Wild Lotus Yoga Downtown Business Plan

Company Description Wild Lotus Yoga, LLC is a yoga studio and community devoted to nourishing the human spirit through yoga. We are committed to serving the health, well-being, and peace of mind of New Orleans at this challenging and creative time, and to nurturing the rebirth of our beloved city. We believe that yoga is a practice that can benefit everybody, so we deliberately offer a wide variety of classes to suit particular needs and intentions, whether for beginners or seasoned practitioners. Wild Lotus Yoga is the largest and one of the most respected schools of yoga in the Gulf South. The studio was established in 2002. We offer 43 classes per week and serve an average of 500 students a week. Over 7,000 students have taken classes at Wild Lotus over the last five years. Wild Lotus Yoga is five years old and has been voted “Best Place To Take A Yoga Class In New Orleans” five years in a row by Gambit Weekly readers. At Wild Lotus Yoga we honor the power of yoga to strengthen our health, tune our bodies, and bring calmness and peace to our busy minds. We also seek to create a yoga experience that inspires our hearts and awakens a thirst for wisdom in its many forms. We share the practice of yoga in a positive, nurturing way, with space for creativity and playfulness. Our teachers will guide you skillfully through yoga's beautiful postures and transformative practices, and also share music, poetry, and insights to feed your soul. History Wild Lotus Yoga, LLC was founded in July 2002 by Sean Johnson in a historic Mid-City former corner grocery store location. The founding teaching staff of the studio consisted of Sean and three friends, teaching seven yoga classes per week. After one year, the studio renovated and moved to its current uptown location. In 2005, Wild Lotus completed a second wave of renovations, expanding their second classroom by 70%. Wild Lotus Yoga was the first yoga studio to reopen after Hurricane Katrina providing a peaceful sanctuary for people returning home, as well as visiting relief workers. Sean and the studio have received national media recognition for their efforts to serve post-Katrina New Orleans. Today, Wild Lotus is one of the most respected yoga studios in the Gulf South, with twelve teachers, and a part-time administrative staff of five. The studio now offers 43 classes per week in addition to workshops, music concerts, and private lessons. Wild Lotus is now making a deeper commitment to the renaissance of New Orleans by planning the opening of a second studio housed in The New Orleans Hope and Heritage Center. Organization, Management, and Instructors New Orleans native Sean Johnson, M.A., R.Y.T., founder of Wild Lotus Yoga, is an internationally respected yoga teacher and mantra musician who has championed the cause of post-Katrina New Orleans, hosting benefit concerts in over thirty cities across the U.S. since the storm. Johnson teaches at Wild Lotus and is frequently invited to teach and perform music at major yoga conferences and centers world-wide. His work has been featured in The Times-Picayune, Gambit, Philadelphia Enquirer, Yoga Journal, LA Yoga Magazine, Fit Yoga Magazine, Yoga Life, Yoga Chicago, and more. Johnson has been teaching yoga for 10 years and has owned and managed Wild Lotus Yoga for the past five years. Wild Lotus Yoga currently has a staff of twelve teachers, two managers, and two part-time administrative staff. Managers: •Celeste Stamps, R.N. Celeste took over as part-time manager of Wild Lotus when we reopened the studio after Hurricane Katrina. Wild Lotus was the first yoga studio in New Orleans to reopen at that time and she was guiding light for returning students and relief workers who came to Wild Lotus for sanctuary at that challenging time. In her two year stint as manager Celeste has coordinated communication with staff, organized our office, and single-handedly created the Wild Lotus boutique, supervising the purchase, inventory, and sales of yoga clothes, yoga props, and music. •Nicole Rezza has worked as part-time manager at Wild Lotus since July 2006. She is extremely organized and has worked diligently to help the studio run more efficiently and smoothly. Nicole supervises the work-study program managing 12-14 students who volunteer at the studio doing everything from cleaning to data entry in exchange for