Full Transcript for 56: Are You Controlling Your Breath, Or Is Your Breath Controlling You? Kelli Gabat's Story.

struggling with anxiety and depression in my late 20s and seeked out yoga. 00:05:01.072 --> 00:05:20.709 So that's where the yoga came into place and I started doing that like four to five days a week after my job and then went and did yoga and it was that mom guilt too, because my daughter was like four and it was just. 00:05:20.709 --> 00:05:23.531 It made me a better mom, it made me a better person. 00:05:23.531 --> 00:05:29.735 And then I took my first 200 hours and decided that I was going to open my own studio. 00:05:29.735 --> 00:05:31.776 And everybody thought it was crazy. 00:05:31.776 --> 00:05:35.761 They're like no way, there's no way, why would you do that? 00:05:35.761 --> 00:05:38.266 And I didn't really. 00:05:38.266 --> 00:05:42.404 I thought it just was an alignment, it's a feeling that you get where. 00:05:42.404 --> 00:05:44.851 I don't know if everybody gets it, but I did. 00:05:44.851 --> 00:05:45.500 It was. 00:05:45.500 --> 00:05:50.901 It just made sense and I didn't think that I wasn't going to succeed Now it took me a year. 00:05:50.901 --> 00:05:51.985 It took me a year. 00:05:51.985 --> 00:06:00.004 I I was like I want to be done before my daughter starts kindergarten and I gave myself a year and I just made those steps. 00:06:00.004 --> 00:06:01.505 So I was like I took training. 00:06:01.505 --> 00:06:02.607 So I was like I took training. 00:06:02.607 --> 00:06:18.668 I taught four different places a week with my, with my job, and I mean I did what everybody does works at the Y and Transy and I worked all these different places but like five days a week I would. 00:06:18.668 --> 00:06:21.779 I would teach classes and then my corporate job full time and then be a mother. 00:06:21.779 --> 00:06:28.543 But I enjoy teaching so much job full time and then be a mother, but I enjoy teaching so much. 00:06:28.584 --> 00:06:34.502 And we just kind of stumbled across a couple of the girls in my teacher training that stumbled across this place that we started to sublease. 00:06:34.502 --> 00:06:38.052 We were going to go in it together and they decided not to do it. 00:06:38.052 --> 00:06:40.723 So I was like, well, I'll just start teaching privates out of here. 00:06:40.723 --> 00:06:47.211 And then the owner was like, hey, do you want to renovate this? 00:06:47.211 --> 00:06:48.855 And we did. 00:06:48.855 --> 00:06:52.687 And I was there for a year and a half 800 square foot. 00:06:52.687 --> 00:06:56.744 It was so narrow I had to put mirrors up and we went all the way back. 00:06:56.744 --> 00:06:57.586 I had to carpet. 00:06:57.586 --> 00:07:05.088 Even so, I didn't even have really a front desk, I had a corner desk and I would just turn around and check people in. 00:07:05.088 --> 00:07:10.547 It took me four months to hire an instructor because I couldn't afford it. 00:07:10.547 --> 00:07:14.781 So I taught all the classes and I just that was my job. 00:07:14.781 --> 00:07:16.305 I sat there until people showed up. 00:07:16.305 --> 00:07:19.961 So I got really good at privates, which I love to this day. 00:07:20.161 --> 00:07:24.889 So from there, we just outgrew the space and I still wanted to stay in the warehouse block. 00:07:24.889 --> 00:07:25.670 So I move. 00:07:25.670 --> 00:07:29.415 We moved down the street to two studios. 00:07:29.415 --> 00:07:36.507 We have two studios an infrared studio and a big industrial studio Basically doubled, tripled my space. 00:07:36.507 --> 00:07:45.413 And then 2019, covid hit in 2020 and we shifted gears to virtual like right away. 00:07:45.413 --> 00:07:46.074 The next day. 00:07:46.074 --> 00:07:51.108 Actually, we did not close down at all and I just moved on. 00:07:51.108 --> 00:08:01.781 Things were happening, but I acted like things weren't happening because if you react, other people react and so to save you know my business. 00:08:02.483 --> 00:08:03.884 I had to have that same mindset as well. 00:08:03.884 --> 00:08:09.644 Yeah, I had to really get past the clutter At that time. 00:08:09.644 --> 00:08:16.892 My dad passed a month later and so I had to navigate grief and my business as well. 00:08:16.892 --> 00:08:27.990 And then I started another 300-hour during COVID of a training and I think that really made a difference in my grieving process. 00:08:28.370 --> 00:08:36.919 Yeah, I think one of the interesting things about yoga teacher training is that it's more about deepening your own practice. 00:08:36.919 --> 00:08:50.052 At least my tiny experience with it was more about deepening the practice that I already had and less about learning how to teach, because somehow as you deepen your own practice the teaching kind of comes yes. 00:08:50.052 --> 00:09:08.484 So that's beautiful that you had that opportunity to deepen your practice during a time of grief and all of the anxiety and stress that came along with COVID and being a small business owner that depended on in-person traditionally and you know having to navigate all of those changes. 00:09:09.687 --> 00:09:12.956 Yeah, they don't teach you that in entrepreneur school. 00:09:13.136 --> 00:09:14.020 No, there is no school. 00:09:14.822 --> 00:09:15.624 No, they don't. 00:09:15.624 --> 00:09:17.466 There is no school for this. 00:09:17.466 --> 00:09:27.890 Yeah, I mean, I did have people, especially you know, that are still with me helping me navigate the virtual and had some help with that as well, and I had a great team. 00:09:27.890 --> 00:09:33.250 I mean we all shifted virtually and they helped and they were able to teach at home. 00:09:33.250 --> 00:09:42.886 The community, the members really supported me and didn't leave us and I'm just forever indebted to them like they're just the best community ever. 00:09:43.288 --> 00:09:48.133 But yes, uh, teacher training, I would say, is a look within. 00:09:48.133 --> 00:09:48.952 Always. 00:09:48.952 --> 00:09:51.395 I say the studio is about mental health. 00:09:51.395 --> 00:10:03.404 It's about

