As James Brown is the Godfather of Soul, Kimberly Fowler is the Godmother of Hybrids, or so she’s been dubbed by Shape magazine. Ten years ago, she started the boutique fitness trend with YAS. And when people back then didn’t think it was going to fly, this tenacious ex-lawyer held fast to a “watch and learn” attitude. It was tough in the beginning; back in 2001, Venice, California was gang-ridden and not exactly the place one would think an innovative upscale gym would be located. But Kimberly and YAS hung in there, and as she aligned the stars, the neighborhood transformed around them. The once sketchy neighborhood is now lined with high-class shops and bistros, and bustling with over 500 students a day happily sweating their way through YAS. Fitness studios have cropped up all over the country using Kimberly’s business model, some even stealing her logo colors “green & gray,” which ten years ago, people thought strange. “Being an innovator is hard,” says Fowler. “When you first come up with your idea, everyone thinks you’re insane, saying it will never work, and then, when it takes off, everyone copies you.” With four Southern California locations and over 50,000 members, Kimberly has led a yoga revolution. She is the yoga expert for the LA Marathon, contributor to countless magazines, star of a collection of fitness DVDs, designer of YAS’s Yoga and Sportswear line, and author of the Amazon best-selling book, The No OM Zone. A former triathlete and cancer survivor, Fowler has publicly shared her experiences through YAS, by raising over a million dollars for charities such as Think Cure! About YAS Founded in 2001 by Kimberly Fowler, YAS Fitness Center was the first studio dedicated to the combination of spinning and yoga, sparking the yoga hybrid movement that remains today’s biggest fitness trend. YAS attracts strong and capable clients seeking to take their fitness to new levels. With locations in Venice, Silverlake, East Costa Mesa, and Downtown LA, YAS is a place to come together with like-minded people for hard work and fun. Kimberly’s pioneering one-hour yoga class, YOGA for ATHLETES® integrates movement, strength, and breath work to help athletes excel, no matter their sport or ability level. Kimberly’s bestselling practical guide to yoga, The No OM Zone, is available at all YAS Fitness Centers, as are her three DVDs and celebrated YAS yoga and sportswear line. YAS offers comprehensive teacher training based in Kimberly’s original yoga hybrid philosophy.