When Chagrin Yoga first opened its doors 5 years ago in November 2009, marketing professional Mallory had never tried yoga but she was very intrigued. So Mallory got in touch with Darcy Providente and Robin Pastor, the owners of Chagrin Yoga, about building their website and spear-heading their studio marketing campaign.
A core value at Chagrin Yoga is offering everyone who enters their studio doors a warm welcome. The positive energy and passion for community sets Chagrin Yoga apart from the rest of the Greater Cleveland yoga studios.
“Because when you’re marketing, creating the website, and doing ads, it’s always good to know what you’re selling,” Mallory says. “So I started yoga 5 years ago right when they opened up. I went in for my first class and have been doing it ever since.”
The motivating passion for the Chagrin Yoga owners is offering a welcoming, friendly, and inclusive studio environment. The community around Chagrin Yoga is strong and dedicated. Regulars come to all the events and give back to the community. New students are welcomed in with open arms and wide smiles.
“New students can be nervous about it. Sometimes people who have been doing yoga for a long time get really good at it and it can look very intimidating,” Mallory says.
“The passion that drives Chagrin Yoga is offering a welcoming, friendly, supportive place for beginners to start. We want to encourage people to do it.”
At Chagrin Yoga it does not matter how much you weigh or how much experience you have with yoga. The teachers and owners want to make it a great first experience for beginners so they can have fun. There is special introductory offer for new students to get unlimited yoga classes for only $40, which is more than half off regular prices. Every month a beginner’s basic workshop is also offered for new people.
“Chagrin Yoga wants new people to come in and try as many instructors and classes as they can,” Mallory says. “In our opinion, one week is not enough to try it out and try different classes. Giving it a month usually helps you see the benefits.”
A unique aspect about Chagrin Yoga is that new students are assigned a yoga adviser. The adviser is there to answer questions about getting started and what to expect. For Chagrin Yoga it is just another way to make yoga more welcoming.
Another passion for Chagrin Yoga is advancing students’ yoga practice. Advance classes, including yoga teacher training programs, are available to those who want to deepen their practice and go to the next level.
In addition to the $40 introductory month offer and yoga teacher adviser, Chagrin Yoga has been focusing on featuring student testimonials and stories. The feedback and gratitude Chagrin Yoga receives from students on a regular basis is amazing. People will write in and describe how a chronic injury or pain was eased because of their yoga practice at Chagrin Yoga.
“The success is really about the students and what they tell us,” Mallory says. “We’re going to start a blog on our website that highlights student successes and how yoga changed their life. It is something new people can read to realize how strong yoga can be and how they can benefit as well. We’re going to be adding the student-focused blog within the next month.”
The owners of Chagrin Yoga have always been dedicated to being part of the community and giving back. In the summer, Chagrin Yoga provides the teachers for Yoga By the Falls in Chagrin Falls for a free-outdoor yoga class on Saturdays. People get to enjoy nature and do yoga outside. In June, July and August the classes are held 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. in the triangle right in the middle of Chagrin Falls.
Additionally, Chagrin Yoga is actively involved in Chagrin High School. For the senior projects program, Chagrin Yoga provides seniors with business experience opportunities. A large group of students come to the studio to learn.
“I’ve always believed in having a good plan in place, knowing what you want to take on, who you want to serve, and how you want to do it,” Mallory advises people interested in creating their own business today. “Having that plan in place and following the plan has always been really important to me. Also having a good team and people you can count on.”
Right from the beginning, Chagrin Yoga’s plan was to be a warm, welcoming, community yoga studio and they have followed through on that. Instructors care about their students, are inclusive, and make it fun for all. Check out Chagrin Yoga’s schedule start your yoga journey today.