the work and not the workout and that's, personally my values and my business model is that we, we do more. 00:10:03.404 --> 00:10:12.688 You know, we, we really mindfully move on our mat as mindfulness on and off the mat, but also the breath, and we really cue breath, a lot breath to movement. 00:10:12.688 --> 00:10:15.868 But that's why I got into it. 00:10:15.868 --> 00:10:16.951 It helped my mental health. 00:10:16.951 --> 00:10:24.363 So I wanted to create a space for others, a sacred space that they could explore naturally, and yoga is. 00:10:24.363 --> 00:10:26.351 It is a workout. 00:10:26.351 --> 00:10:37.722 It is hard I'm not saying it's not hard at all but my intention of opening this space was to allow it to help people, like it helped me on a more mental level. 00:10:38.104 --> 00:11:11.121 It's always surprising to me that oftentimes, when you feel that like true alignment, like your business venture even though it's not, it's never easy right, but your business venture is like it doesn't take as long to make decisions, it doesn't like feel as heavy to make decisions because you're just going with that like instinct or feeling that you get and you just know, like okay, this is the next right step instinct or feeling that you get and you just know, like, okay, this is the next right step, you know, and I, yeah, and I think mindset is key. 00:11:11.142 --> 00:11:19.660 I mean, I think it's key, it's a hundred percent key in making decisions, because if your mind is full, you can't make decisions, and so you have to. 00:11:19.660 --> 00:11:27.501 I compartmentalize things like now I'm the yoga instructor, now I'm the owner, now I work the desk, you know. 00:11:27.501 --> 00:11:30.869 Now I'm, you know, doing the manager, stuff. 00:11:30.869 --> 00:11:45.148 That may seem like a whole lot for people, you know, and but mindfulness, mindset, practicing meditation, really I mean it helped me to do what I'm doing now. 00:11:45.227 --> 00:11:54.085 There's no way I would be able to do that if I didn't create a mindset of like habits, like what do I need to do right now, you know, and what can I do later? 00:11:54.085 --> 00:11:57.841 And creating space in the mind is going to allow you to be more creative too. 00:11:57.841 --> 00:11:59.969 So that's what I'm so passionate about. 00:11:59.969 --> 00:12:06.448 Mindset coaching is because it's so important even in your daily lives, because we don't even know what we do in a day unless we write it down. 00:12:06.448 --> 00:12:09.543 And that's something that I tell people to do, like write down what you do in a day. 00:12:09.543 --> 00:12:21.446 It would be interesting to see, and they might be all task driven and there might be nothing in their self-care for you, and so we need to carve out some time in there, regardless of how busy our lives are. 00:12:21.446 --> 00:12:22.668 It's so important. 00:12:23.129 --> 00:12:32.850 Yeah, man, I hear all of you amazing coaches telling us that constantly and I still I don't do it yet enough. 00:12:32.850 --> 00:12:34.980 I mean, I feel like maybe I do you. 00:12:34.980 --> 00:12:40.710 Just it's really hard, right? 00:12:40.710 --> 00:12:43.394 Number one, to even realize when you're doing self-care. 00:12:43.394 --> 00:12:55.033 I think so we have it in our minds like self-care is going to a yoga class or getting a massage, or you know, sitting in silence and on our mat, or you know on our cushion or whatever for a meditation practice. 00:12:55.033 --> 00:13:06.616 We forget that also, sometimes self-care can look like reading a book you enjoy, or cooking a meal that you've been excited to cook, or you know there are all of these other things that can be self-care a meal that you've been excited to cook, or you know there are all of these other things that can be self-care. 00:13:06.636 --> 00:13:11.184 But in our like busy driven society we just chalk that up to like another thing I was doing, you know. 00:13:11.184 --> 00:13:24.605 So even just the gratitude of you know that there are things in your day that you're choosing to do that are beneficial for you, but it kind of gets like lumped into oh, I did all the things in my day that I had to do. 00:13:25.206 --> 00:13:34.879 So yeah, it's like a checklist you know, and it's like got it done, got it done, got it done, you know. 00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:35.902 And checklists are good too. 00:13:35.902 --> 00:13:38.725 I mean, it gets stuff on paper, but I highly encourage that to get things out of your mind onto paper. 00:13:38.725 --> 00:13:39.206 But also meditation. 00:13:39.206 --> 00:13:42.009 You know, it doesn't have to look like anything. 00:13:42.009 --> 00:13:48.346 It could be literally, you could be doing the dishes and just focusing on that dish and nothing else. 00:13:48.346 --> 00:13:53.562 So it's like just focusing, bringing awareness to what you're doing at the time. 00:13:53.562 --> 00:14:01.445 It could be a small walk, it could be a walk without any digital, you know, listening to anything or carrying your phone, so it can be anything. 00:14:01.445 --> 00:14:12.893 You just you don't have to be in a yoga studio, you don't have to be seated, it's just focusing on, like, what you're doing at hand, and that can create space too. 00:14:14.662 --> 00:14:21.166 Do you offer meditation classes specifically, or do you just bring the mindfulness aspects into the yoga class itself? 00:14:21.166 --> 00:14:22.571 How does that work at the studio? 00:14:23.639 --> 00:14:24.022 Yeah. 00:14:24.022 --> 00:14:33.847 So I would say in general, we all focus on breath a lot and breath is going to bring you into the present moment because you have to focus on your breath and that might look like counting. 00:14:33.847 --> 00:14:40.690 We might count with you for your breaths, we might, you know, a whole like body. 00:14:40.690 --> 00:14:43.014 You know, relax the jaw, things like that. 00:14:43.014 --> 00:14:44.303 So bring you into

