I feel for you, Chakra Chan
By Toni Grates
For those of you who’ve never heard much about chakras (really?), they’re energy centers along the spine, beginning at the base and moving upward to the top of the skull. Each energy centre correlates with specific emotional qualities and overstimulation (or under stimulation) of the chakras can have a negative impact.
Here’s my story of what owning a yoga studio will actually do to your chakras.
You get a divine message in your Crown Chakra that it would be a brilliant idea to open a yoga studio. You’re driven by the thought of all the good you’ll do for the world and all the beautiful karma you’ll create. Your Third Eye celebrates as it simultaneously takes a good hard look at the capital involved in launching the studio and keeping it above water. You’re impeccable with your word and kind to everyone, keeping your Throat Chakra spinning in the healthiest of ways.
Your Heart Chakra guides you as you let people with no money practice for free, and it makes sure the instructors are paid properly, sweeping your own financial needs to the side since, really, you’re happy to be paid in karma. Your Solar Plexus shines brightly as you stand squarely in your personal power, grabbing organic shakes every morning in order to keep your digestion squeaky clean. Creativity is pouring out of you as you brainstorm all the incredible things you and your Sacral Chakra will offer to your new members, spending all your extra time perfecting the newsletter and coming up with innovative ways to sell yoga.
At a certain point—since your Heart Chakra decided to pay everyone else first—your Root Chakra is wondering how you’re going to pay the rent, or your own personal mortgage for that matter. Your relationship with your business partner is strained and you’re at each other’s Throat Chakras. Your Heart Chakra is dimming as more and more people come in looking for free yoga, and your Crown Chakra wonders how the f*ck you’re going to pay the bills. You put a patch on your Third Eye since you can’t bear to look at the reality of how much you owe compared to how much is coming in, and you finally admit to yourself that there was a little voice telling you screaming at you not to do this in the first place.
Anxiety is crippling your solar plexus.
You can’t afford daily smoothies anymore, replacing them with any available caffeinated beverage, so your digestion has gone to hell in a hand basket. You force your Throat Chakra to tell the landlord you can’t pay $9400 a month for rent anymore, and he explains that he can evict your Root Chakra at any time and come after you personally for the remaining five years of rent unless you find a sub-leaser. At this point, your Sacral Chakra anxiety is spinning feverishly out of control and you’re considering which addiction to take part in to numb your pain.
After you get to the point of wanting to ring your business partner’s Throat Chakra because his head is up his Root Chakra, you finally reach enlightenment and realize you haven’t practiced in months and you’re miserable. You’ve had Strep Throat Chakra four times in a year, probably because you’re not living “authentically,” so you force your Third Eye-lid open and trust your gut as it screams at you to get the f*ck out of the yoga business and go home to your family.
I’ve always advocated for heart over crown, but make sure your third eye is WIDE open when you embark on this kind of venture. Otherwise, you’re gonna get it right up the root!
About Toni Grates
Toni Grates opened a yoga studio because she thought it would solve all her problems. After 13 months in yoga hell, she shut the doors and peacefully went back to the real world. She’s a mom and bonus mom (so much nicer than “step-mom”) who loves all things creative. Post-studio, she has gone back to her love of writing with more material than she ever thought possible. You can follow her adventures at www.namastebitchesblog.com.
14 Comments !
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Susanne says:
Love this!
Jenifer says:
Over the last 15 years since I started teaching, my business has taken many forms. I’ve made a lot of mistakes and had frustrations described here (with humor!
).
But I have discovered since opening my own place that my real issue throughout it all were two-fold: lack of clear vision/values, and lack of planning (appropriate business, financial, and strategic market planning).
While I had success over the years with my very small business, my business is now an entirely different level, with many people depending on me to keep things going — not just clients, but the teachers and other practitioners who work with me as well. And of course, my landlord, all of our vendors, and — in a lot of ways — the community at large. It’s a big commitment.
And that commitment keeps me really motivated.
And you know — and this is just crass marketing for people out there reading this — if you want help making your yoga or creative business successful, let me know. I do business mentoring for creatives and healers. We think differently, and so understanding business — and being motivated to understand it on it’s own terms — is a different process than what you will get from the common entrepreneurial mentor.
Just drop me a line. I’d be happy to help. And, happy to help you figure out whether it’s really something you want to do.
I don’t want you to go through Toni’s pain. I truly believe it can be avoided.
Toni says:
Totally agree with your post, Jenifer. Lack of clear vision and lack of planning.
I would also add that there’s a romantic notion of what owning a studio will be and there’s the reality of it. Yoga or not, it’s still business!
Jenifer says:
Yes, there is definitely a lot of romance to it — and the business itself can’t necessarily live up to it — particularly in the early days when you are slogging away for the 40-80 hrs a week just to keep things going.
And with this, as what Laura said, even when you plan well, there will be the unforeseen. This is often about “how to weather it.”
For me, there are “inside-out” practices that can help manage potential pitfalls and situations where people “steal” from you. Most are doing it unconsciously (simply taking the whole situation for granted) — with no direct intentionality. By having clear policies around what you are doing and why, you can create really good boundaries to prevent this.
While people still “take a punt” sometimes, I find it quite easy to “hold the line” because I know what values underly that process — who and what I’m protecting from theft. Not just the my own heart in the matter, but the realities of what my students require of me, what the business requires of me, and everyone who relies on that business for their work, health and well being. It’s easy not to give in to pressure (and yes, some people get aggressive about it) when you know what you’re protecting.
Anyway, cheers all. This is great stuff.
Laura says:
Hey Toni!
I am so with you ( and Jenifer) Been there and done that! But, even with the best planning and open heart there will be pitfalls and problems. Perhaps the hardest lesson is that not everyone is on your path, or even their own. There will be some who try to take advantage of you and even steal from you. Such is life.
YOU have to follow your heart and stay true to what you believe. And that may not be owning a studio….or maybe it will be…….some time down the road. Only if, as Jenifer says, “it’s really what you want to do!”
Toni says:
Well said, Laura. Thanks for taking the time to connect! Owning a yoga studio is definitely not for me, but WRITING about owning a yoga studio is!
recoveringyogi says:
Reminder about our comments policy: http://recoveringyogi.com/about/comments-policy/
Duff says:
So in other words RY is propogating the same new age censorship and fakeness that plagues yoga already
recoveringyogi says:
Jonathan Jackson, er, “Duff” — you can continue to post asshole comments using different accounts, and we will continue to block you. That’s just how it works, pal.
Toni says:
“Duff”, I’m not entirely sure what was removed. Something about my photo looking like a Stepford wife? Sort of hilarious since it couldn’t be further from the truth. That being said, your point is valid. It’s a little polished (taken for a business convention) and perhaps not a perfect fit for this site and this article. I appreciate your honesty. I hope you can appreciate that there’s a kind and appropriate way to say things.
Duff says:
Yeah RY censor, I had to switch accounts so that I could post, not just for the sake of switching.
Toni, yes it was the stepford wife observation that got me excised.
recoveringyogi says:
Yep, got that. And what we’re saying is, if you can’t learn to be constructive, we’ll censor as we see fit.
Duff says:
Got it…being real is bad for business.
Dana says:
Thank you! I’ve been here and done this. I LOVE this article. Thank you again.