Meet Trina Smith of Rise + Refine Hot Yoga
Once Trina Smith experienced the healing power of yoga for herself, she couldn’t wait share it with others. Meet the passionate owner of Rise + Refine Hot Yoga in Vestavia Hills! Image: Trina Smith
When Trina Smith experienced personal healing through yoga, she didn’t hesitate to fully commit, and before long, she decided to become a teacher. Through what she considers divine motivation, she completed hundreds of hours of training to offer students a robust yoga and meditation experience. In 2021, she bought Kiva Hot Yoga and rebranded the Vestavia Hills studio as Rise + Refine Hot Yoga to help others — and herself — reach their fullest potential. Get to know one of Birmingham’s premier yogis!
Where are you from originally?
I’m originally from Theodore, Alabama, and I’ve been happily married to Lance Smith, who’s from Fort Payne, Alabama, for 21 years. We have two wonderful kids, Eli (14) and Maggie (12).
Did you have another career path in mind before yoga found you?
For many years, I worked in retail and always dreamed of owning my own clothing store and brand. However, life had other plans for me. In 2011, I underwent back surgery and struggled to even touch my toes. It was during this challenging time that I discovered hot yoga, thanks to my sister-in-law. I still remember walking into that hot room and thinking, “Oh my gosh, she must hate me!” She is now one of my bestest and dearest friends.
How did that turn into a passion for teaching?
After my first class, I was completely hooked! Given my back issues and family history, I realized how important it was for me to stretch. The way yoga made me feel was transformative, especially in terms of my sleep and overall well-being. In 2018, I attended a yoga retreat in Mexico, and it was there that I decided I wanted to become a yoga teacher.
My goal was to help others feel better, not just physically but also emotionally and spiritually. When I returned to the States, I dedicated the next two and a half years to completing over 500 hours of yoga teacher training, which included various styles such as Bikram, Ashtanga, and Barkan, as well as meditation and Pilates.
What inspired the decision to finally buy your own studio in 2021?
While teaching at Kiva Hot Yoga, I developed a great friendship with the owner, Kate Jenkins. I mentioned to her one day that I would love to own the studio someday. In early 2021, she approached me with an exciting opportunity: She wanted to sell the studio by December. Without hesitation, I said, “Absolutely!” The two-month transition was challenging, especially since Kiva Hot Yoga faced flooding not once, but twice during that time.
On top of that, I was enrolled at Highlands College, juggling a research paper, two kids, and a husband who travels frequently. It had been years since I’d had to write a paper, and there was no ChatGPT to help me out! Despite the difficulties, my faith remained strong. I believed that God wouldn’t give me anything I couldn’t handle, and I knew that if I persevered through the stress, things would eventually get easier.
You’re open about your own physical limitations when you first got into yoga. What would you say to folks who want to begin but are intimidated?
Don’t forget, everyone has their first class! Even as a studio owner, I can’t always touch my toes. But yoga has never been about perfection in the poses. To me, it’s about giving your mind a break and connecting inward.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
TRAVEL! My heart has always been in adventure — new places, new faces, new memories. As a kid on Career Day, I didn’t dream of being a doctor or a teacher; I wanted to be Brooke Burke on Wild On! (Kind of aging myself here.)
Who or what is inspiring you right now?
God first, family, friends, the teachers at the studio, and every person who steps into our studio. You can learn something from everybody. My faith is what gives me the mindset to serve, love, and interact with people daily. Without it, I couldn’t do what I do.
What’s your best piece of advice?
Pray, Dream, Live. YOLO. If you can dream it, you can be it. Where there is a will, there is a way. It won’t always be easy; if it were, everyone would do it. And if you fall, rise stronger.
Tell us about your other offerings at Rise + Refine, like Alabama’s only sauna and salt block room.
At Rise + Refine, we’ve got something for everyone. Each of our classes is described online, so you can pick the one that matches your personality or schedule. Our teachers are all beautifully unique, but we share one big thing in common — we truly care. You’ll feel the love, empathy, and support the second you walk in the door.
Our Newest Feature is the Salt + Sauna Room, which has 7,500 pounds of pure Himalayan salt walls surrounding an innovative sauna experience. Inside, you’ll find:
- Halotherapy: cleanse + open the respiratory system
- Chromotherapy: color light therapy for mood + balance
- Aromatherapy: calming, healing essential oil infusion
- Red Light & Infrared Therapy: reduce inflammation, boost collagen, support recovery
The benefits of the salt and sauna room include clearer breathing, glowing skin, reduced stress, better sleep, improved circulation, muscle recovery, detox, and a deeper sense of calm.
Lightning Round!
Last delicious local meal: This is hard, Birmingham has such great restaurants! I do like Olive Branch in Cahaba Heights
Three things you can’t live without: Travel, tacos, and Lucy, my soul mate dog.
Your go-to gift to give: Silk pillowcases and a gift card to Rise + Refine
Favorite recent TV show binge: High Potential
Book(s) on your bedside table: Battle Ready by one of our teachers, Mary Lou Davis; Healthy Me, Healthy Us by Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott, and one of my faves, The Four Agreements by Don Ruiz.
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Birmingham women are doing inspiring work. Meet more of them over at our FACES archives!
Katie Leigh Matthews
A Birmingham native, Katie is a lifelong waterfall chaser and is passionate about the outdoors. She also loves connecting with remarkable women in the Birmingham community and bringing their stories to life. Katie has been writing professionally for over six years; you can find more of her work at Moms.com and Islands.com.