your body. 00:14:44.303 --> 00:14:50.980 So that's part. 00:14:50.980 --> 00:14:58.820 We don't have meditation classes per se, so we don't just offer like 15 minutes of meditation, but I feel like all of us bring in breath work a lot and we keep breath work a lot. 00:14:58.820 --> 00:15:02.166 So it brings you back into your body, into the present moment. 00:15:02.166 --> 00:15:06.375 So, but not in general, your body into the present moment. 00:15:06.514 --> 00:15:09.500 So, but not in general, just meditation classes, yeah, okay. 00:15:09.500 --> 00:15:21.393 So you you were corporate, you started a private or a personal yoga practice to help with your own mental health and dealing with everything that you were dealing with, and then felt the feeling of like, okay, opportunities are presenting themselves. 00:15:21.393 --> 00:15:32.400 I feel, in alignment with how the universe is presenting things, you opened the first studio and then you built a team yes, Okay, and then you moved into the new space. 00:15:32.400 --> 00:15:42.172 Was that something that you were actively looking for, a new space, or like it just kind of appeared and you were like, okay, I'm going to, you know, walk through the door. 00:15:42.172 --> 00:15:43.041 How did that happen? 00:15:43.802 --> 00:15:48.551 Yeah, I would say the first space was the universe, you know. 00:15:48.551 --> 00:15:51.022 It was like here's the space, take it or not? 00:15:51.022 --> 00:15:54.130 Yeah, like I said there was, there was a bunch of us going into that. 00:15:54.130 --> 00:15:56.684 The second space was like, yeah, I need more space. 00:15:56.684 --> 00:16:01.780 Like there's, we're 20 deep, 25 deep in classes and we're coming out the door. 00:16:01.780 --> 00:16:03.822 You know, I mean, we're literally coming out the door. 00:16:03.822 --> 00:16:04.864 We need more space. 00:16:04.864 --> 00:16:05.984 So, yes, I did. 00:16:05.984 --> 00:16:08.765 I did talk to the owners and like we need more space. 00:16:08.765 --> 00:16:11.148 I don't want to leave this area. 00:16:11.148 --> 00:16:12.769 So let's look at some space. 00:16:12.769 --> 00:16:16.231 It was Kentucky Mudworks at the time. 00:16:16.231 --> 00:16:21.495 They had that whole building, so it was the first one to go in there and pick my spot, basically. 00:16:21.495 --> 00:16:25.018 And now there's two other businesses in there as well with me. 00:16:25.018 --> 00:16:26.701 That's awesome. 00:16:26.701 --> 00:16:29.809 So that that was definitely like, yes, let's do this. 00:16:30.009 --> 00:16:37.993 The second now, this wildfire wellness space, um was a over a year and a half in the making. 00:16:37.993 --> 00:16:43.013 It had we've taken it different routes, like I was going to move in that space, move the whole space in that space. 00:16:43.013 --> 00:16:44.980 And I was like, no, that space, move the whole space in that space. 00:16:44.980 --> 00:16:46.485 And I was like, no, we're not doing that. 00:16:46.485 --> 00:17:04.141 And then, what about being more holistic and adding more things for the community, and so that's kind of how that developed, and so that's the route that we decided to go is to keep the current space we had and then expand into the space right next to us. 00:17:04.181 --> 00:17:06.229 I feel like we got really again. 00:17:06.229 --> 00:17:18.048 The universe got lucky that we didn't move and I wouldn't have moved, but that the people next to us decided to leave, and that was an opportunity for me to expand. 00:17:18.048 --> 00:17:26.256 Literally right next door there is a doorway that takes us from the yoga studio into the wellness studio, so they don't have to go far. 00:17:26.256 --> 00:17:31.772 So I think the hardest part is, like for the students just like, what door do we go in? 00:17:31.772 --> 00:17:34.259 You know like, can we add another door? 00:17:34.259 --> 00:17:36.773 So many doors, so many bathrooms. 00:17:36.773 --> 00:17:38.153 I think jokes about it all the time. 00:17:38.153 --> 00:17:43.872 There's just like so much of everything now, but it did feel alignment, like I. 00:17:43.872 --> 00:17:59.955 It is a big space, it is, and people like, wow, this is really big, but it does still feel very home, like it feels, feels good, like I think really, I would say to anybody like really feel into your intuition, like feel into your gut, like really feel into that. 00:18:00.016 --> 00:18:02.280 If things don't feel good, that they're probably not. 00:18:02.280 --> 00:18:12.938 You know, you might walk into a room of something and you might like the energy in here is not well, or oh, the energy is really good in here and so I'm gonna stay. 00:18:12.938 --> 00:18:16.463 And so it's kind of like that you know you really have to. 00:18:16.463 --> 00:18:18.738 And again, that's what my mindset too. 00:18:18.738 --> 00:18:21.078 It's like this is a lot. 00:18:21.078 --> 00:18:22.315 Yes, this is a lot. 00:18:22.315 --> 00:18:27.278 This feels right, this is going to be OK, yeah we're going to be OK. 00:18:28.182 --> 00:18:33.142 Yeah, and I think a lot of business owners we do a lot of things and we take risks. 00:18:33.142 --> 00:18:36.468 We really do, I feel like more than anybody like that. 00:18:36.468 --> 00:18:38.353 That would be a lot for people. 00:18:38.353 --> 00:18:41.821 But I think small business owners have a different mindset. 00:18:41.821 --> 00:18:44.214 We have a different way of looking at things. 00:18:44.576 --> 00:18:50.250 So do you have any advice or any like techniques or tips? 00:18:50.250 --> 00:18:58.845 Because one of the things that I have to try to caution, especially women that I'm consulting with who they have a great idea for a business. 00:18:58.845 --> 00:19:00.336 They're really passionate about it. 00:19:00.336 --> 00:19:14.502 A lot of times it's something that like either a service or a good that they have that you know has made a huge difference for them in their own personal lives

and now they want to share it with the world and they're just on fire about this idea and wanting to like be a force of good. 00:19:14.502 --> 00:19:23.565 About this idea and wanting to like be a force of good and there's so much beauty and power in that desire and passion to be a good force in the universe. 00:19:23.805 --> 00:19:30.301 But as a small business owner, we also have to kind of balance that with and does it make sense Like will it work? 00:19:30.301 --> 00:19:43.431 Are you going to survive right as a business, because you can be all the good force you want to, but if your profit and loss is constantly in the loss phase and not in the profit, then it's not going to work, you know, long term. 00:19:43.431 --> 00:20:01.732 So do you have any tips or techniques or advice for people who are in that state of like feeling so optimistic and positive and hopeful and passionate, but also need to, you know, evaluate the business side, because I know, coming from corporate, you probably have a little of that mindset already ingrained in your way of thinking. 