I grew up in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. My father worked with troubled children, and my mother was first a music teacher, and then a counselor for families and children. I always knew that I wanted to help people, to make a difference. I just didn’t know what capacity that would be in. I started my career as a paralegal, hoping to make a difference helping people. I worked in family law, including probate and guardianship. However, it was not fulfilling my calling, so I returned to school and became a special education teacher. While teaching, I also became a certified yoga therapist for children with special needs. I have always taught yoga in the classroom, and held various clubs for kids, teaching self calming strategies, mindfulness, and groundedness. About 10 years ago, I became certified to teach adult yoga, and expanded my goal of helping others to adults. I continue to teach special education in a high school, while in the process of opening my new business.
Monona Yoga Center is a community centered space where people of all abilities and stages of life gather to nourish their minds, bodies and souls. MYC’s mission is to create an environment where people gather to grow, strengthen and heal through the practice of yoga, by providing a range of classes & events that offer an opportunity for each ability and genre of life. As a part of fulfilling the mission, I offer classes to adults, children, baby & me, special needs, as well as fundraisers for the community, book clubs, pot lucks, and open house events free to the public. Not only do we offer services for all genres, we also offer opportunity of all genres of life. I have recently hired 2 individuals with disabilities through the 18-21 program for individuals at a local high school.
Monona Yoga Center is the culmination of years of practice, teaching, dreaming and inspiration. I have had this vision for well over a decade, and have long dreamed of making it come true. After having a baby and taking a semester off for maternity leave, I started to “dream big” and ask my self questions including what did I really want to do with my life. This piece has always been a huge vision, passion, and I decided that it had to be now or never. At that point I began my business plan, and started working with the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative to make this a reality.
My goals for the future of Monona Yoga are for it to be a staple in the community. A place where people of all abilities feel comfortable, and feel as though it is their place. They come for yoga, book clubs, discussions, pot lucks and more. They also bring their children and grandchildren there. The Center is so much more about creating a space for all, for a community, than it is about me and my dream.
The loan will go to overhead expenses including advertising, $500, Rent (2 months) $4,000, and payroll for my new employees $500.