taking classes. Nicole has also coordinated our recent move to a new yoga studio software system that has helped the studio run more efficiently. Part-Time Workers •Tammi Stark is the Event Coordinator for Tulane University. She is in charge of all publicity related to the studio, and helps to coordinate large events we have at Wild Lotus. •Mary Johnson is in charge of purchasing supplies for the studio and distributing event fliers and our schedules to dozens of businesses in the metropolitan region Other Professional Support: •Mavis Early, attorney-at-law, former City Attorney of New Orleans has been our legal adviser since our opening in 2002. Mavis has lended her expert guidance with lease negotiations, media contracts, and other issues. •Cheryl Golich, C.P.A. is on our teaching staff and has done all our bookkeeping since our opening in 2002. Cheryl has worked as an accounting manager for Harrah’s Casino, and Aveda. •Richard Mueller, C.P.A. has been doing our tax returns since our opening in 2002. He is a senior accountant with the Ericksen, Krentel and Laporte accounting firm. •Dana Flynn, Founder: Laughing Lotus Yoga, New York City and San Francisco. Dana is the co-owner of two flourishing yoga studios in New York City and San Fransciso. She has also had a highly successful career as a restaunteur and stock broker. Staff Teachers •Amanda Bennett, R.N., R.Y.T. has spent the past several years living in Hawaii, where she strengthened her passion for yoga and spiritual healing. As an R.N. with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing, Amanda has transformed her knowledge of body, mind and spirit through the study of Yoga, Reiki and Tarot. She has completed a rigorous Teacher Training Program through the Shanti Yoga Institute in Hawaii, where she learned how to teach students to incorporate breathing, movement, and chanting into everyday life. Amanda has studied a wide range of yoga disciplines, including Hatha, Iyengar, Ashtanga, and Tri yoga. She has taught classes for several years in Hawaii and New Orleans. When not spending time with her children and husband, Amanda also works as a Spiritual Healing Coach, Tarot card reader, and is a fluent speaker of Spanish and French. •Laura Flora, R.Y.T., is a professional educator and completed her yoga teacher training through the Living Yoga Program in Austin, TX. She has studied Iyengar yoga for several years, and has been licensed by Anusara Yoga as an "Anusara-inspired" yoga teacher in recognition of her ongoing commitment to the study and practice of Anusara yoga. She is always seeking inspiring ways to incorporate Anusara's alignment principles and philosophy into her teaching. Stacey Gengel, RYT, Ph.D. is a nationally certified yoga instructor and school psychologist. She has practiced yoga since 1998 and has been influenced by Ashtanga, Iyengar and Vinyasa yoga systems. Stacey was certified to teach at the Peach Tree Yoga Center and Atlanta Yoga Fellowship. Her approach to teaching encourages physical challenge, heart-centered meditation and the development of personal wisdom Cheryl Golich, C.P.A. has a deep love and appreciation for the transformative power of yoga. She completed her teacher certification program in vinyasa yoga at The White Lotus Foundation in Santa Barbara, California. Cheryl teaches vigorous classes in a calm, supportive and encouraging manner. Her friendly, relaxed, confident presence is an inspiration to her students. Guided by a vibrant eye for detail, Cheryl entices students to challenge themselves while maintaining deep respect for their bodies. Cheryl also loves biking, running, golf and playing with her dog Buddha •Catherine McCarthy, R.Y.T., is a native New Orleanian and filmmaker who's been living in New York City for the past 13 years. While pursuing her MFA at NYU's Grad Film School, she began her studentship of yoga at the Kripalu Yoga Center in Lenox, MA. In 2002, Catherine received her first certification in Kripalu Yoga, then in 2003, she completed her Anusara Teacher Training with Amy Ippoliti, at which point she started studying directly with Anusara Yoga founder John Friend. Catherine became an Affiliated Anusara Yoga teacher in 2004 and has continued to study with her teachers John, Amy Ippoliti, and Elena Brower. She enjoys the Anusara teachings which embrace contrary complements concurrently, focusing on physical