Today we’d like to introduce you to Carrie Guzanick.
Hi Carrie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
From Steel Town Roots to Miami’s Wellness Scene: My Journey to Agni Miami
I’ve always been a seeker—hungry for meaning, belonging, and truth. My path hasn’t been linear, but every step has led me to Miami and the community I’m proud to serve.
I was born in Monessen, a small steel mill town outside Pittsburgh—worn down and quiet now, but threaded through my family’s story. When I was six, my dad moved us to Wisconsin for a better life. I grew up in white middle-class suburbia, studied Sociology and Women’s Studies at the University of Wisconsin, and spent much of my childhood feeling a bit out of place—struggling socially, wrestling with my body, and carrying parts of myself I didn’t yet have the words or freedom to express.
After graduation, I came to Miami to celebrate—and never left. The city’s energy, diversity, and boldness pulled me in. I didn’t have a plan; I didn’t yet know who I was or what I wanted—only that I wanted more. A friend I had a tiny crush on invited me to a Bikram class. The first time I walked into that hot room, the heat felt like truth. Ninety minutes later—drenched, breath steady, heart wide open—I signed up for a 30-day challenge. Somewhere in those weeks, strength, clarity, and self-trust took root. Yoga became my anchor and my compass.
With new confidence, I stepped into my dad’s world. He’d built a thriving mortgage and real estate company with offices across the country, and I admire him—he’s my hero. Agni would not exist without my parents. My dad gave me business prowess—how to manage money, invest, and think long-term—and my mom is my heart: softness, empathy, and steady love. They never pushed me in any direction; they backed every iteration of my dream. My dad’s mantra—“Find something you love and you’ll never work a day in your life”—still guides me. He introduced me to investing, still looks over my big decisions, and has helped fund projects, giving me the freedom not just to dream but to build. The industry itself felt cutthroat—the pace, the pressure, the win-at-all-costs energy—but I learned so much working alongside him. I keep my Florida license active (I’m currently listing his oceanfront property in Hollywood, FL, reach out if your in the market). Between his fire and her grace, I found my way.
Something was missing for me in the business world—I craved depth, personal growth, and spirituality. I moved back to Wisconsin to train in my dad’s business, returned to Florida to open a branch, and realized I wasn’t thriving. Walking away was hard—and right. I enrolled in a nine-week, live-in Bikram teacher training in Mexico with 300+ trainees—one of the best chapters of my life. It cracked me open: more passion, freedom, and confidence. As a shy introvert, I found my voice. Back in Miami, I was shocked—studios hired me right out of training. For the first time, I felt part of something bigger; I belonged. I went full-time, teaching back-to-back classes across the handful of hot studios, living in South Beach and loving it.
In 2010 I met Vivi—now my business partner and co-owner—and we started dreaming. The meeting felt divine; we didn’t waste a minute. Within a year we were in a full build-out, the timing pure synchronicity. On January 1, 2012, we opened Bikram Yoga Central Miami, built from the ground up—3,000 sq ft with a 1,500-sq-ft practice room. We later rebranded as Agni Miami, keeping the same promise: a home for movement, heart, and community where you can show up exactly as you are. Looking back, it’s clear something bigger was driving us.
The seeker in me kept going. I studied in India, made wellness pilgrimages through Central and South America, explored Ayurveda, plant-medicine ceremonies in Guatemala, seasons of juice cleansing and detox, and cross-trained in Pilates, HIIT, nurtition and sound healing. We even led community cleanses and ran a little cold-pressed venture called Yogi Juice. Everything I explore gets woven back into Agni—the way we teach, the way we hold space, the way we build community. I opened the studio because I’m a seeker; I keep it alive so others can discover what’s possible for them, too.
Therapy deserves its own chapter. In 2021, I fulfilled a lifelong dream of higher education and earned a Master’s in Marriage & Family Therapy. I poured my heart and soul into that program, graduated with a 4.0, and immediately worked alongside a dear friend—an experienced clinician who became a mentor and guide. That training reshaped how I lead and how we build Agni. Today we teach emotional intelligence not only in our yoga teacher trainings but across everything we do—our HIIT/Agni Pump trainings, staff development, and community offerings—covering communication and boundaries, trauma-informed cueing, self-regulation, and relational leadership. The inner work isn’t extra—it’s the point, woven into every class, conversation, and decision.
