When Golden Root Yoga opened its doors in October 2025, owner Jennifer Friedman envisioned something Pooler, Ga had been missing: a neighborhood studio rooted in presence, community, and truly accessible movement. A space where students could slow down, breathe, and feel at home in their bodies—without pressure, comparison, or performance.

Just a few months in, that vision is already thriving. And among the instructors helping shape the studio’s warm and grounded culture is Westbrook resident Keri Hutcheson, whose global teaching experience and down-to-earth approach enrich Golden Root’s mission in meaningful ways.

Jennifer, originally from Westport, Connecticut, has lived in the Pooler, Ga area for nearly four years and brings a rich background in movement and wellness to her role as owner. Before opening Golden Root, she spent years teaching dance, training for Spartan races, studying psychology, earning a massage therapy certification, and working in yoga studios across the Southeast.

“Yoga found me during a major life change,” she shared. “It became a space where I could heal and reconnect with myself.” That transformative experience—and the support she found within a studio community—is what she now pays forward through Golden Root Yoga.

The studio offers a full spectrum of classes, including Heated Power Flow, Vinyasa Flow, Ayurvedic Flow, Strength & Mobility, Pilates, Yogalates, Restorative, and monthly Sound Bath experiences, as well as a popular Beginner 101 Series designed to make yoga approachable for every body. Golden Root also hosts donation-based classes benefiting local causes close to the teachers’ hearts.

What sets the studio apart isn't competition—it’s intention.

“At Golden Root, we’re filling a need,” Jennifer said. “Pooler is full of people who want mindful movement and real community. We focus on thoughtful sequencing, supportive teaching, and a space where people show up exactly as they are.”

With small-group class sizes, a grounding and uncluttered studio environment, and an intro offer of $49 for four weeks of unlimited yoga, Golden Root encourages students to explore at their own pace.

One of the teachers helping cultivate Golden Root’s vibrant community is Keri Hutcheson, who lives in Westbrook and has been part of the neighborhood for the past four years.

Originally from Vancouver Island, Canada, Keri first found yoga in 2007 when a friend dragged her to a Yin class—much to her initial reluctance. “I wanted to leave after the first 10 minutes,” she said with a laugh. But the unexpected calm she felt after class kept her returning, and soon yoga became a constant in her mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing.

Keri has practiced many styles over the years, but she gravitates toward powerful, energizing flows “that leave you feeling stronger, calmer, and super sweaty.” Her dedication led her to complete her teacher training—one of her proudest accomplishments—and she began teaching just a week later. Today, she’s nearing the completion of her 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher certification, living her philosophy of “always a teacher, forever a student.”

While Keri teaches locally at Golden Root, you can also find her leading classes right here in Savannah Quarters two days a week with out community members, at the clubhouse-  Wednesdays and Saturdays. Her work also takes her around the world, where she leads yoga weeks at resort destinations. At home, she enjoys cooking, exploring the outdoors, traveling with her husband, and spending time with their puppy, Oliver.

What inspires her most, though, is the community she teaches.

“People that keep moving inspire me,” she said. “No matter your age, body type, or obstacles—those who show up to better themselves every day are the people who motivate me.”

Her advice for anyone curious but hesitant about yoga?
“You don’t have to be flexible to do yoga.”

It’s a message that fits seamlessly with Golden Root’s come-as-you-are philosophy.

Golden Root’s teaching team is expanding as demand grows, with new instructors, specialty classes, and workshops—including therapeutic offerings—rolling out in the year ahead. Jennifer attributes the studio’s early momentum to teachers like Keri, who bring warmth, approachability, and genuine care to every class.

“You don’t need the ‘perfect body’ or the ‘perfect time’ to start yoga,” Jennifer said. “You just need a place to land each week—a steady space where community supports your wellbeing.”

That’s exactly what Golden Root Yoga strives to be: Pooler’s home for strength and softness, challenge and restoration, sweat and stillness.
A place where, no matter who walks through the door, they’re invited to pause, breathe, and return to themselves.