alignment, while making the whole journey of learning playful and open-hearted. You can hear the voice of Catherine's heart on the recent Anusara "Invocation" CD by Tala Records, as well as on Krishna Das' "All One" CD, as a member of the Kosmic Kirtan Posse. Spending more time in NOLA than NYC these days, Catherine looks forward to helping rebuild our city, on and off the mat, one practice at time. •Beverly Morris is a Certified Yoga Teacher for Kali Ray Tri Yoga Basics and Level I. She is working towards certification in Level II. She also works as a clay artist, primarily using coil-building, one of the oldest forms of creating pottery. She has participated in three1,600-mile walks across Europe, each of which took approximately three months; and one 600 mile walk across England and Ireland. •Elaina Petrucci, R.N. is a certified yoga instructor who has studied mainly ashtanga and vinyasa style yoga. She teaches challenging power vinyasa classes in a fun, uplifting manner. She encourages her students to joyfully develop strength, flexibility, and peace of mind through her contagious passion for yoga. Elaina has been teaching yoga for the last five years. By day she works as a nurse clinician at Ochsner Hospital •Leslee Reed is certified to teach Kids Yoga by Next Generation Yoga in New York - a studio exclusively for kids. Her Kids Yoga classes incorporate yoga poses, art, music, storytelling, and relaxation techniques. She has done graduate work at UCLA in learning disabilities and has been a teacher for 30 years, mainly teaching first grade and kindergarten. She currently teaches kindergarten at St. Andrew's Episcopal School and has a part time gardening business ("Quite Contrary"). •Nicole Rezza, RYT, is a yoga teacher, group fitness instructor, and personal trainer who received her yoga teacher training from Frog Lotus Yoga in North Adams, Mass. She received her prenatal yoga teacher training from Mamaste. Nicole fell in love with Wild Lotus in 2002 at the first class she took at the original Mid-City location and is excited to share her passion for yoga with others. In addition to practicing and teaching yoga, Nicole also enjoys reading, volleyball, biking, and traveling with her husband. •Cecilia Rojas, R.N., R.Y.T., M.S., is a certified yoga teacher through the Himalayan Institute in Honesdale, PA, where she lived for several years. Cecilia is a long time student of Hatha/Raja yoga and T.M. meditation. While studying Hindu philosophy, meditation, and yoga she managed the Himalayan Institute's Ayurvedic Center for Health and Healing. Cecilia is a Gerontological Nurse with a Masters degree in Gerontological Counseling Psychology. She is also an educator in local nursing schools. She combines her work as a Reiki Master, application of Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy techniques, and gentle massage techniques to assist her students in releasing energy blocks that cause disease and pain. Cecilia is also a marathon runner. •Amanda Rubinstein-Stern is certified in Pilates and Yoga. She is certified also as a personal trainer. Since 2001 she has taught Yoga at JoEllen Smith Fitness Center. She also teaches Yoga at West Jefferson Fitness Center and Artopia House. She has taken Rodney Yee's advanced teacher training workshop at the Karuna Center for Yoga and Healing Arts in Northampton, Massachusetts. She studies frequently with Dean Lerner, an Iyengar teacher, at the Center for Well Being, in her home town of State College, Pennsylvania. Her University of Texas degree is in secondary education with a concentration in dance. She has raised two grown children, an experience that she feels is in the nurturing spirit of Yoga. •Jennifer Teague, R.Y.T., P.T., believes that yoga should be accessible to everyone - regardless of body shape, physical ability, or experience. Jennifer is committed to teaching demystified, sensual, and invigorating classes while offering options and modifications to ensure that everyone in the room can find their own personal challenge during the practice. Jennifer is Yogafit ™ (Levels I-IV), Mamaste ™ Prenatal Yoga, and Yoga West certified and is registered with The Yoga Alliance. Jennifer is employed as an Occupational Therapist at Touro Infirmary. Jennifer enjoys reading, traveling, and entertaining friends and family at home Products and Services Our current schedule at our