00:20:02.894 --> 00:20:04.337 Yes, I, yes. 00:20:04.337 --> 00:20:12.220 There's a lot to that right there and I would say, you know, I think it's different with brick and mortar and online businesses too. 00:20:12.220 --> 00:20:17.250 So, like that's a whole different shift for me, the mindset coaching was more online. 00:20:17.392 --> 00:20:23.974 My brick and mortar, you know, is my brick and mortar, and so that's a different kind of business, I think. 00:20:23.974 --> 00:20:29.689 So, with that being said, I would start small, like I would. 00:20:29.689 --> 00:20:42.838 If you're doing a brick and mortar sublease, like, don't go in and lease a big space, you know, and just set yourself up, obviously you need to look at your budgets and things like that and what you can spend out. 00:20:42.838 --> 00:20:56.351 But also, if you have to keep the job that you're doing now and then start teasing in what you really love, then you might need to keep that as well, you know, and balance that out and like, what does that look like? 00:20:56.351 --> 00:21:02.993 Things don't just happen overnight and so, even though you love this idea and, like this, you want to help other people. 00:21:02.993 --> 00:21:06.565 That is beautiful, it's and you should explore that, I think. 00:21:07.669 --> 00:21:21.195 But definitely start small and, um, I would say, do your homework to know, know your audience, know your brand, like who you are, be specific to what you do. 00:21:21.195 --> 00:21:25.670 There can be such a range of of things like what is mindset coaching? 00:21:25.670 --> 00:21:27.654 Like, what do you do on mindset coaching? 00:21:27.654 --> 00:21:30.140 Or you know, um, are you a business? 00:21:30.140 --> 00:21:32.636 You could be a business coach and a mindset coach. 00:21:32.636 --> 00:21:33.622 But what does that look like? 00:21:33.761 --> 00:21:36.092 You know so there's just so many different things. 00:21:36.092 --> 00:21:42.114 So, like, I think you can be all things, but I think the most important thing is what are you the most passionate about? 00:21:42.114 --> 00:21:44.800 Who are you the most passionate about to help? 00:21:44.800 --> 00:21:48.596 I think really honing on that like it's going to define you more. 00:21:48.596 --> 00:21:56.342 So that's something I would say that I noticed on online, but also as a brick and mortar as well. 00:21:56.342 --> 00:21:58.355 I wouldn't say not to do it. 00:21:58.355 --> 00:22:03.903 I mean, I think that if you have a passion, you should definitely explore it and and to some capacity. 00:22:04.369 --> 00:22:09.136 Yeah, I think everybody's lifestyle is different, and I always say this too. 00:22:09.136 --> 00:22:18.259 When I started the business, I just put my blinders on, like I could not look around me to see what everybody else was doing, like what they were pricing theirs, because they don't. 00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:23.492 No one's life style is the same, so you have to make what you have to make. 00:22:23.492 --> 00:22:34.198 You know, and that might be different than somebody else's, so that might, and your expenses are different, so your pricing is not going to probably be the same as the person that does the same thing as you too. 00:22:34.198 --> 00:22:41.118 So you have to look at so many different things of like how do you want to price things and how's that going to benefit you? 00:22:41.118 --> 00:22:45.976 How's that going to benefit your students as well? 00:22:45.976 --> 00:22:52.314 But I think just really like what do you need as you develop this new business? 00:22:54.016 --> 00:22:54.457 as well. 00:22:54.457 --> 00:23:00.031 I think what you said that felt the most pertinent to me was the part about starting small. 00:23:00.031 --> 00:23:20.758 It doesn't have to be the leap from here to Mars to take that first step, to know if you're on the right journey, and so maybe coming up with your most viable, smallest product or smallest offering and testing that out, testing those waters, to kind of see you know how am I being perceived Like? 00:23:20.758 --> 00:23:22.702 Is this something that people are open to? 00:23:22.702 --> 00:23:25.355 I think that's a really great piece of advice. 00:23:25.576 --> 00:23:30.057 I think it's easy too with social media, and everything is very loud. 00:23:30.258 --> 00:23:31.382 You have to hone in. 00:23:31.382 --> 00:23:35.434 You really do, because you'll see someone doing something that you're really passionate about doing. 00:23:35.434 --> 00:23:38.061 You're like, well, why can't I do that? 00:23:38.061 --> 00:23:45.377 Or you get that imposter syndrome where it's like causing you anxiety because you're like why I want to be there, I should be there. 00:23:45.377 --> 00:23:54.616 Or you aspire to be like them, right, but you don't realize how much work they probably have already done, how many years they've already put

in. 00:23:54.616 --> 00:23:56.318 They probably have already done, how many years they've already put in. 00:23:56.318 --> 00:23:56.940 It's just, you know. 00:23:56.940 --> 00:24:07.550 I think it's easy to look at other people's lives and say, you know, this is what I want but is this what you want, or this? 00:24:07.570 --> 00:24:07.612 is. 00:24:07.612 --> 00:24:08.173 This is just what you see. 00:24:08.173 --> 00:24:13.041 It's just really important because it's you got to stay authentic to you and you start looking around. 00:24:13.041 --> 00:24:19.236 It's it's like we get caught up in like something that somebody else is doing and it's not really for us. 00:24:19.916 --> 00:24:32.263 Yeah, and I think when we start doing that, it's so easy also to like, make this false assumption that if we're going to be able to stay competitive, we're going to have to do what you know. 00:24:32.263 --> 00:24:34.251 We have to be able to do what everybody else is doing. 00:24:34.251 --> 00:24:42.494 You know, maybe you have a bakery and you're like well, I'm really good at making muffins, I'm not so good at cupcakes, but other people do cupcakes. 00:24:42.494 --> 00:24:43.657 I should probably do cupcakes. 00:24:43.657 --> 00:25:01.665 Oh, well, I also need to do frosted sugar cookies, because those are really in on Instagram, you know, and you start adding all of these things that aren't your true, like passion or the thing that is just really sets you apart and makes you, you know, the best at what you can do, and then you water it down and lose momentum. 