Bodmin Yoga

Aim

Creating a space dedicated to connecting you to your practice, and to growing the Yoga community in the Bodmin area.

Dear Friends, 

Thank you for joining me on this new journey! I am sure you’ll have some questions, let me see if I can answer some below: 

“What’s this all about, Sophie?”

Having done a lot of soul-searching during lockdown, and a lot of wondering about what is the right path for me, I have landed on this: a beautiful little space just right for a Yoga studio, in a good location, and with a landlady who is happy for me to go ahead and create something beautiful… And it became clear that what I needed to do was put my big girl pants on and make a commitment to you- my students, to the Yoga community, and to my craft of teaching and studying Yoga.

So here it is: a little studio at St Ingunger Farm, a small rural business development just outside Bodmin (working title: Bodmin Yoga). Currently an office space (complete with carpet!) there is work to be done, but the bones are good, the space is just the right size, and there is a lot of potential. 

The slightly dark picture above is not the most flattering, it is just to give you an idea. The space has a lovely feel and an atmosphere I can work with.

“How will I benefit as a Yogi?”

If you've been to my classes you will know that I love to practice and to teach a whole range of Yoga styles. I specialise in holding space for you and your practice, whatever mood and energy level you find yourself with. I like to teach in a mindful way, that allows plenty of time for stillness and for checking in with ourselves, as well as allowing for physical challenges- wherever we find them. 

Creating a studio will help me offer this space throughout the whole week, and the whole year. My aim is to make a home for your practice. Imagine, you will never have to worry about me dashing off to my next class as you are rolling your mats up, or wonder where I am on any given day of the week. I expect the feeling of stability to ripple out. I will be at the studio for much of the day, and you will be very welcome to pop in if you want to see what’s on or chat all things Yoga. It is important to me that it feels like the studio is manned.  

There is enough space to create a treatment room where you will be able to come for a massage or other healing therapies. Having learnt a bit about how we hold our trauma in our bodies I am really hoping to find someone who can offer fascia release, but any treatments to improve wellbeing (aromatherapy, reflexology, counselling, reiki etc) will be welcome.

What I am offering you here is the chance to pay for some Yoga up front, at a whole range of price points. I have put together a package of rewards for you to purchase, which will offer you discounts for buying Yoga in advance. 

If you're itching to get back onto the mat after months without classes then hopefully this will help make you feel better! 

If you are concerned about Covid safety I can offer one to ones to allow you to isolate from other people- these are also offered here at a reduced rate. 

There are a couple of reward options which I have called Karma, which don't offer any specific reward to you the purchaser, but which are a simple donation to help this project on its way. Perfect if you are not practicing or live at a distance from the studio. My heartfelt gratitude if you choose this option.

“How will other people benefit?”

I am driving this project, but it isn't about me, its about your connection to your own practice, and building a space where the local Yoga community can come together and - Yoga means 'union' after all! So, whilst I will be doing most of the teaching at the outset, it is my plan to bring a whole variety of other teachers in to give a really balanced programme and a variety of perspectives.  

It is also my aim to encourage under-represented groups onto the Yoga mat, and after the basics are covered I will be thinking about how I can reach out a more-diverse clientele, subsidising class costs for anyone who needs, where possible. I would really love to make the difference for anyone who would like to come to Yoga but feels there are barriers in their way, and I relish the creative challenge involved in making this happen.

“How will you benefit, Sophie?”

As a full-time Yoga teacher and student, I have spent years studying my subject and engaging in further training. I have very much enjoyed sharing my passion across a range of venues, but the time has come for me to stop being in such a hurry, and to stop doing exhausting dashes around the county. Teaching from one place will allow me time and space to breathe. It will give me security, and ultimately it will allow my teaching to develop.  

"Where will the money go?"

Coming directly post-Covid (hopefully!), it is going to be a bit of a slog to get this wonderful place Yoga-ready. I am rolling up my sleeves and fully intend to put my new-found love of DIY to good use where possible, but there are things I'm going to need help with. Like replacing the carpet, and partitioning off some changing areas. There will also have to be Covid safety measures to implement, plus a website, marketing, insurance etc etc etc. I am crowdfunding to cover some of the start-up costs.  

The quicker I can cover the basic running costs, the sooner I can start to pay other teachers, and put my energies into reaching out to underrepresented groups. 

In short, friends, thank you so much for reading. I hope you feel that you can get behind me as I offer up my vision to the universe of what can grow from this humble beginning. I hope you feel that this is a vision you can get behind. I know many of us have faced extremely hard times over the last few months (myself included), but anything you can give will be so gratefully received, and put directly to very good use creating a space for us all to feel at home and to nurture ourselves.  

With so much love and gratitude, 

Sophie x

This project successfully funded on 22nd September 2020