Anne Kerr Kennedy (known as A.K.) is founder of Hyde, a relatively new line of yoga threads. It took her a while to convince me to try her clothes since I tend to be committed to the 'baggy-I'm-not-really-here-look'. But wow! She recently sent me a care package and I can't wash the clothes fast enough. So soft, so supple, so sexy. A.K. agreed to be a Special Guest on Channel Yoga. Below are clips from our conversation. We talk about yoga, the challenge of running your own business and the bigger challenge of accepting help from others.

Kira: We met at Schiffmann's teacher training in Santa Barbara, March 2005? No, maybe 2004? I remember feeling like I had known you forever. Why were you there?
A.K.: Bex. She was one of my yoga teachers in San Francisco and had become and still is one of my closest friends. I had a very active Ashtanga practice and was interested in exploring yoga beyond that. I knew I wasn't going to become a teacher, but Bex was heading up to Santa Barbara for his teacher training. I had moved to New York and missed her. We wanted to do a retreat together and somehow I ended up at Erich's teacher training with her. I never would have chosen it myself, and I was actually pretty intimidated before I got there. I am so indebted to her for that, what an incredible experience it was. Completely shifted my practice...and had the utter joy of meeting YOU. It was around that time that things in my whole life began to shift. Maybe i started dissolving that line that separated my wave from the whole ocean.....

Kira: You just sent me a care package. Thank you! I have worn that top 2 days in a row now to practice and then to teach. I love it. I love the support, the length, the comfort. Can you talk about the events that led to the design of this top?
A.K.: My friend Rita Trieger was complaining about the fact that all the yoga companies offer these tiny little camis with no coverage, and I noticed the only other alternative is a sort of really athletic top that binds you in too tight. So I wanted to make another choice that covered a little more, and was basic but still a bit feminine. The v in the back just added something unexpected while still keeping it simple. I wear that top everyday in the winter instead of a bra!

Kira: You present such a unique and sweet balance between strength and independence and receptivity to help. Can you talk about that?
A.K.: Observant of you to ask that question, and thank you by the way. I struggled for a very long time with being able to receive. I loved to help other people, but when it came time to ask for help I found it difficult. I have always been a strong independent (classic Aries), and when I was younger it was a very fierce strength. Of course that was a little lonely at times. Bex was the first person to comment that I had trouble taking. I've since come around to see how much joy it brings people (i.e. me) to feel like they have helped another, and so in a way, by being able to receive, you in turn give a gift. It brings your relationships to an entirely new level, and softens you. I like to think I've gotten softer.

Kira: Did you see that article on CNET about the mathematical equation of procrastination? What have you found helpful in managing your time?
A.K.: I love that! I read this sort of corny book - "The E - Myth Revisited." E - myth being "entrepreneur," as it was written before the whole web explosion got a corner on the letter "e". Anyway, it talks about the three hats one must wear. I think they are "entrepreneur," "manager," and "technician" in order to be successful. In other words, "idea person," "organizer," and "doer." And that you have to be careful not to spend too much or too little time in each hat. It oddly resonated with me, and i sort of think at the end of each week where I spent my time and then try to plan the next week wearing one hat a little more. Somehow I feel secure knowing that I have my little 3 hat method to check and balance.

Kira: What is the new challenge as Hyde starts to get traction?
A.K.: Managing production and trying to stay on top of introducing new things now that people have started to know about Hyde is challenging. And as I get to the point where I need to hire more people, deciding what role I need to fill the most urgently is , well, GULP.

You can read more about A.K. and check out her yoga threads at YogaHyde.