Millions of people at some time or another think to themselves, man I would love to own my own business. But most people are clever enough to walk away from that idea right then and there. Not that business ownership isn’t a worthy, character building, and empowering venture, but my God it’s difficult.
I have been in the process of trying to open a yoga studio in my neighborhood for almost six months now. I remember when I first began this journey I strongly (and naively) believed I would be up in running in a few months time. Ha. At the three month mark, I would say I had completed 30% of the necessary amount of work and planning. The loads of paperwork and licensing alone is enough to dissuade some entrepreneurs. I have already spent over one thousand dollars and have nothing tangible to show for it.
But it’s ok. Each day I know I am getting closer to opening the studio, and then I will have plenty to show for it. Perhaps more than I am currently anticipating. I have some friends incredulously whispering to other friends, “I don’t think she knows how much work it is actually going to be!”. Well, of course not. After a full year of working only part time, I am acutely aware that in a few weeks time I will be teaching 22 classes and running a small business. I have made peace with the fact that I will likely not have much free time for the next six months. Which is why for the past five days I have been luxuriating about as if I am on the last vacation I will ever take. I take that back; because we are investing everything we have in the yoga studio, everything I have been doing has been a scaled back version of a vacation. Going to the beach, watching endless Law and Order reruns, and reading every single Harry Potter book for the umpteenth time. Side note, somehow I ended up reading the HP books in backwards order. I recommend it.
But back to the studio. I wouldn’t say it’s become a slight obsession, but I’m not far off from that point. I go over the schedule with a fine-tooth comb almost daily to make sure it’s perfect and in the past two days I have walked by the space seven times. Each time looking through the windows and visualizing my students, the paint, the ambiance, and the endless opportunities. Though I know it will be crazy, I really cannot wait for it to open.
Part of my reason for starting this studio is pure defiance. Classes and teachers in my neighborhood don’t teach yoga in the way that I am accustomed to being taught. So I then reasoned that surely, there are others up here in Rogers Park that feel the same way. I decided to do something about it. Sure, I could have tried to teach at the other studios around here, but I didn’t want to chance them trying to change me, trying to mold me into their type of teacher. I’ve said it once, I’ll say it a thousand times, not everyone wants vanilla. Sometimes students want a little chocolate in their classes. I’m a good teacher who can read her students and feel their energy. I can’t stick to a format that is to be used in each class and never stray from that. I once had a teacher say with her nose raised in the air, I don’t believe in starting off a vinyasa flow class with high energy. Well, OK, but some of your students might and as a teacher you should be willing to compromise.
I’m excited and grateful that I have the chance to offer people what I consider to be one of the best gifts I have ever received. Yoga. Yoga is one of the only things in my life, outside of family, to which I have intentionally and continually devoted time. Sure I have picked up a few traits and skills here and there that have served me well over the years, but nothing feels as natural or liberating for myself and others as practicing and teaching yoga.
So in the end, while it is true I have no formal training in business administration or business management, what I do have is hopefully just as valuable. I have passion and determination. As with the start of the studio, each day will bring a surprise and perhaps not always a good one. But that’s life, and I’m just glad I get to run it.
