Beginning: My Weekly Yoga Classes Begin Tonight at 6:00pm

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Tonight I begin teaching my first independent weekly yoga class through Compass Yoga. We’ll get together for an hour at 6:00pm tonight at Pearl Studios NYC, 500 8th Ave (between 35th and 36th Streets). I hope you’ll be there to celebrate with us!

This dream of my own weekly class has been a long time coming. After I finished my yoga teacher certification at Sonic Yoga in May, I thought I’d hop onto the audition circuit of yoga studios, get on a sub list, and start teaching the early morning slots on weekdays when the studios needed a filler. As it turned out, the world had a different plan for me.

Class Scheduling
Because I work full-time and have a number of other commitments, I couldn’t even go to most of the auditions (that usually happen during the day, during the week), much less commit to sub for any class need the studios have. Because of my busy schedule, I have to teach my classes on my time. While this was an obstacle to going the traditional route for building a yoga teaching practice in New York, it was an obstacle I needed in order to find my truth in teaching.

Finding Space
Once I had decided that I’d try to build my own practice, I went hunting for a room. A beautiful space, available on Sunday evenings (my preferred teaching time), affordable, with no long-term contract required and the ability to cancel if need be with no penalty. And if they’d take my Amex card and allow me to cancel on very short notice, that would be even better. Centrally located please, with good subway access. I asked for the world and refused to settle. I needed the space for my students to be immaculate. Dozens of visits, phone calls, and emails later, and I found my way to beautiful Pearl Studios NYC. As soon as I saw the studio spaces, I knew I was right to be patient and persistent. You get what you settle for.

Marketing
Marketing the class has taken more time that building the class, especially since I’m on my own to do all of the marketing myself. Much thanks to my MBA from Darden and my work experience, I could create a full 360 degree marketing plan that takes a phased approach. Meetup has been a godsend and my amazing friends and family are helping me to spread the word. I’m more grateful for their support than I could possibly express.

Dreams
On this journey, one lesson became very apparent: we gets the dreams we reach for. I studied the market, put the marketing machine in motion, and dug down deep to find the message for my business that truly resonates with me in the hopes that its authenticity would resonate with others.

The Fun Starts Tonight
So tonight at 6pm, all of the pieces, all of the hard work, and all of that hopes come together to start these high-quality, affordable weekly yoga class. I couldn’t be more excited, and I’ve got some butterflies taking up residence in my tummy, too. This combo must mean I’m on the right path.

I hope to see you there! For more information on the classes, please visit the Meetup Page or the Compass Yoga website.

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