Today we’d like to introduce you to Piper-Lori Parker.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started as a practitioner. I fell in love with yoga as my previous career in executive marketing and corporate culture started to wear me down. I’ve always been connected to movement and sweating. I love doing it in a group environment. After years of teaching and managing for a national chain, I started to feel the same way I did when I was in my corporate marketing position.
When I got the chance to go out on my own and reflect my true passion and vision, I leaped. After almost five years at Zen Yoga Garage, I’ve never been more excited to celebrate the community we have created, the cultivation of teachers and teaching, and the fact that we are here to stay, in a very competitive and diverse yoga landscape.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Anything but. Small business is hard. Building from scratch is hard. I remember being scared that my teacher’s paychecks wouldn’t clear. Asking some of them if they could wait to cash their checks. Those were terrifying times and lasted almost a year.
Then all of a sudden it starts happening. People were resonating with my vision. Teachers wanted to teach here. There was great energy and smiles all around. Great energy begets great energy and if the intentions are good, success can happen. People want to be a part of it. I’m grateful for everyone who has spent any kind of time behind our doors. It makes the community so strong and the struggle worth it.
Zen Yoga Garage – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We offer great teaching with the most diverse offering of yoga types under one roof. We are one of the top yoga studios in Chicago on Class pass. We have a Yoga Alliance RYS 200 Yoga School, and we have trained more working yoga teachers locally and beyond than any other independent yoga studio in Chicago.
Our garage doors allow us an open-air studio, which gives us full access to summer in this great city and we always welcome the heat in any season. We have full spa amenities including locker rooms and showers. We also have two treatment rooms in house featuring Thai and traditional massage, acupuncture, facials, and waxing.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
So many. Opening day 7/15/2013. Anticipating our 5 year Anniversary this summer! Every time I graduate a new class from Teacher Training. And watching our eldest Teacher Trainers excel and grow in their own right with their own voices.
Nothing gives me more pride than watching a fire burn so bright when I can take a tiny bit of credit for the spark. Connection and touching lives is what leads me to do this. It is my dharma and it is different and stimulating every day of my life.
Pricing:
- First Week Free
Contact Info:
- Address: 1845 North Milwaukee Chicago, IL 60647
- Website: www.zenyogagarage.com
- Phone: 7732277748
- Email: piper.parker@gmail.com
- Instagram: zenyogagarage
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZenYogaGarage/
- Twitter: @zenyogagarage
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/zen-yoga-garage-chicago
Image Credit:
Alina Tsvor
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