Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Podgorski.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Vanessa. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Five years ago, my business partner Dolly was looking for a space to teach yoga to a few of her loyal students after the studio where she was teaching had closed their doors. At the time, she was teaching her little class in one of the student’s heated garages! It didn’t take long to make the decision to open samadhi, a yoga studio. We knew there was a need and we had the vision and energy to put it together. At that time, there really wasn’t a “community” studio in the area. We had a park district that offered yoga instruction and franchise studios in the surrounding areas. We wanted a place that felt like home, not a gym. So, our studio was created for the sole purpose of providing an affordable, community studio; a place where students could practice traditional hatha based yoga in a non-competitive, calm and relaxed environment. Every decision we make is made with that mission in mind. Our first step was to find teachers who would embody our views and goals, teachers who were not just “individuals who teach yoga, but yoga teachers who are individuals.” Teachers that really believe and live their lives guided by the principles of yoga. We’re fortunate to have some of the best teachers in the North Shore. We consider ourselves a family and that feeling transcends to our students. Over the past five years we have steadily grown and have very loyal students, even as competitive studios started popping up in close proximity to ours.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I can’t imagine that any new business doesn’t have its ups and downs. We had quite a time in the very beginning just learning what our needs were in terms of running a business. Having never been a business owner, it was challenging to determine the basic start up – internet domains, website, software, merchant servicing, marketing, etc. But we met that challenge and continue to meet any new challenge that presents itself.
Yoga has become quite popular in recent years so when other studios started popping up we had to consider how we were going to meet the competition. As mentioned before, every decision we make is based on our mission of providing an “affordable, relaxed community studio” so instead of trying to “compete” with these studios we decided not to stray from what and who we already are. We knew that if we stuck to our mission we would continue to succeed.
We believe word of mouth is our best marketing tool. We avoid popular marketing tools that lesson the value of our studio and our teachers and prefer to offer our own in-house promotions.
Of course, one of the biggest challenges to a yoga studio is creating a schedule that works. Putting together the best day, time, teacher, and level of instruction is something that we continually review. We’ve tried various combinations and continually make changes in order to put together the best schedule we can. We’re always willing to try something new and our teachers are always flexible to that end.
So, let’s switch gears a bit and go into the samadhi, a yoga studio story. Tell us more about the business.
We specialize in traditional hatha based yoga with some of the most qualified yoga teachers in the area. We pride ourselves on being a non-competitive, non-judgmental space, where everyone can practice yoga in a safe and relaxed environment. We like to think our studio is “cozy,” with radiant heated floors that help offset our cold Chicago winters, calm and serene decor and warm lighting and a stereo surround sound system that adds the final touches to our welcoming ambiance.
I can’t say it enough but our “community” feel is what we are most proud of. We like to think that everyone at samadhi feels like they are part of our family.
We also offer 200 RYT Teacher Training and an extensive number of workshops throughout the year on varied subjects, ranging from yoga to overall wellness.
Oh! And we really pride ourselves on being a very clean studio!
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I have been extremely fortunate. I like to think my karma has something to do with that. I try very hard to do good and be good. I also try not to focus on the bad, so it’s difficult for me to articulate whether “bad luck” has had an impact on my life or business. Maybe “luck” is just not a word I identify with. I’m more apt to believe that opportunities and situations present themselves throughout our life and we have the ability to make them good or bad in how we approach them. Of course, there are always circumstances beyond our control. Interestingly, the practice of yoga, with its emphasis on mindfulness, presence and positive thinking really does help us create “good luck,” so I guess in that sense Dolly and I have been lucky with our business. We are able to bring yoga to so many people knowing that we are helping them with their own karma!
Pricing:
- $20 Introductory (3 classes/one month) Pass
Contact Info:
- Address: 1312 Waukegan Road,
Glenview, IL - Website: www.samadhiayogastudio.com
- Phone: 847-730-3677
- Email: samadhi@samadhiayogastudio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samadhiglenview/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/relax.energize.renew?ref=hl
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/samadhi-a-yoga-studio-glenview
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/samadhiglenview/
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
