a lot of my self-worth into what I did for a living and letting go of the attachment to that (both professionally and financially) was a difficult but necessary step in my growth. There is an excerpt from a book by Chip and Dan Heath that says, “Purpose is defined as the sense that you are contributing to others, that your work has broader meaning. Passion is the feeling of excitement or enthusiasm you have about your work.” Once you figure out your purpose, the passion will follow. Waking up to this realization was huge for me because I had always been told to follow my passion. I loved working in IT and was often passionate about it, but was it my purpose? No. My purpose is to do this lifetime internal self-discovery work of yoga and provide a space for others to do the same so that I can continue to serve to the best of my ability and hopefully, in even the smallest way, help someone else on their journey.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I moved from New Jersey a couple of years ago so I have friends that visit often. We always go to a few yoga classes at Las Olas Yoga, of course, usually a Flow class followed by Restore. For lunch, we go to Pura Vida Miami, Planta Queen or B2. Southport is also another favorite. Fort Lauderdale and Miami are both amazing cities to see from the water so we do a daily boat ride, usually around sunset with cocktails. If you don’t have a boat, the water taxi is a great and inexpensive way to get on the water to see the city. Colee Hammock Park is a great little quiet spot for a picnic or just a quiet place to chill by the water. Dinner is wonderful on the Intracoastal at 15th Street Fisheries or on the beach at Lona or S3. There’s always something going on at Oceanside Park or Esplanade Park so we always check out the events there.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Every day I wake up in full gratitude to the teachers, mentors and friends that have supported me throughout this journey as well as to the amazing staff and teaching community at Las Olas Yoga. My dear friend and mentor (she would not identify herself as a mentor but she absolutely is), Gemma Farrell, taught me, more than anything, how to live in gratitude and I am so thankful that she has been in my life for over a decade now. We live much farther away from each other now than we used to, but not a day goes by that I don’t think about her and the impact she has had on my life. My soul sister, Laura Caponi, who has taught me through example what it means to live from a place of love and humility. To the LOY teachers who show up every day aligned with the same mission and intention to hold space for our dear community (HUGE shoutout to our studio manager, Keely Hubbard, who has been an absolute Godsend and a wonderful friend and partner on this journey). And finally, to my daughter, Jordan Artman, who inspires me every day to be better, do better and live a fully authentic life.

Website: https://lasolas.yoga

Instagram: @lasolasyogastudio

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lasolasyogastudio

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/las-olas-yoga-fort-lauderdale-2?osq=las+olas+yoga

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lasolasyoga5471

Image Credits
Rachel Farrah for 4 of the photos (Main photo, 1st two on additional, and one of instructor seated and laughing)