Fourteen years in, we opened a second location in North Miami—inside a space where I taught one of my very first classes nearly eighteen years ago. It’s a full-circle moment, and we’re just getting started. I’m head-over-heels in love with the new studio, and we’re intentionally making it immersive from the moment you step through the door—the heat, the light, the sound, the way the room holds you. New souls are walking in every day, and I can feel the energy building. My purpose is reignited.
Today I call myself an edgewalker—a term I learned from my mentor, Kiki Lovelace. I keep one foot in the 3D world—business, profitability, real estate, investing—and one foot in the unseen: prayer, meditation, devotion, and the quiet inner listening where I meet God—call it the Universe, Mother Nature, the Great Mystery. I actively ask that Presence to guide our growth—who we hire, what we build, when to move and when to wait—so strategy is braided with spirit. I don’t see prosperity and purpose as opposites; aligned with God/the Universe, scale becomes service. The more Agni succeeds, the more we can expand access to healing, create good local jobs people love, and pour back into the city that made us. That’s the edge I choose to walk— strategy with soul.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road to Agni hasn’t been smooth—sharp turns, steep climbs, and moments when the ground dropped out from under us.
A few years after opening our first studio—then Bikram Yoga Central Miami—the foundation shook. We were part of a global community teaching the Bikram method when serious allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse against its founder surfaced. Heartbreaking. Disorienting. In the months that followed, we spoke with fellow teachers and studio owners, listened to victims’ accounts, connected with the Bikram community, and asked ourselves—again and again—what do we do now?
We chose to begin again. We released the Bikram name, rebuilt our offerings, and created a new identity rooted in integrity, inclusivity, and evolution. Agni Miami was born. It was difficult—logistically, emotionally, financially—but defining. And beyond ethics, rebranding unlocked our creativity: affiliation had limited us to 90-minute Bikram classes. Vivi and I had been studying across India and the Americas, and we wanted to bring that breadth home. The new identity let us expand—shorter formats, Hot 26+2 variations, Agni Pump, Vinyasa, Yin, meditation, sound—and keep iterating as we learned. In short, it gave us freedom to let the community evolve and grow with us. If that season taught me anything, it’s this: never put people on pedestals; the practice must always be bigger than any one person.
Then came COVID. Overnight, our doors closed and the future blurred. From one day to the next, revenue took a nosedive. Vivi and I showed up daily—virtually—doing everything we could to support our community from afar while keeping the business alive. A core group of members kept their memberships active even when they couldn’t step into the room—that loyalty helped us survive. So did a landlord I first met years ago in South Beach, back when I was just beginning to teach. Today he practices with us; we recently extended our lease—14 years and counting in our original home. He knows the sweat on that floor isn’t decoration—it’s years of effort.
Over those same years, our personal lives evolved, too. My business partner—who was also my partner in life when we opened—became my wife. Later, we separated and divorced. That chapter carried its own ache, but Agni had become bigger than either of us. A deeper purpose kept pulling us forward. We had to learn—often in real time—the very things we teach: emotional intelligence, spiritual growth, the art of surrender. We weren’t just running a business; we were doing the inner work. That’s part of why Agni feels different—what we share comes from lived experience. We don’t just talk about growth; we live it, and people feel that in our space.
Miami never stops changing, and the challenges evolve with it. The rising cost of living and rent is real—especially in wellness. When we opened, there were only a handful of yoga studios in the city, and even fewer hot studios. Now you can find one on almost every block. The landscape is crowded; standing out takes more than a schedule—it takes soul. Our edge isn’t a class name; it’s the way people feel when they leave—and the way they feel the moment they walk through the doors. The depth is palpable.
We choose to keep innovating. Most recently, we added recovery rooms at both studios—cold plunges and infrared saunas with red light therapy. What began as a hot yoga studio has evolved into a hot yoga, fitness, and recovery home. We’re rooted in heart and movement, and just as committed to longevity—smart training, nervous-system care, and biohacking where it truly serves. But the truth is, words won’t fully capture what we do—it’s a feeling. You feel it in the easy eye contact, the collective exhale after class, the sweat-earned smiles, and the grounded clarity you carry into your day.