00:25:02.349 --> 00:25:06.060 Yeah, and then you lose people too, because like, what are they really doing? 00:25:06.060 --> 00:25:09.095 You know, are they a cupcake place? 00:25:09.095 --> 00:25:12.851 So now are they a dessert place, you know, or what, like? 00:25:12.851 --> 00:25:13.794 What are they doing? 00:25:13.794 --> 00:25:14.916 It's like they made the best. 00:25:14.916 --> 00:25:16.601 Just make the best of what you make. 00:25:16.601 --> 00:25:18.457 Make the best cupcakes. 00:25:18.457 --> 00:25:23.240 You don't have to make just cupcakes, frosted cookies. 00:25:23.240 --> 00:25:29.491 You know we're just using that, but, like you know, now you're selling chips, it's like I mean, and now you're a deli? 00:25:29.632 --> 00:25:31.253 I don't know, now you're a deli. 00:25:31.453 --> 00:25:40.326 It's like this whole thing has shifted, because, I mean, literally, if you look around you and other people are doing things, you're like, oh well, I could do that too. 00:25:40.326 --> 00:25:46.993 You know, I'm going to do that because that's going to help me sell more. 00:25:46.993 --> 00:25:53.085 It's like, just I went to a conference and it was an empowering conference and it was about like, just do this. 00:25:53.289 --> 00:25:55.578 This person was highly successful in cupcakes. 00:25:55.578 --> 00:26:08.243 I mean, just loved making cupcakes at home and now that, like she's known like the best cupcakes and I've tried them, I'm like these are the best cupcakes I've ever had and it's like it's funny. 00:26:08.243 --> 00:26:21.877 It's not funny, but it's like, yeah, there's a cupcake business that is like making millions of dollars and because they've made the best cupcakes, they have honed in on their skill set and their skill and their passion. 00:26:21.877 --> 00:26:24.616 They make the best cupcakes. 00:26:24.616 --> 00:26:26.537 They don't have to make the other things. 00:26:26.537 --> 00:26:38.981 So I would say, if you're going to be going into small business or a product, just do the best at that product and be known for that product. 00:26:38.981 --> 00:26:43.708 You know, just because it is noisy out there, it's hard to be like what's going on? 00:26:43.708 --> 00:26:45.073 They're just throwing spaghetti at the walls. 00:26:45.073 --> 00:26:47.018 You know it's like is this going to work? 00:26:47.018 --> 00:26:47.881 Is this going to work? 00:26:47.881 --> 00:26:48.000 And? 00:26:48.411 --> 00:26:49.792 it just gets it, just it's. 00:26:49.792 --> 00:26:52.217 It's overwhelming as well. 00:26:52.837 --> 00:26:53.499 Yeah for sure. 00:26:53.499 --> 00:26:58.132 Sure, as the business owner and also as the consumer, it's just a lot, yeah, a lot going on. 00:26:58.132 --> 00:27:04.242 Okay, so you create the best holistic spaces, like that's. 00:27:04.242 --> 00:27:09.780 Your passion is to create a safe place for people at least, that's what I've gathered from you from talking. 00:27:09.780 --> 00:27:22.657 So I want to know more about the expansion into the wellness center and what you offer there and what people can expect and kind of how you're using that to impact the community. 00:27:23.559 --> 00:27:27.714 Yeah, I think, with the current space that I was having was plenty big. 00:27:27.714 --> 00:27:39.882 It just felt small to me after eight years not eight years there, but six years there and to others that probably seemed crazy, but it just felt small and the community space wasn't big enough. 00:27:39.882 --> 00:28:00.516 I wanted people would stay after class but it like would just, you know, there wasn't enough room in the lobby and so I noticed that too and it was like when I create this space, I'm going to have a huge community space and it is huge and that was so important to me because community is the most important thing. 00:28:00.516 --> 00:28:13.016 Like I have the best community and I think you know I just you just open the doors and you create the space and you just show up who you are and I and I think that's who you attract and that was the most important. 00:28:13.016 --> 00:28:16.102 And then the other is just like I didn't want all the things. 00:28:16.102 --> 00:28:17.124 You know I didn't. 00:28:17.124 --> 00:28:28.460 I was like infrared saunas are great Plunges have research behind them as well to be great for also inflammation, but also mental health and resetting the nervous system and

things like that. 00:28:28.670 --> 00:28:32.118 Red light therapy is great for, again, inflammation. 00:28:32.118 --> 00:28:33.122 It's great for sleep. 00:28:33.122 --> 00:28:40.483 The PMF med is great for arthritis and inflammation, and so those things were really important to me specifically. 00:28:40.483 --> 00:28:43.231 And then a lot of people wanted massage as well. 00:28:43.231 --> 00:28:46.157 So we started incorporating massage as well. 00:28:46.157 --> 00:28:50.974 So I didn't want there's so many things you could put in that space. 00:28:50.974 --> 00:28:53.421 I just didn't want all the things. 00:28:53.421 --> 00:28:55.993 I just wanted those specific things and I thought that that would. 00:28:55.993 --> 00:29:00.002 It makes sense going in with yoga to that. 00:29:00.002 --> 00:29:09.480 Again, you know the mental aspect but also recovery, but also those things are just good for the body, mind and body connection. 00:29:09.480 --> 00:29:11.897 You have to breathe through the cold plunge. 00:29:11.897 --> 00:29:13.516 You have to breathe through it. 00:29:13.516 --> 00:29:16.459 You know your mind has to move through that too. 00:29:16.459 --> 00:29:24.071 That that coldness, and I know it's still cold, but we we started it at 55 and people were like that's cold still. 00:29:24.071 --> 00:29:32.784 A lot of our people have never done the cold plunge, so we didn't want to go too far below that People are loving it. 00:29:35.471 --> 00:29:39.076 So creating that space, yes, so I picked what I wanted to include. 00:29:39.076 --> 00:29:41.777 It was very intentional about that. 00:29:41.777 --> 00:29:46.150 I wanted, like a retail space where I could do consignment for other small businesses. 00:29:46.150 --> 00:29:53.603 So I brought in other small businesses vendors so they could put their stuff there as well for consignment, to fill up the space. 00:29:53.603 --> 00:29:55.144 That's exciting. 00:29:55.650 --> 00:30:01.182 So is it like a rotating cast of vendors that sell through your retail space? 