When I bought the studio, there was little student recordkeeping done. Oh, there was a lot of recordkeeping but it was focused on $$$, not students. I purchased the business with no student database to rely on, just a bunch of props (and, I do mean a 'bunch' of props). If anything, the Yoga Center can be described as 'prop intensive'.
Today, the opposite is true -- I've dispensed with some of the $$$ records (letting my accountant do that), and have tried to focus on student info. After all, what is a studio without its students?
Now, why the upswing? We have a great space, old but great. We are a great, diverse team of instructors, offering a mix of classes -- some Anusara® or Anusara-Inspired™, and others including Vinyasa, Restorative, Raja, etc., etc. But, keeping all that in mind, I do need to recognize that one of the larger studios closed this past summer. People branched out, tried other places, then found some of their favorite (or, soon to be favorite) instructors at The Yoga Center. Good for them; good for the studio.
When I meet a new-to-yoga student, I offer two bits of advice. First, make sure you take at least two classes. Why? You may not 'connect' with the instructor. After all, we are human and we will not enjoy everyone's style of teaching. Or, we might enjoy the instructor, but not the style of class being taught (too hard, too gentle, too ???). The second piece? If you don't like yoga at The Yoga Center, then try it at least once at another studio.
Why? Because each studio has it's own vibe. The Yoga Center's vibe is calm and peaceful. It is older, has carpet (newer carpet, but carpet nevertheless) and some cannot handle carpet in a yoga studio. Oh, well. (We also have mirrors!) But, to balance those, let's not forget - the wonderful view of Mt. Olympus out the windows.
Other studios in town will each have their own 'personality'; a reflection of the yoga taught, and the personalities of the owner, instructors and students.
We're all different and that's a good thing -- if we were all the same, it would be difficult to choose where to go or who to study with.
So, there you have it -- a brief, guided tour of yoga in the Salt Lake Valley. While writing this, let it be known I cleaned my oven and changed a toilet seat -- ah, jack of all trades; master of __?___.
The rest of today:
- Yoga with Wayne, 9:30 am at The Yoga Center (where else?)
- Pilates at noon
- Yoga again with Sheldon at 7:15 pm, also at The Yoga Center
- Might shovel a bit of snow inbetween
Hope your Tuesday is terrific,
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