My journey to Studio Rehab, where I consult and build a community for yoga, aerial, and Pilates studio owners, began with a simple observation. Leaning against a wall, gazing into an empty studio after teaching two classes on a Saturday morning in Seattle, I did the math. Thirteen spots, $39 drop-in rate…over $500 a class! That was the spark. Fueled by that vision, I embarked on a five-year odyssey. I invested my life savings in high-ticket coaching, uprooted my life, and left the security of my government job, only to discover that the reality of studio ownership is far more complex than a simple calculation.

My first studio launched with double the monthly membership of the studio where I’d previously taught, and I scaled it rapidly. I started as a one-woman show… designing the website, implementing basic SEO, mastering Meta ads (and, crucially, the follow-up!), graphic design, social media, marketing, customer service, and even cleaning the studio myself for months on end, all while teaching morning and evening classes seven days a week. From the outside, it looked like a success. But I felt isolated, constantly seeking validation. I was constantly blowing up Facebook and Reddit groups asking for advice. I felt like I had to ask for others approval before making any big decision in my business.

Suddenly, the highlight of my week became the group coaching calls with other studio owners. The same joy I found in teaching yoga, I now found in connecting with and learning from my peers. Soon, I was the one being asked for advice, both online and within my local community. One day, after I completed my 4th round of consulting with industry experts, I realized I no longer felt like I had to ask for validation about my decisions because I now knew how things worked in the big picture. I was now able to make wiser decisions faster and implement them. I also grew my team from just myself to having 12 W2 employees!

I had been consulting with studio owners as a passion project for a year to see how I liked it (I LOVE IT) before a major catalyst happened in my life. My studio, and myself, were featured in a long and dramatic segment on the Real Housewives of Orange County. As I eagerly anticipated the rush of new students, I was pleasantly surprised, and so grateful, for how many studio owners reached out to me for advice. Thought leaders asked to have me on their podcasts. Blogs asked to interview me.

That's when it clicked. Now that my studio is humming with my amazing teachers and sales team running the physical location, I have time for another project. Instead of opening a 2nd location, I’d like to spend my time helping other studio owners bring their dream studios to life or nurture the studios they already have. But it's more than just advice. It's about collaboration, sharing stories, and laughing together. Finally feeling like you're not alone in the journey. Owning my own studio unexpectedly taught me the leadership skills to hold a space for us all to come together and lift each other up. That's the heart of Studio Rehab.