00:30:01.609 --> 00:30:03.898 Well, it's getting there. 00:30:03.898 --> 00:30:09.462 Now we're going to have people that actually are going to, you know, provide stuff and leave their stuff there as well. 00:30:09.462 --> 00:30:12.058 So we will sell their stuff as well. 00:30:12.058 --> 00:30:16.461 So it gives them a place to put their things as well. 00:30:16.461 --> 00:30:18.500 So supporting small businesses. 00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:20.990 During that we're actually doing a swap shop. 00:30:20.990 --> 00:30:30.339 I said I could put I have a post-it for every thing that someone has said to me, like you should do this, you should do this and that's how. 00:30:30.540 --> 00:30:35.160 And so I go through my post-its and I'm like this is a good idea, this sounds good. 00:30:35.160 --> 00:30:39.856 I'm going to ask a couple more of my members about this, because everybody has ideas. 00:30:39.856 --> 00:30:44.592 When you create space, to

like, oh, I can see this going here, I can see this, you know. 00:30:44.592 --> 00:30:53.299 And you come in one day and there's a plant here and there's a new chair here, or the chair is moved from here to here and you have flowers on your balcony now. 00:30:53.299 --> 00:30:54.691 So every day I walk in. 00:30:54.691 --> 00:30:55.672 Every day I walk in. 00:30:55.672 --> 00:30:58.718 I'm like there there's something new, and that happened with the other space. 00:30:58.758 --> 00:31:03.045 People started moving things that they felt like maybe we'll try it here, we'll try it here. 00:31:03.045 --> 00:31:13.798 So it's like very home, like like people feel that they can, they're fine doing that and they are like I love it that people put their own touches on the space. 00:31:13.798 --> 00:31:16.532 And it's like you know what that does look better there. 00:31:16.532 --> 00:31:17.655 I'm in it all the time. 00:31:17.655 --> 00:31:18.960 You don't see things when you're in it. 00:31:18.960 --> 00:31:19.461 All the time. 00:31:19.461 --> 00:31:25.037 When you walk in, you're like, oh, that fiddle tree is going to go right there and it's like, okay, put it there then. 00:31:25.037 --> 00:31:27.357 So I'm very open. 00:31:27.357 --> 00:31:34.474 I feel like very easy to be like yes, go ahead, make it what you want, we'll take a look at it and see how it goes. 00:31:34.494 --> 00:31:36.577 Goes, yeah, with the retail space. 00:31:36.577 --> 00:31:38.560 It's just, it's a very large space. 00:31:38.560 --> 00:31:48.631 People like you should do this, you should do this. 00:31:48.631 --> 00:31:50.536 So we're doing a swap shop, which is fun, on the 22nd of June at 1pm. 00:31:50.536 --> 00:31:53.884 So people bring in like their gently used clothes and you can swap those out for other clothes. 00:31:53.884 --> 00:31:55.832 So it's not something you have to go out and buy. 00:31:55.832 --> 00:32:02.070 So people that have like stuff that they don't want to, you know, put it to goodwill or something they're like. 00:32:02.070 --> 00:32:04.660 I've outgrown this, but it's really nice, I've only wore it once. 00:32:04.660 --> 00:32:10.101 They bring it in and then other people have the option to take it home and swapping, swapping out. 00:32:10.842 --> 00:32:12.192 I love that, is it just? 00:32:12.212 --> 00:32:12.634 clothes. 00:32:12.634 --> 00:32:16.165 I mean it sounds like clothes and accessories. 00:32:16.165 --> 00:32:18.419 Okay, yeah, that's mean it sounds like clothes and accessories. 00:32:18.439 --> 00:32:18.962 Okay, yeah, that's super fun. 00:32:18.962 --> 00:32:21.794 I'll definitely have to come check that out yeah, yeah. 00:32:21.894 --> 00:32:23.699 So there's plenty of space for that. 00:32:23.699 --> 00:32:25.603 So it's nice to have the space. 00:32:25.603 --> 00:32:30.261 I think I'd rather have more space than more limited space, because you can grow into it. 00:32:30.261 --> 00:32:33.694 So it's kind of how I look at the space as well, that's amazing. 00:32:34.075 --> 00:32:35.297 Yeah, just's small business. 00:32:35.297 --> 00:32:57.637 Yeah, I know we recorded this episode several weeks ago, yes, and we had some technical difficulties and I know that when we talked the first time, you were telling me about the community space and just having a place for your members and your students to kind of be in community with one another, or even just a place to co-work. 00:32:57.637 --> 00:33:04.942 So is that still a part of the feel and the vibe that's going on now that you're like operational and running with it? 00:33:05.670 --> 00:33:05.951 Yeah. 00:33:05.951 --> 00:33:14.335 So I do encourage people to virtually work there or stop in and work on the computer or after a treatment to sit and relax. 00:33:14.335 --> 00:33:16.138 So I think we're getting there. 00:33:16.138 --> 00:33:24.698 I think that we are starting to get more people that aren't members coming to the door that hear about us, so it's still pretty fresh. 00:33:24.698 --> 00:33:31.746 So to have people come like off the streets per se, like that never been in the studio, it is starting to happen, which is very exciting. 00:33:31.746 --> 00:33:42.978 To have people around Like I'm a big, of course, I just love community, so the more the merrier for me. 00:33:42.998 --> 00:33:43.640 But yes, it is open, it's again. 00:33:43.640 --> 00:33:49.957 There's plenty of space, furniture, it's a nice quiet space too, so it's it's inviting. 00:33:49.957 --> 00:33:56.095 And we also have like a little kind of back deck that I'm working on so we can open the doors and things like that back there. 00:33:56.095 --> 00:34:10.483 But everything's a work in progress, which is a lot for me, because I like things to happen very quickly and I've had to calm myself down a little bit to pull back, to like it's not going to be perfect, you know, right away. 00:34:10.483 --> 00:34:13.655 I have to grow into it, just like I did everything else. 00:34:13.655 --> 00:34:19.375 So that has been, that's been a little more challenging for me. 00:34:19.375 --> 00:34:24.012 I think that I, I want things to be like in place right away and it's just. 00:34:24.012 --> 00:34:27.942 It's taken time, but it's taken time for the right reason. 00:34:27.942 --> 00:34:35.083 People have come in for the right reason and making new connections like when it's right. 00:34:35.083 --> 00:34:39.759 So, whatever that means, it's just like you. 00:34:39.759 --> 00:34:42.353 You don't I just don't throw things in place just to put them there. 00:34:42.353 --> 00:34:44.641 I'm just like waiting to see how things evolve. 00:34:44.909 --> 00:34:50.610 Being open to the right alignment, right moment, trusting that things are happening the way they're supposed to. 00:34:50.610 --> 00:34:53.855 Yes, yes, trusting for sure. 00:34:55.217 --> 00:35:06.260 So on Wednesday, june 25th is our next Small Business Bestie Cocktail Hour and we're hosting at the Willow, which is

