FORGE
HOT YOGA | HOT PILATES
OUR STORY
Forge Hot Yoga | Hot Pilates
Our Story
We created Forge to reshape the culture around yoga. As former Bikram Yoga Studio owners, along with collective experiences elsewhere in the yoga community, we saw a need to create a safe, inclusive, fun, diverse, and welcoming environment. Forge literally means “to reshape with heat.” So, we “forged” together these healthy practices so they can be available to anybody that wants to try it — all under one hot roof.
Forge’s commitment to the community goes beyond our studio walls. We pay it forward as often as we can, giving back to our roots, supporting our collective, and forging new relationships everywhere we go.
About the founders & co-owners
About Ryan
Ryan Smith is our Co-Owner & Co-Director. He teaches Inferno Hot Pilates & Bikram Hot Yoga. He started practicing Bikram yoga in 2012.
A native Portlander, Ryan has worked in the school system, coached high school baseball and has enjoyed watching his older son, Erik, grow up and play sports and baseball in Sherwood. Ryan and Angela bought the Alberta studio in 2017, making it their third studio in the Portland Metro area, at the time.
Ryan has spent many years in the customer service industry and loves people. You’ll see him around the studio putting in elbow grease taking care of the building and the people and teaching classes. He offers simple & balanced classes and looks forward to helping you as you begin your journey here at Forge Hot Yoga.
Contact Ryan: ryan@forgehotyoga.com
About Angela
Angela is our Co-Owner & Co-Director. She teaches Bikram Yoga, Inferno Hot Pilates, Vinyasa & Yin yoga. She started practicing Bikram Yoga in 2006. After a fall from a horse in 2003, a fractured spine and continued chronic back pain she finally found a yoga practice that helped her heal from the inside out.
She bought the West Linn studio in 2012 after having managed it for the year prior and then built and launched a new studio in Happy Valley studio in 2014. In 2017, Ryan and Angela bought the former “I Am Yoga” studio on Alberta street just after Ryan had just been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer (now in remission!). In 2021 they closed West Linn & Happy Valley due to the pandemic.
They were blessed with the birth of their son in 2022 and enjoy having a family owned and run business. They are grateful for the opportunity to serve many people looking for health, wellness & peace of mind.
We all go into the yoga room looking for something. It only takes a few minutes to change our mind, life and attitude. Yoga & movement is our medicine!
Contact Angela: angela@forgehotyoga.com