my new space
Tuesday, July 27, 2010 My new space is right downtown! It is so fun!
forgive the photo, it is from my phone. i haven't completely dorked out yet and brought in my camera. but i will!
As of right now there are very few things in it, but it has:
- huge windows at one end
- a window seat/ledge
- NEW bamboo floors
- some lovely curtain panels in the window
- a few yoga mats
- a large back room (could possibly be made into a couple changing rooms)
- a teeny, tiny bathroom
- an oriental looking "screen"
- great lighting and two ceiling fans
- a rickety little table with my iPod Bose dock
Not only do I teach the members of the Pilates studio (yoga is included in their membership), but I also teach anyone who wants to drop-in on a class. $10 per class (is that a reasonable price??). And, I think my favorite part, I can teach private sessions here! How cool is that?!
The studio owner is a very, very lovely woman. She had found a yoga teacher and leased the space in order to offer her members yoga classes. The yoga teacher was there for a month (she also offered massages) and then didn't really give a lot of notice that she was leaving. To be fair, she left for a really great gig teaching yoga retreats in Mexico with her teacher. I'm not sure who could pass that up!
She was the one who called me while I was at Feathered Pipe. At first it seemed too good to be true. But, the studio owner and I worked out a compromise that we are both very comfortable with. I'm saving her ass and she is giving me a space to expand my business. Funny how things work out, right?
The space is mine to do with as I wish. I don't even know where to start! I'm on a very limited budget (due to the teaching more or less full time and the fewer ic gigs).
Things that I envision in the space:
- the quintessential yoga studio sparkly lights! i can't help it, i want to transform it into a twinkly wonderland. i think i have strands and strands of these lights in our basement from our wedding!
- props. lots and lots of props. i am now saving my pennies to invest in props. as of now i have three bolsters, two blocks, four straps, three blankets, a sack full of pinky balls (more on those later), two eye bags, and three extra mats. props are expensive. and while i mainly teach a flow yoga without props, i really like teaching restorative yoga and would like to offer that.
- plants. i'd like to put some organic aspects in the space. the difficult part is keeping them alive! i have a giant fake tree that i'm debating putting in there, but am wondering if the fakeness is too ick. any plant ideas for a north facing window?
- a bench near the entry so people have a place to sit to take off their shoes. this isn't a problem now because people are wearing their flip flops. i'm going to hunt at places like Ross and some of the thrift stores around town. if i can't find anything, i'm asking the wonderful husband to build me one out of the scraps from our porch project.
I like how sparse and spare the space is, so I don't envision bringing in a lot of crap.
What about you? What do you think a yoga space needs? What are your favorites? What are your least favorites? Thanks!
Reader Comments (7)
Babs,
This is such great news! A huge congrats to you for finding just where you need to be. The studio is going to perfect and I'm sure it will be bursting at the seams soon with students who find you lighting their own spark! Good luck with the launch and just remember to take care of yourself...12 classes a week is A LOT, especially if you are physical when you teach.
P.S. In DC a drop-in is usually $20...can I move to Montana?? ;)
I am so excited for you and can't wait to come check it out! I think $10 is perfect for MT and I like your ideas for the space. I always appreciated low lighting with candles/or twinkly lights.
Hi! Congratulations and best wishes!
Be sure to check out yin style yoga if you haven't already. With a full class schedule it will be a life-saving addition to your own practice and it's a nice class to teach. Yin brings in a wide cast of established "regular" practitioners as well as a lot of newbies who desperately want some relief for tight hamstrings and tight hips (just put that in the class description and watch the room fill up!)
A list of resources is on our website
http://themagazineofyoga.com/blog/2009/05/04/yin-yoga-resources/
You can also add variety with interval style classes - again, super easy to teach in the midst of a busy teaching schedule and designed to broaden the community for your studio-
http://themagazineofyoga.com/blog/2010/07/16/interval-yoga-for-focus-and-fitness/
Drop us a line - it would be totally fun to do a feature post from you or about you as you live into this new challenge and help you highlight your studio!
Very best regards
$10 is fair. It's $12 around here (Central IL). I would go with a real plant - try aloe, it's pretty easy to keep alive!
I wish I lived closer!! I would definitely come take class at your studio : )
10$ is SUPER affordable (it's 16-18$ here). also, LOVE the space :)
Low-light, maintenance plants would be snake plants, zz plants (seriously awesome) or some kind of weird ivy type deal. basically anything that has really deep green leaves should be low light.
honestly, i heart my snake plant- i rarely have to water it. i also used to really love our zz plants we had in BC. lived in a basement with basement type windows :) peace lily plants would work too :)
LOTS of plants are fantastic. but then, i'm kinda biased. :)
Babs, it's gorgeous!!
I would add a small cubby shelf for people to stash their shoes, bags and coats - that way the walls stay clutter free!
Life gives you these lovely gifts when you're ready, doesn't it!
@michelle-you should definitely check montana out! thank you for the reminder to take care of myself. i've made some other changes in my life to get to the happier, healthier me. for another post...
@jessi--thank you! i'm excited for you to be in my classes. and, i too, have a soft spot for all things sparkly ;)
@susan--keep the articles and recommendations coming! i'm loving it!
@jamie--ooh, aloe would be a good one.
@eco--all of those plants sound fun! when i have a little cash saved up i'll hit the plant shop. i have lots of plants in my home, but i have no idea what they are...
@lagitane--yes! you're absolutely right, a cubby for coats etc is a necessity. i might ask the wonderful husband to build me one...