Mit Østerbro Interview with Karen Halldórsdóttir, founder of Dóttir
From strong single mother in Reykjavik to independent powerwoman in Nordhavn
Read the original article here (in Danish): https://issuu.com/mitoesterbro/docs/mit_sterbro_nr_29_2_online/68
The dream of a new life with new opportunities led Karen Halldórsdóttir from her native Iceland to Copenhagen in 2017. With her she had her two little girls and an enormous passion for yoga, and it was not only the starting point for an everyday life in a completely new country, but also for Dóttir Hot Yoga - Karen's own hot yoga studio concept, which today is located in both Sydhavn and Nordhavn.
Karen has lived all her life in Iceland, where she grew up with her mother, father and sister. But 5 years ago she chose to move to Copenhagen - or, more specifically, Sydhavn. "I wanted to start a new life for me and my daughters. I had just gotten out of a bad relationship and felt it was time to find my own feet and my way in the world - and so I simply threw myself in it! And I had read that Denmark is one of the best countries to have children in, so that's why I ended up here," says Karen.
As she sits there looking thoughtfully out the window - at her daughters' school surrounded by water - she looks both strong and thoughtful. A not very tall woman, with a radiance and at the same time enormous friendliness and special vulnerability, which means that you immediately listen to what she says. Because there are thoughts behind every sentence and a meaning with everything she does. And even though she doesn't really think it's time to tell her story, she has agreed to do it anyway. Not least to pass on her own great passion for yoga in general and hot yoga in particular.
Yoga as a "Safe Space"
Karen herself clearly remembers her first experience with yoga: "When I went to my first yoga class, something ignited in me. I immediately felt that it was exactly what I had been looking for and I felt at home. Then it became my "safe space" and ever since then I've always had a particularly close relationship with this kind of holistic training." She then started practicing meditation and kundalini yoga, which had an enormous effect - among other things on the anxiety that had followed her for several years.
She herself explains it this way: "All my life I have always felt that I had to work extra hard to feel I deserved something. And then of course life has "answered back" by giving me extra challenges such as bad relationships and special circumstances in my life. I’ve always been used to having to struggle to achieve what I wanted, but in the end it actually dawned on me that I was trying to fix myself and what I was struggling with, precisely by being hard on myself." Through however, yoga finally taught Karen to love herself. It gave her back her sense of dignity and helped her not be so hard on herself. "What I love most about yoga is the connection I get with myself. I have been missing it for many years. And so it has taught me that vulnerability is not a weakness."
A place for like-minded people
And that is precisely the feeling Karen would like to pass on to the many customers who stop by every day to sweat under the heat lamps in one of her two yoga studios. "I wanted to create a place where people felt they belonged and could meet like-minded people. It had to be a community of people who were curious and open to getting to know themselves better. Because that's my experience, that people who dare to embrace their vulnerable moments to become stronger," explains Karen. She goes on to say:
"When you practice yoga, you are present in a very special way. You are present in yourself and are connected to your own "I". Grounded. And when you feel grounded, you also become better at handling all the ups - and setbacks are an inevitable part of life. It makes you stronger and gives you the strength to handle anything!"
Role model with both business and children
Today it is five years since Karen opened her first hot yoga studio. It has been both a hard and exciting journey in a foreign country as a single mother with two small children. But she doesn't regret it for a second.
"Both my parents have always worked hard, so it's probably in the blood. They taught me that anything is possible, so even though it's been hard work to balance both business and children, it feels very natural to have this busy family/business life. As a mother, I want to be a good role model for my children, so that they can see that women can also fulfil their dreams and ambitions. And above all, I want my girls to grow up and become independent, that they find their strength and belief in themselves, so that - just like me - they can make their dreams come true," Karen concludes.
DÓTTIR HOT YOGA - WELCOME HOME!
Dóttir Hot Yoga is an independent yoga studio with branches in both Sydhavnen and most recently also in Nordhavn. The wish was to create a community with compassion - a family - and that is precisely why the name Dóttir, which means daughter in Icelandic, came about. At Dóttir Hot Yoga, Karen and her skilled teachers offer a wide range of yoga classes. From traditional Hatha and calming Yin sessions to more challenging Vinyasa, and it all takes place in a studio heated to 35 degrees, which increases blood flow and makes both muscles and joints flexible and thus prevents injuries. The team behind Dóttir Hot Yoga consists of experienced teachers from all over the world, and therefore the teaching also takes place in English.
A GOOD DEAL
If you have not yet tried Dóttir Hot Yoga, you can experience everything the studio have to offer for 21 days without further obligation! With this offer, you get unlimited access to both studios, so you can try all their hot yoga and pilates classes, try the different levels and meet all the teachers and find out what suits you best.
You can sign up on the Dóttir Hot Yoga app or at www.dottirhotyoga.com
DÓTTIR HOT YOGA - CONTACT
NORDHAVN Sassnitzgade 4.
SYDHAVN Teglholmsgade 76 A.
Tel. 52 52 36 87
Email: info@dottirhotyoga.com