Building a business with your partner can seem like a dream—especially when you both share a passion.
But for Kristina Rihanoff and Ben Cohen, that dream has turned into a financial nightmare.
The former Strictly Come Dancing pro and her ex-partner, a former England rugby star, poured their savings into a joint yoga venture.
Now, three months after their painful breakup, Kristina is facing another serious setback: the business they co-founded is nearly £500,000 in debt.
Financial Woes Continue After Their Separation
After 12 years together, Kristina and Ben called it quits earlier this year.
But even though they’ve split romantically, they’re still tied financially.
Records show their yoga company, Soo Yoga Group Ltd, is in dire straits, with £489,470 in liabilities, mostly owed to unnamed creditors.
While Kristina remains a company director, Ben officially stepped down in September last year.
Their company’s finances were made public just months after their breakup.
Despite the emotional and financial toll, both are still living under the same roof because they simply can’t afford to move out.
A Business Born from Love—and Bad Timing
Their journey began in 2013, when they met on Strictly Come Dancing.
At the time, Ben was still married, but his relationship with Abby Cohen (with whom he shares twin daughters) ended soon after.
He and Kristina later became a couple, eventually launching Soo Yoga in 2019 with high hopes.
They imagined building a thriving family wellness center offering everything from yoga to high-intensity training.
But the timing couldn’t have been worse.
The pandemic struck just nine months after launch, forcing them to shut down their Northampton-based studio and bringing their plans to a standstill.
Massive Debts and Emotional Toll Revealed in Court
Their financial troubles weren’t just whispered behind closed doors—they came to light dramatically during a court appearance last September.
Kristina, appearing for a driving offense, tearfully explained how losing her license would prevent her from traveling to judge ballroom competitions—her main source of income, earning her around £2,000 a month.
Ben also took the stand, describing the immense stress he was under: “I get up every day and I fight not to lose everything—my cars, my house, my relationship. I’m so overdrawn.”
He revealed both of them were still heavily entangled in their business and suffering the consequences of its failure.
Locked in a Financial Bind Despite the Breakup
Although Kristina and Ben announced in March that they were parting ways as individuals, their financial situation hasn’t allowed them to truly separate.
With business debts reportedly totaling £1 million, they remain stuck living together, unable to afford separate accommodations.
The yoga company owes £440,357 to creditors, plus nearly £50,000 in bank loans.
Despite stepping down from his director role, Ben still co-owns the business through shared shares with Kristina.
Friends had hoped that splitting up might help them reassess their financial setup—but those hopes haven’t materialized.
Kristina Remains Hopeful About Saving the Business
Despite the crushing debt and personal hardship, Kristina isn’t ready to give up on the company.
The newly published accounts state that she plans to continue supporting the business with her own funds.
In her statement, she expressed a commitment to keeping the venture alive, believing it still has a future.
The official report reads: “The directors have agreed to support the company for the foreseeable future and are therefore of the opinion that it is appropriate for the financial statements to be prepared on a going concern basis.”
Looking Back: From Glamour to Grit
It’s a stark contrast from the early days of their relationship, when Kristina and Ben were a golden couple fresh off the Strictly ballroom floor.
Kristina even retrained as a yoga instructor after leaving the show in 2013, and Ben supplemented his income with public appearances and topless calendars.
They had high hopes of emulating health club success stories like David Lloyd—but the reality has been far harsher.
Speaking to MailOnline, Kristina opened up about how devastating it was to see their investment crumble: “We invested everything we’ve ever had. We didn’t even have a chance to grow the business.”
Lockdowns derailed their launch, and despite a promising spike in interest during re-openings, the momentum quickly faded.
So What Happens Next?
The couple’s situation is heartbreaking. They’re no longer together but still bound by a failing business, shared debts, and a shared home.
Friends say the hope was that a breakup might allow them to regroup financially, but that hasn’t happened.
Whether Kristina’s determination can pull Soo Yoga back from the brink remains to be seen.
With the company nearly half a million pounds in debt, and personal finances stretched beyond capacity, the question now is: can they still salvage what’s left—or is it time to let go?