If you follow our newest Fierce Femme on Instagram, you’d know that she absolutely loves dirty matchas (matcha tea with a shot of espresso) from Fulton Street Coffee in Downtown Fresno, she’s a resident yogi leading classes all over town, she values family, self care and cultivating community - she’s Fresno proud, and she’s kind of a big deal.

Meet Christine Rose, CEO + Founder of Hashtag Balance. While you may know her for her impact on the health & wellness space in the Valley, her background is actually in media and writing - she still writes for local news affiliate ABC 30, actually. “In addition to teaching yoga five times a week at Blue Moon Yoga, I organize yoga events around town and am a freelance writer for ABC30,” says Christine. “I’m grateful to have plenty of flexibility with my schedule, and on most days I try to do yoga for myself (taking a class as a student, not teaching), because a lot of the work I do involves socializing and plenty of energy exchange— I need the down time.”

See, she talks the talk AND walks the walk of what it means to truly have #balance. With self care being one of the things she’s most passionate about, Christine shares, “It’s taken me a long time to realize the impact of self care on my mental and emotional health… and now that I am where I am, I do everything I can to love on myself the best way I can. When your self care game is strong, you’re able to do the things you love and be present for the people you love in the best way possible.”

While she’s been practicing yoga for 10+ years, her love for the craft and wanting to teach it actually began shortly after she started practicing it herself. “I loved it so much and knew I wanted to be able to share this practice with my family and friends so I decided to become an instructor…as time went on, I experienced the magic behind the emotional and spiritual growth that came with rolling out my mat. Falling in love with the practice included creating deep connections with the community- not just other students, but the magical human beings who led the classes I took. It means so much to be an instructor and to be able to empower those around me to do yoga, to use it to learn more about themselves and to grow each time they explore,” says Christine.

Through her love of yoga, the connections she makes with her students and fellow instructors and the passion of helping others simply feel their best, Hashtag Balance was born. What initially started as a business idea to create athletic wear has now transformed into not only a clothing line but an event group (including a Yoga Tour of Fresno last year!), a movement, a lifestyle. “At the core of it all, the purpose of Hashtag Balance is to remind people they have the power to create balance in their lives on their own,” shares Christine.

“What I love most about it is knowing I play a role in helping each of my students in their own journey of self-exploration…and that as they learn and grow, they’re impacting the lives of everyone else around them. To be an ambassador for yoga is truly a gift and a privilege, and I love knowing that just by doing something that I love I am capable of making a difference in this world.”

In asking Christine the ultimate loaded question of what she’s most proud of, she shared, “Ah it’s so tough to pick just one thing! A project I just completed incorporated all of my passions into one: an exhibit which made its debut at Art Hop at the beginning of the month. ‘Hashtag Balance On + Off the Mat’ is a photographic collaboration I did with one of my friends, fellow yogi and student of mine, Melodía Olivas…It was my hope that in visiting the exhibit, people would see that yoga is for everybody and every body, and those who have never done it before would feel empowered to try it at least once. What made this project extra special was that my friends at Tioga Sequoia Brewing company graciously opened their space for Melodía and I to use. But also, the timing of our exhibit’s opening was perfect as it is being displayed during Pride Month and we are both proud queer women of color.”

With such deep rooted relationships in all that she does, her ultimate passion and thing she values most is family. “This also includes my chosen family- aka the friends who have become family. I wouldn’t be the person I am now without the love and support from my network of friends. Through the love I have found with my partner Romaine, I have been given a level of love and support that I’ve never experienced before,” says Christine.

Finally, as we always do, we we asked Christine what she thinks it means to be a “Fierce Femme”, and well - sounds like she’s describing herself (unitentionally of course because she seriously is THE most humble human on the face of this Earth). “To me, being a fierce femme means being a powerful + strong woman. In my book, power doesn’t necessarily mean being nonstop: power is being able to acknowledge when to slow down, how to show grace to everyone around you… starting with yourself.”

And we agree! This risk-taking, community-loving Fierce Femme has a zest for life that’s simply infectious. Want more? Well, the ultimate community cultivator herself spreads her love of Fresno throughout town by leading classes at Blue Moon Yoga and other pop-up events around town, you can find Christine/Hashtag Balance at River Park on the 2nd + 4th Sunday of the month, where she leads free sessions inside Barrel House at 10am. She also offers a free community class through a partnership with Tioga Sequoia, on the 3rd Sunday of each month.

We’re Hashtag Proud, Hashtag Honored, Hashtag Loving all things Christine Rose.

Fierce Femmes: Christine Rose, CEO + Founder of Hashtag Balance