right around the corner from you. 00:35:06.260 --> 00:35:13.360 So I'm not sure what your schedule looks like and if this is all like out the window, we can edit this part out. 00:35:13.360 --> 00:35:27.193 But it would be super fun if we could walk around the corner and, like everybody, see your space, see, like this new opportunity for you know working and working, working in, not out, and you know all of the wellness opportunities that are there. 00:35:27.193 --> 00:35:35.472 So for any of the besties that are coming to happy hour, we'll be right around the corner and I would love for us to be able to pop through and check everything out. 00:35:35.713 --> 00:35:38.184 So I love that, yes, and I'll. 00:35:38.184 --> 00:35:42.210 I need to mark my calendar on that so I can come over, or is it? 00:35:42.210 --> 00:35:45.400 Is it open for how is that Michelle? 00:35:45.530 --> 00:35:48.735 Yeah, so this is all new, the cocktail hours. 00:35:49.090 --> 00:35:58.617 We had our first one at J Renders a few weeks ago and the idea really is just a very casual, open networking for people in the small business bestie community. 00:35:59.010 --> 00:36:25.001 Last time we ended up having the most amazing conversations and one of our besties, pamela Honchel, we came up with this really cool idea, like all sitting around kind of round table style, just talking about like ways to promote her business, and we ended up coming up with these amazing ideas that she's really excited about and that's the whole whole idea behind the meetups is let's get together and help inspire one another and be able to have people to bounce ideas off of. 00:36:25.001 --> 00:36:31.704 You know, there's plenty of events out there where we hand each other our networking, you know our business card and we say, oh, nice to meet you and you know that's. 00:36:31.704 --> 00:36:49.592 But there are very few events out there where you're really getting into deep conversation with people that you feel like you can, you know trust and that you can say, hey, I'm having this problem in my business, you know, or sharing a vulnerability and allowing people to give you that critical input that as a small business owner sometimes we just don't get. 00:36:49.592 --> 00:36:51.858 So that's the whole principle of it. 00:36:51.938 --> 00:36:53.382 It's just connection. 00:36:54.849 --> 00:36:58.255 So yeah, I've seen that I might've seen that I was trying to make that last one. 00:36:58.255 --> 00:37:03.184 So yeah, I've seen that I might have seen that I was trying to make that last one. 00:37:03.264 --> 00:37:05.668 So yeah, I would love that I'm all about women, empowering women. 00:37:05.668 --> 00:37:20.791 You know, is it for women that Facebook group? 00:37:20.791 --> 00:37:28.201 Okay, but if you know, if there's just an ally out there who wants to help support women in business and they want to stop by, I'm not going to kick them out, but I think my branding definitely leans more towards the

like feminine energy and all of that. 00:37:28.221 --> 00:37:29.753 Yeah, there's nothing wrong with that. 00:37:29.753 --> 00:37:31.557 There's definitely nothing wrong with that. 00:37:31.557 --> 00:37:36.780 Yeah, I'm all about women, empowering women and collaborating and it's just so good. 00:37:36.780 --> 00:37:38.382 Yeah, the Willow is beautiful. 00:37:38.382 --> 00:37:42.916 They're actually on the other side of our studio, so it's like we're all in the same building. 00:37:42.916 --> 00:37:45.402 Per se but we're all separate. 00:37:45.402 --> 00:37:47.576 So, yeah, it's been, it's, it's a. 00:37:47.576 --> 00:37:49.141 It's a beautiful place too. 00:37:49.141 --> 00:37:51.007 Um, it's very, it's very. 00:37:51.007 --> 00:37:52.431 Have you been there before? 00:37:52.510 --> 00:38:01.516 it's so pretty yeah, I've been in a couple of times and I tell you I love stopping by there, especially now that the weather's getting warmer and the doors are open. 00:38:01.516 --> 00:38:08.855 I just love it because it feels like I'm like on a tropical island, with all the plants that they have in there. 00:38:08.855 --> 00:38:11.960 It just feels so good. 00:38:12.963 --> 00:38:15.876 You know, yeah, it's like a little Tulum kind of vibe. 00:38:16.418 --> 00:38:17.840 That is exactly what I was thinking. 00:38:17.840 --> 00:38:23.197 I was at a yoga retreat in Tulum and they had this beautiful like you know what do they call? 00:38:23.197 --> 00:38:40.538 Palapa, you know, with, like all the plants around, and I was sitting in there the first day that it was warm and I was sitting back in one of those chairs and I thought, if I closed my eyes and just like the feeling in here, I could have believed I was sitting right there in that palapa, just imagining an ocean breeze. 00:38:41.199 --> 00:38:44.264 Right, there you go, exactly Right in downtown. 00:38:44.264 --> 00:38:45.972 No, right in there. 00:38:46.112 --> 00:38:47.817 I love that you guys are all so close. 00:38:47.817 --> 00:38:51.710 That area is just incredible it is. 00:38:51.851 --> 00:38:54.378 I mean it is amazing, I mean we've got. 00:38:54.378 --> 00:39:03.617 I mean Wild Lab, if you haven't tried their bread and their salads, oh my God, I love it so good and just like Saab's, like there's just so many small business. 00:39:03.617 --> 00:39:04.976 I think there's like over 30. 00:39:04.976 --> 00:39:06.195 I mean, don't quote me on that. 00:39:06.215 --> 00:39:06.836 There's a lot. 00:39:07.331 --> 00:39:10.340 And yeah like 70% women owned as well. 00:39:11.492 --> 00:39:14.599 So a lot of women owned business I went to. 00:39:15.003 --> 00:39:15.465 Void. 00:39:15.505 --> 00:39:26.420 Sake, yes, yeah, savannah Harover, who has a networking group called Love Club had one of her meetups there a few weeks ago and it was amazing. 