Uptown location, held in two large classrooms, including basics, gentle, medium-paced, and vigorous classes as well as kids yoga, prenatal yoga, postnatal yoga, therapeutic yoga, and kirtan singing/live music. Students have the option of dropping in anytime on our ongoing classes or enrolling in one of our five week introductory yoga courses. We also offer year-round workshops with expert visiting teachers, retreats, and music concerts. Wild Lotus also has a small boutique of yoga related products including mats, yoga clothes, cds, and other gift items. In collaboration with the other partners in The New Orleans Hope and Heritage Center, Wild Lotus Downtown will be directly focused on yoga as a complementary therapy for stress relief, relaxation, healing, and self-empowerment for people who live in the St. Roch-St. Claude Recovery Re-New Target Area. We will offer the same variety of classes and workshops available at our uptown location in two classrooms and also offer discounted community classes each week as well as need-based yoga scholarships to serve the neighborhood. Class Descriptions (Alphabetical Order) Choose from a wide variety of classes to match your intentions for practicing yoga. Beginners will be most comfortable in the ongoing Yoga Basics classes and/or our 5 week Intro to Yoga Course. Community Yoga classes are discounted all levels classes offered as a gift to the community. Community class offerings include Yoga Basics, Serenity Yoga, and Flow Yoga. See descriptions below. •Energy Yoga integrates the powerful breathing techniques, chanting, and meditation of Kundalini Yoga combined with graceful flowing sequences of postures linked on the breath to create a yoga experience that simultaneously charges you with fresh energy and relaxes mind and body. •Flow Yoga emphasizes a medium-paced yoga experience that gracefully balances energetic, active postures with restorative, receptive postures connected on the breath. This all-levels class is recommended for those who seek a mind/body/spirit workout that is invigorating, but not as rigorous as power or hot yoga. In Flow Yoga-Waves classes, Beverly guides sequences from Kali Ray Tri-Yoga with a strong emphasis on wave-like spinal movement. •Heart Yoga is a class, in the spirit of Anusara Yoga, that combines a focus of alignment and biomechanics of the body with a playful approach to postures, so that every pose has optimal self-expression from the inside out. Your outer form meets your inner radiance, so that the yoga emanates from the heart, making every practice a strong offering inwards as well as to others. The class intentionally works with the balance between effort and surrender, stability and freedom, giving and receiving. This is an all-levels class recommended for students with some yoga experience. Catherine McCarthy is an Anusara-affiliated teacher. Laura Flora's classes are Anusara-inspired. •Hot Power Yoga is a challenging Power Yoga class (see description below) in a room with extra heat to enhance flexibility and detoxification. Experience with yoga is recommended, as this class is faster-paced. Please bring water and a towel. •Intro to Yoga Course is a 5 week series that introduces beginners to the building blocks of a yoga practice, to create a foundation on which to build strength, stamina, and greater brightness of life. This course applies the Universal Principles of Alignment from Anusara Yoga to help students establish a confident inner core to insure a safe and playful practice. Ideal for beginners who wish to learn in a slower step-by-step manner, systematically building experience and knowledge each week. •Intro to Energy Yoga: Chakras, Kundalini Yoga, Chanting, and Meditation is a 5 week series that introduces beginners and experienced students to the building blocks of practicing kundalini yoga. Ideal for people who wish to learn this powerful form of yoga in a step-by-step manner, systematically building experience and knowledge each week. All levels welcome, including beginners. •Intro to Flow Yoga-Waves Course is a 5 week series that introduces beginners and experienced students to the building blocks of practicing flow yoga by connecting breath and postures with wave-like spinal movements inspired by the Kali Ray Tri-Yoga system. Experience the kundalini-inspired sequenced flow of yogasana (postures) synchronized with pranayama (rhythmic breath) and mudra (focus). The result is increased energy- physically, mentally, and spiritually- that gives the mental clarity to manifest one's life with greater awareness. Ideal for beginners who wish to learn in a slower step-by-step manner, systematically building experience and knowledge each week. Beverly is a certified Kali Ray Tri-Yoga instructor.   •Intro to Power Yoga Course is a 5 week series that introduces postures and flowing transitions practiced in power yoga classes (see power yoga description below). Ideal for students who seek to learn this more vigorous style of yoga in a slower step-by-step manner, systematically building strength, flexibility, vitality, and confidence each week. Some yoga experience recommended.   •Kids Yoga is a fun class designed for children from K-4th grade. Kids learn to relax their bodies and their minds while being guided through yoga postures, breathing techniques, art, movement, storytelling, and play. In the second half of the class, the kids are divided into two age groups. Kirtan (Live Music & Singing) Kirtan is the yoga practice of singing short mantras in a call-and-response fashion to create peace and bliss. Accompanied by Seán and percussionist Gwendolyn Colman, who frequently tour the U.S. giving kirtan concerts with The Wild Lotus Band. Recommended for those interested in heart-centered spirituality, meditation, and the power of sound and music to transform us. No musical experience or vocal "talent" required. Visit seanjohnsonkirtan.com to listen and find out more. •Postnatal Yoga is a class designed for new mothers and their infants (from newborn to sitting). The class focuses on helping new mothers regain strength and flexibility following childbirth and relax and connect with their baby and other new mothers. Women should be cleared for exercise by their healthcare provider before attending class. •Power Yoga is a vigorous vinyasa-style class that emphasizes strength, endurance, and cleansing through a flow of postures connected on the breath to awaken vitality and inspiration. Held in a warm room. Recommended for those who seek a challenging physical workout as a vehicle for mental and spiritual up liftment. •Hot Power Yoga is held in a room with extra heaters to enhance flexibility and detoxification. Experience with yoga is recommended. Please bring a towel. •Prenatal Yoga combines targeted prenatal postures, breathing exercises, and meditation to prepare expecting mothers for childbirth and beyond. Certified prenatal yoga teachers Jennifer Teague and Nicole Rezza teach moms-to-be how to listen to their body and their baby through a safe and nurturing yoga practice designed for women in their second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Women in their first trimester are encouraged to meet one-on-one with Jennifer or Nicole. •Serenity Yoga emphasizes slowing down the fast pace of life with gentle postures, relaxation exercises, and calming music designed to melt away stress and to center awareness. For those who seek a more restorative yoga practice as a means for creating peace and well-being. •Therapeutic Yoga is a gentle and restorative class integrating postures, breathing techniques, and meditation to strengthen the body, increase vitality, soothe the nervous system, and fortify the immune system. Designed for people who feel challenged by age, illness, injury, stiffness or weight. Doctor's permission requested for those with illness or injury. Includes lots of hands-on support from Cecilia. •Yoga Basics is an ongoing class that explores the fundamentals of an effective yoga practice and emphasizes healthy alignment and body mechanics in postures. A great class for beginners seeking a detailed introduction to the yoga path, and experienced students who want to deepen their practice and refine their understanding of yoga. •Private Yoga Lessons emphasize hands-on assistance and guidance in a one-on-one yoga experience tailored to the student's needs and intentions. Private lessons blend assisted stretches with yoga massage techniques that dissolve tension in the body and awaken fresh energy. Recommended for those who wish to deepen their practice with the personal guidance of a teacher, for beginners who prefer working one-on-one to spark a yoga practice, and for people with special needs or physical conditions. Sessions can be booked