45 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com hungry for more.” The spark ignited, Hughey bid farewell to the restaurant industry and boldly decided to pursue her dream full time. She started small, teaching at various studios and meeting with private clients around town. It was during that time that one of her long-time students Blair Hahn approached her with the idea of opening a studio. The two agreed they wanted a studio that would appeal to practitioners of all levels, ages and abilities, “something approachable and something focused on body, mind, breath and soul.” Yoga Daily officially opened their doors in the Seaside Farms shopping center in January of 2018. Hughey was living her dream, and the studio was thriving when they hit their first major crisis: COVID-19. Hughey was quick to pivot and incorporate online classes, and she credits her teachers and students for their ability and willingness to adapt and overcome. “Thankfully, our student base was very dedicated not only to their practice but to us, so they continued to practice online, and I have to give them praise for that,” said Hughey. After re-opening to in-person classes, Hughey wisely decided to maintain the online classes, which turned out to be a boon for her students. Not only do many local students take advantage of the classes, but several outof-town visitors regularly participate from as far away as Michigan and Massachusetts. Entering into 2023, things were almost back to normal when smoke damage from an electrical fire forced the studio to abruptly close. Hughey mustered her steely determination and quickly moved all the necessary equipment, vacated the studio and relocated to the nearby Homewood Suites for over three weeks. Once again, Hughey credits the flexibility and support of her teachers, two of whom have been with her since Covid, and the loyalty of her students, for their ability to maintain next-tonormal classes despite the extraordinary circumstances. “It wasn’t without its challenges,” said Hughey, “but you make it work. I feel like dealing with Covid helped me have that mentality of ‘what do we need to do to adapt and just keep going?’” Post-fire, everything was back on track until eight months later, another unexpected challenge caused a second forced evacuation. One morning in early August, as Hughey was wrapping up a class, a student rolled up their mat only to discover that it was completely soaked. Water had been left on in an adjacent business and flooded the studio. It required over a week to dry and dehumidify before the baseboards and flooring could be ripped up and replaced. After having to say goodbye to her beloved pets, a cat and dog in February and June respectively, this was just another heartbreaking setback in an already tumultuous year, but in her typical fashion, Hughey managed to find the light in the dark. “Navigating the shift and having to move everything back to the hotel was difficult,” said Hughey. “But it continued to be a good reminder to our students that it’s good to be adaptable and flexible, because just like in life, you’ve got to be able to navigate obstacles and be open to new ideas.” The studio is back to regular classes, and Hughey is as upbeat as ever about the future. When asked how she navigates the tough times and still maintains her cheerful and positive disposition, Hughey offered the following wisdom that she often shares with her students: “rather than focus on the negatives, we focus on the positives, focus on what we can do at the time. When you show up to yoga, you just breathe and focus on what you can do in that moment; that’s how you grow. If you just give up, nothing is going to happen.” our town
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