Jeff Mah is an engineer turned yoga teacher and yoga studio owner. He and his wife owns the ever so popular The Yoga Lounge in the mountain city of Canmore, Alberta. His journey has been a series of unexpected twists and surprises, at one point being an engineer and then later considering to maybe even do his MCAT to become a doctor. In this episode, Jeff shares his story with yoga and what finally inspired him to leap into an unconventional (at the time) career path because it truly resonated with him. And of course I had to get the scoop on what it's like to own a yoga studio! Jeff gives us a glimpse by sharing the challenges, rewards and the hard work behind the scenes.
Seeing somebody else take the path that he aspired to was an inspiring example for him.
The feeling of his two choices were different. One made him feel anxious when he thought about it and the other made him happier the more he did it.
If you're taking over a studio, you don’t have to change everything right off the cuff. The community that’s already built is invaluable along with the staff who has been serving the community for so long.
Don't do something for somebody with the expectation that they need to do something back or they owe you. Work on creating meaningful relationship instead.
So far, the biggest challenge of running a studio has been to stay relevant.
Realizing that teaching awesome classes doesn’t cut it. Needed to start learning the business skills as well.
Be willing to get help.
To be able to hold space for community and create a community.
Cons tantly being surrounded by people you love.
Advocacy is also something that he is passionate about. Jeff states that as studio owners or yoga teachers, recognizing that you have influence and you have the ability to help shape a conversation is so important.
The more you practice, the more personal it becomes. Remember that your practice is fluid - evolving with it allows you to evolve and grow.
Come from a place of service and see the big picture. Let that guide you.