Meet Andre Harris | Yoga guide, trainer, retreat & retreat leader

We had the good fortune of connecting with Andre Harris and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andre, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
The inspiration behind the name misfit yogis stems from a couple places and resonates with me personally on many levels. Back in Spring of 2021, I had a nasty disagreement with a yoga studio that resulted in our falling out. I had embedded myself into that community and had developed a large following. Naturally there was a great deal of disappointment to my departure of the studio. So much so that my devoted followers were determined to stick with me where ever I ended up. Before I knew it I was in the underground yoga scene teaching classes in clients back yards off the grid. This reminded me of the animated Christmas movie Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer and the scene with the “island of misfit toys” where all the unwanted toys with no kids to play with them would stay. Similarly, we were a group of misfit yogis that had no studio to practice until recently when I converted my garage into my home studio in the Summer 2024.

The relevance that the name has pertaining to yoga is in our slogan, “honoring the lineage, bending the rules”. “Honoring lineage” pertains to traditional Ashtanga Yoga where “bending the rules” pertains to Rocket Yoga. My passion is to share both of these complimentary styles of yoga through my classes, training, retreats, and workshops.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I have 12 years of experience teaching different styles of yoga including Vinyasa, Rocket, Ashtanga, and Acro Yoga. During this time I have accumulated over a thousand hours of Teacher Trainings. I have spent tens of thousands of hours teaching to include an average of 16 yoga classes a week for the past 12 years, hand balancing workshops, leading yoga retreats globally and certifying others to become yoga instructors, and much more.

All my classes, trainings, and events are geared for one to progress from intermediate to advanced yoga poses. I have established myself as the teacher that yoga teachers come too to level up their personal practice and sharpen their teaching skills. I host a 200hr introductory level Progressive Ashtanga Vinyasa Training for those looking to dive deeper into their own personal practice and begin to dip their toes into the realm of teaching; this program is typically stretched over a 8 week period. ++This 200hr training program is a prerequisite for the 50hr Rocket Yoga certificate that the first working toward completing the 500hr course.++ I prefer to host this 50 hour intensive training in a retreat setting allowing the participants to be fully immersed eliminating distractions for 5 straight days. We go to exotic destinations such as Mexico, Costa Rica, etc…

I am known for specializing in providing hands on adjustments which is not very common for the majority of yoga instructors you’ll find at your local studios. This skill allows me to support, correct, and help deepen my clients postures in result enhancing their overall experience and practice.

As for my studio specifically, the fact that all of my class offerings are 90 minutes long or more oppose to the more common 1 hour class format is a big factor that separates me from the other local studios. Best of all, it does not come at a price. My membership pricing is competitive. By my classes being longer, you are receiving more bang for your buck. Another thing to consider, is that with a longer duration, it naturally increases the intensity of the class which allows for a more well rounded practice. Since I am the only instructor on the schedule operating day to day, I can ensure and guarantee a high quality experience. I am able to maintain a high standard where as other local studios can easily have 20+ staff members. Some of those being fresh out of training with no experience making each class hit or miss.

Lastly, my studio and community is not huge. This is one of the biggest advantages as the sole owner and instructor. I am able to get to know each of my students more closely and personally. Some of these franchise yoga chain owners don’t even know their staff members much less their clients. There is a togetherness you can’t beat when you see that everyone knows each other and in result it gives you a greater sense of support when an entire community has your back.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The first and obvious person that comes to mind is my mom. As a 18 year old varsity basketball player yoga was a tough sell, but yet she still managed to some how drag me to class. I never looked back after that day and I was destined to have yoga as my calling in life. On any given day you can find mama misfit in my weekly classes or traveling along on my global yoga retreats. She is very involved and well known amongst the misfit yogi community.

Now for my ride or die, Adrianna. My wifey and baby mama of two is my biggest source of support, inspiration, and honestly the mastermind behind the scenes. All the credit for the home studio goes to her. It was all her idea encouraging me to take the leap of faith to start my own business. She designed the entire studio herself. She knows how to keep me centered and grounded when I begin to go down the spiral of self doubt. She always knows how to comfort me and assure me to remain persistent and to persevere. There would be no misfits yogis without her support and contributions.

My 3 year old son Noah and 1 year old daughter Shiloh are my purpose for getting up every day at 5am to light the incense for my 6am yoga classes and I continue to find ways to provide for them and give them the best quality of life.

I can’t forget the misfit yogis! This community has proven over the years that they are committed, loyal, disciplined, and time and time again shown me and my family unconditional support. From the time we bounced around from back yard to garages, hosting classes out of my living room while the home studio was being built, selling out my retreats/trainings, representing the brand with the misfit yogis merch, and much more. I will forever be grateful to them all and can’t express my gratitude in words,

Most importantly, I want to thank my lord and savior Jesus Christ. It’s all to clear that his hand has played apart in the abundance he has provided to my family and the success of the misfit yogis. Arguably, we have been blessed when we didn’t deserve and all glory to him.

Website: https://www.themisfityogis.com/

Instagram: @misfit.yogis

Image Credits
Josh Castro – Castro Productions