Why I Stepped Back — and What I’m Slowly Reclaiming

Over the past year, many of you noticed that I quietly stepped away from social media and communication and closed my private booking schedule.

I never fully spoke about why, and I think it’s time to share honestly now.

When the online harassment I was experiencing hit close to home and my physical studio space — a space intentionally created for safety, healing, and belonging — was targeted, I knew I needed to step back to protect both myself and my community.

It began with disturbing items being physically sent to the studio, and expanded into anonymous attacks, false accusations meant to attack my character (y'all, I'm 100% sober, and they tried to tell the community I was drinking alcohol during my professional interactions with youth!), and ongoing behavior that deeply impacted my sense of safety and well-being. Especially because I navigate PTSI (I — because, yes, it is a brain Injury!).

As someone who has survived both a school shooting and an abusive marriage (and the smear campaign), I know firsthand how quickly situations can escalate toward violence that cannot be undone. Because of that lived experience, I know to take the warning signs and my own instincts and intuition seriously instead of minimizing them or waiting to see how far things would go.

I decided it was best for my physical and mental health to no longer maintain the same level of visibility or accessibility. I trusted my head, heart, and gut, and made the difficult decision to pull back.

I reduced visibility. I closed private bookings. I tightened boundaries around how and when people could access me — not because I stopped caring about healing humans or this work, but because safety had to come first. That is the heart of everything I do. I had to lead by example.

And honestly, grief was part of it, too.

There is something deeply painful and confusing about being reminded that the world is sometimes bad and people actually are sometimes scary, when I tried so hard to heal that belief. It is heartbreaking to have to protect yourself from harm in a space you built to be safe after experiencing so much danger. Shine Yoga + Wellness was created for healing, belonging, and care, and someone was spending time, money, and energy to send violence here.

We do live on a polarity planet. For as much light as I put out into the world, there has to be dark in equal measure.

So I must be super shiny at this point! ✨

This remembering was healing, but healing has also looked like slowly reclaiming the parts of my work that I deeply missed — with intention, discernment, and support.

So, I’ve decided to intentionally reopen a limited number of private sessions a few days each week for the next little while to see how it feels.

These sessions are designed to meet you where you are and may include private yoga and myofascial release, meditation, mudra, reiki, and sound healing energy work, nervous system support, or simply space to be witnessed with care.

This reopening is about rebuilding trust with myself, honoring the wisdom of my body, and allowing myself to reconnect with meaningful work in a way that still protects my peace.

To everyone who has continued supporting this community and me through quiet seasons, changing rhythms, and necessary pauses — thank you. Your care has mattered more than you know.

If working together in a more individualized space feels supportive to you right now, private sessions are now available in limited capacity. Use the link below and click into what you are interested in to see availability and pricing.

With love,
Katrina Marie

If you have questions about any of the women's wellness services, I want to support you, but know that email is the only place I will be answering them. You can get support at katrina@katrinamarieyoga.com. Please do not reach out via phone or social media, as receiving communication in those places is still very activating for me. 

If you’d like context on the beginning of the physical targeting and the original incident that brought it to my studio doors, you can also read “Glitter + Grit: Speaking Up Against Bullying for Women and Girls Everywhere.”

You belong here — in your body, in your practice, and in our community — always, in this season and the next.

You belong here — no matter what. If you’re unable to invest in a membership right now, explore our Guardian Memberships through The Penny Project — a supported way to stay connected and practice with community.

And if you’re in a season where you’re able to give, your donation to The Penny Project helps keep these healing spaces accessible to all women.