Happy Friday friends. I didn’t mean to pull a disappearing act this week but after I published my 200-hour yoga teacher training post on Tuesday night, I just hit a wall. I wasn’t crazy busy this week or sick or anything…just lacking inspiration/creative flow.
Sometimes I find it useful to “power through” these times but more often than not, I just give myself a break because I know that the ebb will eventually flow again. I used the time away from my blog this week to focus more on the studio. We are gearing up for our busy season and holiday so there is a lot to get done.
A little more about my role at the studio…I teach around 11-12 classes every week (give or take a few if I sub or sub out classes) and also act as the marketing director. My role as marketing director is a part-time one which is great for me because I don’t have the bandwidth to go full-time with the studio along with teaching and running my blog.
Earlier this year Tanner and I made the decision to bring on a full-time marketing coordinator because the studio needed more marketing support than I could provide in a part-time role. Y2 Yoga is essentially three separate businesses – Y2 Yoga, Namastay Kitchen and Savasana Spa – so there is a lot to get done!
Lauren (our marketing coordinator) and I tag-team the marketing responsibilities. I handle things like quarterly planning for events, workshops and promotions, high-level client and internal communications, most apparel orders for our retail space, brand standards/guidelines and adherence, website copy and so on. Lauren handles execution of planned workshops, events and promotions, designing posters and graphics, all social media channels, events, community relations, etc.
And Tanner does it all. He absolutely amazes me in his ability to problem-solve, execute and produce. He is truly an entrepreneur in every sense of word. He jumps in anywhere he is needed and is always working on some project or the other that I’m amazed he dreamed up in the first place.
Y2 is open seven days a week and 365 days a year so it’s a never ending job! We offer over 100 classes every week and also run the restaurant and spa. We have over 60 employees so needless to say there is a lot going on! More often than I’d like to admit, our after work catch ups and dinners turn into business/HR meetings but we’re super aware of that and getting better and better about boundaries and trying to have a separate studio and home life.
Tanner typically works from the studio and is there most days from 6-8 a.m.-ish to 7:30 p.m.-ish. I work from home when I’m not teaching because a) I get so distracted at the studio and b) I’m an introvert and like to hang out with the pups and c) there is such a thing as too much together time. Haha.
I’m not sure I’ve ever really gone into this much detail about the studio on my blog before but I just thought it was good information for you guys to understand what my work days look like and also how Tanner and I run a small business together. I will honestly say he does the bulk of the heavy lifting but I’m fully on board to support his dream.
I’ve often times felt like I should devote my full-time attention to the studio but I’ve been hesitant to let go of this space because it’s really nice to have something that is my own and a different way to use my energy and creativity. At the end of the day I love having both and plan to keep it that way for the foreseeable future. I pretty much always feel like I could be doing 100% more for both *if only* but I’ve pretty much let that go at this point!
Geez, I seriously had no plans to write 600 words on that when I sat down but there you go! Here are the photos I had edited to share today. They’re a little all over the place. 🙂
First, do yourself a favor and go find this gelato this weekend. It’s insanely delicious. I’ve been enjoying a scoop of this and a scoop of cookies and cream with a little chocolate syrup a few nights a week.
I’m still having so much fun playing with the AbDolly. Don’t forget that you can get 20% off of an AbDolly using code PBRUN and I wrote a post with 20 ways to use one. They are a fun toy to have for home and gym workouts!
Queen Sullie. On Wednesday night we heard her head upstairs to bed really early. She usually stays downstairs until we go up. This is where we found her and hour later when we went up.
Not rotten at all, right?
I actually love working from home and rarely venture out to go anywhere else. I’m able to focus and stay productive at home and I like my own routine and space. Despite that, a change of pace is nice from time-to-time. I worked from Earl’s Grocery on Wednesday morning and enjoyed a spicy green juice and coffee while I did.
And now for your Zoey update. This green ball is her life.
And she gives her sister a run for her money in the rotten department.
It’s been so heavy, humid and hot here this week that I retreated to the gym treadmill one day for my run. I ran 10 minutes easy to warm up and then 20 minutes of hills and sprints. I did 5 minutes of hills 45 seconds on, 15 seconds off, increasing incline every minute and then 5 minutes of speed 45 seconds on, 15 off, increasing speed every minute. Repeat 2x through.
On deck for tonight…
Virginia and I have a date for the Charlotte Symphony for Cirque Goes to the Cinema.
“Experience the breathtaking wonder and awe of aerial flyers, acrobats and contortionists—set to the music of film favorites like Pirates of the Caribbean, Titanic, Rocky, Star Wars, and more! Described as “a three-dimensional entertainment extravaganza,” this high-flying performance will dazzle the whole family.”
I got a sub for my Friday 4:30 p.m. class and we’re going to head Uptown early for dinner before the show. I’ll report back!
Next up on my Friday agenda is a long walk with the dogs before getting ready for our night out.
I hope you guys have a great weekend.
Does anyone else run a small business with your significant other? What do you love most about it? What is the biggest challenge?
Best ice cream flavor you’ve discovered recently?
What is your dog attached to or what does your dog love the most?
Yes- my husband and I run a personal training company together and are about to open a gym together. We really have to be mindful about separating work/our relationship and I agree, there is such thing as too much time together! Sometimes it’s hard but at the end of that day I’m really happy that we can see each other work together. Can’t wait to check the studio out when it comes to fort mill!!
I recently found that same ice cream and holy cow! It is my favorite pumpkin ice cream to date!!!
What a great post! It sounds like SO MUCH but I’m happy to hear that it sounds like you’ve got it figured out in terms of who does what, how to help, etc. 365 days a year is a huge commitment. Kudos to you both for such dedication.
Talenti gelato is my absolute favorite; and I had no idea they made a pumpkin pie flavor. I have been enjoying their chocolate fudge brownie, but will definitely have to find this one, too.
I had no idea how much Y2 has grown! What an amazing accomplishment. It is such a great place. CONGRATS!! I love Talenti Ice-cream. We celebrated my friend’s birthday last week, and instead of a cake, we opened 12 pints of different flavors of Talenti Ice-cream and put a candle in each pint…it was actually a super fun alternative to cake.
really cool post, Jen! loved reading more about the business…i’m truly always curious and thinks its so awesome you guys do what you do!
Thank you so much for this post, Jen! As someone who’s been reading your blog for 5+ years and hopes to open their own fitness/dance studio one day, I’ve been hoping that’d you’d write about it for a long time! I am beyond thrilled that Y2 is such a success. If you feel like writing more about it in the future, I certainly wouldn’t complain ?
what an interesting post ! my mom and step dad work together (dentist and dental assistant) and they seem to make it work pretty well. They don’t drive together to the office and dont eat lunch together. like ever. i guess there can be to much togetherness !!! im not sure if i would like to work with my boyfriend or not. probably. but i feel like at home we talk so much about work already we would need serious boundaries. i think we could all use a lesson in how to better separate work and home.