Today we’d like to introduce you to Bella Fan.
Hi Bella, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey with yoga began when I was 19 years old. What started as a personal practice gradually became a lifelong passion nearly 20 years of dedication. In 2015, I earned my certifications in both Hatha and Ashtanga yoga in China. That was the turning point—I began teaching both group classes and private sessions, and discovered how deeply rewarding it was to help others find balance and strength through movement.
In 2016, I immigrated to the United States. Two years later, I joined the banking industry, working full-time while continuing to teach yoga on the side. Life was busy but fulfilling. In 2019, I got married, and in 2021, I gave birth to my first son—an experience that reshaped my perspective on life.
In 2022, I was accepted into the MBA program at Kansas University. During that time, I started to hear a quiet but persistent voice from deep within me: I didn’t want to spend my life calculating numbers and managing other people’s money. I wanted to do something more meaningful—to truly help others.
So in June 2023, I made a bold decision: I quit my job as a banking credit analyst and founded the first Chinese-owned yoga and Pilates studio in Houston—Keep Fit Yoga Pilates. And pursued my RYT 200 yoga certificate and sound bath certificate and Inferno hot pilates certificate.
The journey hasn’t been easy. At first, I invited friends to practice at my home, but a neighbor’s complaint forced us to stop. I had to move quickly and temporarily relocated to Huaxia Chinese School in Sugar Land. Eventually, I found a commercial space at 4899 Hwy 6, Suite 118A, in Tang City Plaza, Missouri City. But it was just an empty shell.
Construction quotes were expensive, but my father—nearly 70 years old and with a background in renovation—stepped up. He funded and managed the entire project, designing and building out our beautiful 1,800 sq ft, two-story studio.
In November 2024, six months pregnant, I entered the International Hot Mama Pageant and proudly won Best Talent and Second Overall. Then, in February 2025, I welcomed my second baby boy into the world. This month, our studio is wrapping up its trial phase and preparing for a full official launch.
I’m incredibly grateful—grateful to my father for bringing me to this country, to my family and friends who supported me every step of the way, and to every student who has walked through our doors. As a teacher with 5000 hour teaching experience and a RYT 500 hour certificate holder, I felt that Keep Fit Yoga Pilates is more than a business; it’s a dream born of passion, perseverance, and purpose. We will continue to work hard to offer rich, inspiring, and empowering classes to our growing community.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Yes, when I was reported by my neighbors and forced to move my classes to Huaxia Chinese School, it was a really difficult time. I had to pay double rent — both for the school and my new location
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Yogi with an American dream
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Most people who know me as a yoga teacher or the founder of Keep Fit Yoga Pilates are surprised to learn that I spent years working in the banking industry as a credit analyst. On the surface, it seems like a completely different world—numbers, reports, corporate meetings—but that experience taught me discipline, structure, and how to build something with intention and clarity.
What might surprise people even more is that I’m not just a yoga teacher—I’m also a mother of two, an MBA graduate, and someone who took a huge leap of faith to start over in a new country, pursue a dream, and build a studio from the ground up. My journey hasn’t been linear or perfect, but it’s full of growth, grit, and love. I think that’s what gives my teaching and my brand a unique soul—because it comes from a very real place.
Pricing:
- Free group class for trial
- New student special $39 for two weeks large group classes
- We open 7 days a week and offers four classes per day
Contact Info:
- Website: https://keepfityogapilates.com
Image Credits
By Kate Yu & Sherry