In the end, what lasts isn’t novelty—it’s heart, integrity, community. That’s how we made it 14 years, and how we’ll grow from here.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
It’s a space to remember and realize who you are. The heat, the breath, the curated sound, the lighting, the coaching, the community—everything is designed to move you on every level. Come to sweat; leave more connected to yourself and surrounded by people who are rooting for you.
We specialize in dynamic practices that challenge, energize, and restore. Core classes include Hot Vinyasa, Hot 26+2, Yin Yoga, and Sound Baths. Our signature class—Agni Pump—is a high-energy, music-driven strength + HIIT experience that feels like a workout party: powerful, sweaty, and wildly uplifting. To keep things fresh, we host seasonal workshops, special events, and pop-ups that meet you where you are and keep you inspired.
We’ve also expanded beyond the mat. Both studios now feature state-of-the-art recovery rooms with cold plunges and infrared saunas with red light therapy—because training and recovery belong together. We’re passionate about full-spectrum wellness and thoughtful innovation, giving our community tools that support vitality inside and out.
Education is a big part of our DNA. Our teacher trainings—for Yoga and Agni Pump/HIIT—cover the foundations (movement basics, anatomy, sequencing, philosophy) and what truly sets Agni apart: emotional intelligence and leadership. We teach communication and boundaries, trauma-informed cueing, self-regulation, and how to hold space with integrity—so graduates don’t just lead classes; they lead people. Next Agni Pump training: Sept 18–21—reach out to reserve a spot.
We also create immersive retreats where practice, recovery, and community meet in stunning settings. Think deep practice, shared meals, time in nature, and the kind of connection that follows you home. (Our first retreat in Ibiza was a dream; more are in the works.)
What sets Agni apart is the feeling when you walk in. Our spaces are inclusive, unpretentious, and full of heart. All ages, backgrounds, body types, orientations, and abilities are not only welcome—they’re celebrated. If Miami fitness has ever felt intimidating or image-driven, this is your antidote. You don’t have to change to belong; come exactly as you are, and we’ll meet you there.
We’ve been part of Miami’s wellness scene for 14+ years—one of the city’s original hot yoga studios—and with our second location, we’re now the only hot studio in North Miami. We’ve evolved, but our commitment hasn’t wavered: create experiences that awaken people to their own strength and truth. (This year, our community honored us as Miami New Times Readers’ Choice Best Yoga Studio—for the second time—a recognition that means the world because it came from the people we serve.)
Whether you’re here to sweat it out, deepen your practice, train to lead, retreat with us, or simply find your people—Agni is here for you.
Our mission is simple and powerful: Remember and Realize who you are.
Any big plans?
Right now our energy is flowing into Agni Miami – NOMI. The neighborhood clearly craved heat, music, and community; the response has been beautiful. We’ve poured our hearts into the space—and we’re just getting started.
We just returned from leading our first Ibiza retreat—a dream realized and a clear signal: intentional, immersive spaces belong at the center of our work. More retreats are already in motion.
We’re doubling down on leadership and teacher trainings. We’re growing facilitators who are technically excellent and grounded in purpose, service, and emotional intelligence. (If you’re training-minded, our next Agni Pump training runs Sept 18–21—reach out to reserve a spot.)
As for growth, we’re in early conversations about expansion. We’re letting the right opportunities meet us at the right time. The phrase steering every decision: expansion with ease—scaling what we do without losing who we are.
I’m also dreaming up immersive, alcohol-free gatherings inside our studios—DJs, movement, sweat, community—then straight into recovery: cold plunges and saunas. High-vibe, embodied, joyful. A party with intention.
And truthfully? I have a lot of ideas—sometimes ten before lunch. I’m a visionary by nature, and I’m grateful for a partner and team who ground the big picture and bring it to life. That collaboration is our superpower.
Pricing:
- First Month Intro $79 Unlimited Access to Classes
- First Plunge and Sauna Session is FREE
- Single Class $37/ Single Session in the Recover Lounge $47
- Unlimited Classes Autopay Membership $185/Month
- 10 Class Pass $270
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.agnimiami.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agnimiami/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/agnimiami
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/agni-miami-miami?osq=agni