for individuals, pairs, families, or groups. Workshops Wild Lotus has been home to a wide variety of workshops with staff and expert national teachers over the last five years. Following is a sample list of workshops: Yoga Workshops: Couples Yoga Workshop with Sean Johnson Flying Lessons: Arm Balance Workshop with Catherine McCarthy Anusara Yoga Therapeutics Workshops with Zhenja LaRosa Open the Hips Workshop with Beverly Morris Free the Spine Workshop with Beverly Morris Laughing Lotus Workshops with Dana Flynn and Jasmine Tarkeshi Laughing Lotus Workshops with Alison Kramer and Keith Borden Art and Science of Yoga Flow Workshop with Kali Ray Thai Yoga Massage and Holistic Yoga Workshops with Saul David Raye Chakras Yoga Workshop with Stacey Gengel Open Your Heart Backbending Workshop with Cheryl Golich and Elaina Petrucci Yoga For Athletes Workshop with Nicole Rezza and Cheryl Golich Sailing Through The Blues: Yoga For Depression Workshop with Amanda Bennett Bhakti Vinyasa Workshop with Sean Johnson and The Wild Lotus Band Laughing Yoga Workshops with Sebastian Gentry Prenatal Yoga Workshop with Jennifer Teague and Nicole Rezza Yoga For Teens Course with Laura Flora Kids Yoga Workshops with Leslee Reed Men’s Yoga Workshop with Magnus Eckland Early Morning Sadhana with Siobhan Macmahon The Art and Science of Ayur-Yoga with Bekir Algan Yoga and Coaching Workshop with Louise Bauer Davoli Healing Arts Art and Practice of Meditation Course with Hans Gruenig Non-violent Communication Workshop with Hans Gruenig Deeksha Oneness Workshop and Fire Ceremony with Ravi Krishnamurthy Yoga and Breathwork Workshop with Sean Johnson and Jack Fontana Thai Yoga Massage and Holistic Yoga Workshops with Saul David Raye Shamanic Journeying Workshop with Phil Morgan Ki Training Workshop with Phil Morgan Raw Foods Workshop with David Wolfe Raw Foods Workshop with David Jubb Jin Shin Jyitsu Healing Touch Workshop with Connie Rubin Yoga in Spanish Workshop with Cecilia Rojas Creative Expression: Yoga for Artists Workshop with Emily Branden Healing Dance and Chant Workshop with Alessandra Belloni The Rhythms of Carnival: Drum Workshop with Allen Frost Mandala Making Workshop with Maria Lovullo Psanki: Ukraining Easter Egg Making with Jane Smith Hawaian Dancing Workshop with Joanie Dances of Universal Peace with Amina Rae Horton Women’s Drumming Workshop with Gwendolyn Colman Contemplative Movement Workshop with Marilyn Yank Mantra Music Workshop with Jai Uttal Writing From The Chakras Creative Writing Course with Constance Adler Spirit of Drumming Course with Allen Frost Friday Night Yoga and Live Drumming with Gwendolyn Colman Didgeridoo Breath and Sound Workshop with Phil Jones Retreats A Spiritual Journey In Ireland with Sean Johnson and Mary Meighan Wild Laughing Lotus Mexico Retreat, Tulum, Mexico. With Sean Johnson, Dana Flynn and Jasmine Tarkeshi Cosmic Yoga Camp at Kripalu, Lenox, MASS with Sean Johnson, Dana Flynn, and Jasmine Tarkeshi Weekend Yoga Retreats in Bay St. Louis, MS with Sean Johnson Yoga Conferences with Sean Johnson Midwest Yoga Conference in Chicago, IL Las Vegas Vinyasa Yoga Conference Miami Beach Vinyasa Yoga Conference German Yoga Conference, Cologne, Germany Ojai Yoga Crib. Ojai, CA Music Concerts Wild Lotus often hosts sacred candlelight music concerts with local and national world musicians. The audience has the opportunity to lounge and listen to music in a relaxed, alcohol and smoke free atmosphere. Musicians who have appeared at Wild Lotus include: Grammy nominee Jai Uttal, Tony Dagradi of Astral Project, Rob Wagner of The New Orleans Klezmer All-Stars, Aashish Khan, David Newman, Shantala, Andrew McLean, New Orleans Musica de Camera, Sean Johnson and The Wild Lotus Band, and more. Wild Lotus Boutique Our small boutique offers a selection of yoga-related items including yoga mats, mat bags, yoga props, clothes, cds, greeting cards, and related items. Class Prices Community Classes: $5 Drop-In Rate: $14 10 Class Card: $110 10 Class Student Card: $100 Private Lessons: $90 5 Week Courses: $75 3-4 Hour Workshops: $45 Concerts; $10 - $15 Wild Lotus Yoga accepts cash, checks, and credit cards. Community classes will also be partially funded by The Usha Foundation, a non-profit organization that gives grant money to yoga teachers offering yoga in impoverished areas. Yoga Downtown Executive Summary Web Design SuJen Webs