00:39:26.420 --> 00:39:27.943 It's so cool. 00:39:28.590 --> 00:39:30.416 Their cocktails are really good. 00:39:30.615 --> 00:39:32.742 The staff was so friendly. 00:39:32.742 --> 00:39:38.018 It was just a perfect environment to be able to gather with people and share space. 00:39:38.659 --> 00:39:40.791 Yeah, it's so cool, it's so. 00:39:40.791 --> 00:39:42.657 It's just such a neat little. 00:39:42.817 --> 00:39:52.179 you can walk around there and just yeah, you could spend a whole weekend and probably not see everything and enjoy everything there is to do in that little like two block radius there. 00:39:52.300 --> 00:39:53.451 Yeah, yeah, there's just. 00:39:53.451 --> 00:39:57.141 We're all like, right there, it's amazing, it's good, it is good. 00:39:57.280 --> 00:40:03.065 Yeah, awesome, all right, well, is there anything else that you want people to know about you? 00:40:03.065 --> 00:40:06.072 Or the studio, or the wellness studio? 00:40:06.092 --> 00:40:08.297 I would just say that. 00:40:08.297 --> 00:40:09.619 Just come and check it out. 00:40:09.619 --> 00:40:14.313 Come, check it out, let us take you around, see what we've kind of built. 00:40:14.313 --> 00:40:18.163 And yoga If you haven't started yoga, there's always. 00:40:18.163 --> 00:40:21.510 There's never really a perfect time, it's just the time. 00:40:21.510 --> 00:40:24.938 That's when you're ready to, and we're definitely open for that. 00:40:24.938 --> 00:40:37.590 We do have an intro offer at $59 for one month, unlimited for new students, so you can come and try out all the classes in that month and just see what appeals to you and what works for you and your lifestyle. 00:40:37.590 --> 00:40:48.643 I think it's a good time to just see how many classes you can come to in that month and then, while you're there, just sit in our community space and we're adding things in like weekly. 00:40:48.643 --> 00:40:51.471 So who knows what it's going to look like next week? 00:40:51.471 --> 00:40:56.760 It's definitely come move a plant around if you like. 00:40:56.760 --> 00:40:59.704 Move the lamp towards you, it doesn't matter, we're still. 00:40:59.704 --> 00:41:01.655 It is so truly. 00:41:01.875 --> 00:41:03.018 I do love that, though. 00:41:03.018 --> 00:41:11.780 I love that I had a member just put up these, put these plants, these flowers on the railing the other day, and it's so cute. 00:41:11.780 --> 00:41:13.422 I'm just like that is so sweet. 00:41:13.422 --> 00:41:19.322 She like brought them yes, she brought them and hung them over the railings. 00:41:19.322 --> 00:41:21.077 So, and they're just so cute. 00:41:21.077 --> 00:41:32.574 I was like people just love, you know, love the community, but also are just so kind and want to see everything succeed and, you know, just want to. 00:41:32.574 --> 00:41:34.460 It's just so sweet, it really is. 00:41:34.460 --> 00:41:36.333 There's just no, there's no words. 00:41:36.333 --> 00:41:37.657 Yeah, super grateful. 00:41:37.657 --> 00:41:52.215 Yeah, I would just say to like, for me, starting the day in gratitude has has been a game changer my life, I think, and so I

think that is something like if we could start the day in gratitude or something, and I think it just changes the whole day Really. 00:41:53.657 --> 00:41:57.123 Yeah, you're absolutely right, man. 00:41:57.123 --> 00:42:03.835 I just need you to call me every morning, kelly, and say let's have our gratitude practice, let's take a minute to breathe. 00:42:06.173 --> 00:42:14.755 I think you loved when I said and I remember this you said I'm going to write that down is that, um, are you controlling your breath or is your breath controlling you and I? 00:42:14.755 --> 00:42:17.373 That is something we talked about and I still think about. 00:42:17.373 --> 00:42:27.182 I think about that a lot when I'm can be stressed, or having you know again we're, I'm going to still stress and be like Kelly, you don't look like you're stressed, I'm like, no, I do, I do. 00:42:27.182 --> 00:42:34.003 I just I just tap back in, you know, and I think it's a good tool to just bring yourself back into your body. 00:42:39.309 --> 00:42:40.952 But I remember you loved that last time and I I did love that. 00:42:40.952 --> 00:42:42.938 I'm going to make that the title of the episode, so I don't forget it. 00:42:42.938 --> 00:42:44.641 Yes, this is a good one, Kelly. 00:42:44.641 --> 00:42:46.291 Thank you so much for your time today. 00:42:46.291 --> 00:42:49.719 I'll be sure to link your socials, your website, all of the things. 00:42:49.719 --> 00:42:53.121 Do you guys have online booking for the yoga classes or the wellness studio? 00:42:53.581 --> 00:42:55.530 Yes, so we are under. 00:42:55.530 --> 00:43:01.023 We go through mind body, but also we have a separate website for the wellness now too. 00:43:01.023 --> 00:43:07.760 But if you go on MindBody app, it's under classes is the yoga and appointments is the wellness? 00:43:08.141 --> 00:43:09.722 Yeah, perfect, yeah, either one. 00:43:09.722 --> 00:43:11.326 Yeah, that's awesome. 00:43:11.326 --> 00:43:15.661 Well, like I said, I'll put all of that in the show notes and in all of the comments on social. 00:43:15.661 --> 00:43:16.875 This has been so fun. 00:43:16.875 --> 00:43:18.954 Thank you for recording with me a second time. 00:43:19.275 --> 00:43:21.001 Yes, of course my pleasure. 00:43:21.001 --> 00:43:22.795 We'll have to see each other in person soon. 00:43:23.137 --> 00:43:26.239 Absolutely Well, if not before the 25th, I'll definitely see you then. 00:43:26.769 --> 00:43:28.036 Okay, for sure for sure. 00:43:28.056 --> 00:43:29.369 All right, thank you so much. 00:43:29.369 --> 00:43:31.090 We'll talk with you guys all later. 00:43:31.090 --> 00:43:33.612 Thanks, all right, besties. 00:43:33.612 --> 00:43:34.875 That does it for today. 00:43:34.875 --> 00:43:44.362 For today, if you're interested in becoming a part of the Small Business Bestie community, join us in the Facebook group or find out more information on the website at smallbusinessbestieorg. 00:43:44.362 --> 00:43:50.166 Please share the podcast with your friends, who could use a friend in business, and it would really mean so much to me. 00:43:50.166 --> 00:43:59.862 If you follow the show and take just a few seconds to rate or review, a five-star rating really helps the show become visible to other besties who may just need the support and friendship that we offer.