As many of you know, I’ve recently embarked on a new venture with my friend and colleague, Sharon Citron.  The name of our new studio is Studio Po.  One of the things that excites me about this new venture is the simple fact that all of the decisions that need to be made are ours to make.  This gives us a tremendous amount of freedom and a feeling of empowerment.  What kind of yoga studio do we want to run? What kind of business do we want to operate? What are our values? And how will these core values affect our business?

As new business owners, we do not take these questions lightly.  While Sharon & I bring varied and somewhat eclectic backgrounds to this venture, our core values are very much in sync.   Sharon as a former English & drama teacher & myself as a former city planner and urban designer, we hold the concept of community with the utmost regard.  We have a very special place in our hearts for the people and organizations that work in the fields of the arts, health & the environment, and community improvement.  We feel strongly that without the hard work of community organizations in these fields, our city could not flourish as it currently does.

The talented men & women who work for these organizations, too often, are over-worked and underpaid.  Be it a coordinator for a local food bank, a grants manager for an arts organization, or a researcher for an environmental group, these people provide an incredibly valuable service to society.   Sharon & I are both aware of the tremendous pressures and stress felt by workers in these fields and want to offer them an opportunity through yoga to bring themselves to balance.   In response, we are pleased to offer a new subsidized yoga program for paid employees of non-profit and community-based organizations.  Studio Po’s Yoga for the Greater Good will offer a 20% discount to employees of these organizations.

People turn to yoga for all sorts of reasons.  Some find that the physicality of yoga keeps them active, healthy & vibrant.  Others find the practice of yoga calms them and helps them to relax. People say that a dedicated yoga practice helps them to approach new situations with a clear and open mind, with level-headedness and with greater empathy towards others.  Others espouse the spiritual benefits of a dedicated practice.  Why people practice yoga is definitely a personal decision.

Sharon & I believe, wholeheartedly, in the merits of yoga.  While we know that yoga cannot solve all of the world’s problems, we believe strongly that yoga can effectively support people out there who are working to make a difference.  With Studio Po’s Yoga for the Greater Good, it is our aim to do just that.  If you know anyone who might benefit from this program, please help us to spread the word 🙂 .