Yoga 38: Creating Community
About Yoga 38
As we round out 2018 and our first year in business, I thought it might be a good idea to share the “who and why of Yoga 38”. Yoga 38 was a dream that began back in 2015 for me. I wanted to be able to provide a space for everyone to do yoga, whether new or old to the practice. I loved being in the studio, but I also wanted an option to practice in other settings, like parks, community spaces, breweries, etc. Really, I wanted to bring yoga into the community and meet people exactly where they were, both in location and in practice, making yoga more accessible in the community. Throughout the years this business model has grown into what it is now and what I hope for it to be in the future.
Yoga 38 is a “pop up” yoga studio which means exactly what it sounds like, we pop up all over town to host classes within the community. We do not have a brick and mortar location. We work together with others in the community; parks, breweries, apartments, and businesses. Although others host classes at corporate, brewery, and alternative locations, that is typically not their priority. Being in the community IS our priority and why we strive to team up with other local businesses in our area. With that I also feel that in order to build community, you must also give back to the community. Currently, each month we offer a class at a brewery that is donation based and all the proceeds go to a local dog rescue. Starting in 2019, in addition the donations class, we will be putting 10% of our proceeds back into the community by donating to places in need; homeless shelters, rehabilitation centers, military charities, animal rescues, food banks, etc. The 10% goal was established in the dreaming and planning stages of creating this business and we are proud to say that we will bring this to light in 2019.
Our name was not something we decided on easily, but once it came about, I couldn’t imagine this studio being called anything but Yoga 38. Two of my best friends and I were sitting on my living room floor brainstorming ideas and someone said “what about Yoga 38?!”, and everyone sat there and said “yep! It’s perfect! ” We strive to serve the Colorado community. Colorado is the 38th state. We teach yoga. BOOM! Yoga 38. Sometimes keeping things simple just makes the most sense!
Why Corporate Yoga?
After years of being in the corporate world and realizing my desk is not only something I’m tied to but also how much sitting all day physically does to a person, I realized how important it was to move each and every day at work. Up until I had reached my corporate job, I had always been extremely active. Coincidently, when I started my full time desk gig, all the years past of sports injuries decided to show up and multiply like it was their jobs. PT, Chiropractors, and eventually a surgery later, I found myself back in my yoga practice. Yoga was the workout that has helped me rebuild, adjust, and learn about my body capabilities and I wanted to be able to share that with my community.
Fitness and wellness within the corporate workspace is increasingly helping with employee productivity, attentiveness, self-esteem and energy throughout the day. By adding movement, specifically yoga, into the workspace you gain an opportunity to reduce stress, tension, depression and anxiety while becoming more physically fit and building community with co-workers. Incorporating wellness decreases sick days, employee turnover, and insurance costs per employee.
Being able to create a space that allows movement in the workplace as well as my goal of meeting people in the community is what we strive for. Incorporating yoga into your workplace can be a great start to a corporate wellness program or a perfect addition into your current wellness program.
Thank you, everyone, who has attended one of our classes this inaugural year! We are so grateful for each and every one of you. We are planning so many great things for 2019, and we can’t wait to see you all there.
See you on your mat,
Ashley & the Yoga 38 Team!
Photography By: Dornier Designs