Anne Zappas ’21 blends the worlds of design and wellness through Rooted Rainbow Yoga, her Arlington-based studio dedicated to self-discovery and belonging. Guided by tools like “How Might We” statements and why-laddering—introduced during her time as a peer innovation coach—Anne reimagined the purpose of yoga instruction. By centering empathy, ahimsa, and personalized connection, she’s crafted one-on-one sessions that empower students to explore transformation on and off the mat.
Anne Zappas '21 is the Founder and Lead Yoga Teacher at Rooted Rainbow Yoga, a studio based in Arlington, VA that creates opportunities for self-discovery and belonging. Rooted in her experience as a peer innovation coach at AIE, Anne first discovered the power of How Might We (HMW) statements—a key tool in design—as she began building Rooted Rainbow Yoga. Anne applied this method of design to explore meaningful ways to connect with students, which was further recognized during AIE's 10(+1) Unconventional Convention in October, where she posed an essential question: How might we help a small yoga studio owner connect with individuals seeking one-on-one yoga sessions in a way that prioritizes people over marketing?
While this question provided a strong foundation, Anne felt there was more to uncover. Drawing on her personal yoga practice and 200-hour teacher training, she used the why laddering technique—asking “why?” repeatedly—to dig deeper into her core motivations. This process led her to a transformative realization: How might I facilitate meaningful change in students' lives?
By reframing her focus, Anne shifted her business strategy to emphasize deeper values over surface-level needs, shaping her personalized yoga sessions into tools for long-lasting transformation.
This connection between yoga and innovation is at the heart of Anne’s work. She believes that the yoga principle of ahimsa (non-harming) resonates deeply with design’s focus on empathy. Both concepts emphasize compassion, kindness, and understanding—whether it’s stepping into a student’s world to understand their goals or creating an environment that nurtures growth without judgment. For Anne, centering empathy and ahimsa means listening to students' stories, identifying their unique needs, and designing practices that leave them feeling truly seen and supported.
Through further brainstorming, Anne continued to ask herself: How might we design yoga experiences that empower rather than intimidate? This question became a guiding principle as she prototyped and refined her one-on-one sessions, to identify ways of helping students through their self-discovery journey.
As her HMW questions evolved, so did the mission of Rooted Rainbow. Anne has begun offering personalized, one-on-one weekly sessions designed to bring the teachings of yoga into daily life with the goal of creating individualized experiences for all her students!