As usual, it is late in the evening (or early in the morning, depending on which point of view you sit on) as I sit writing this latest Yoga by Sarah newsletter. And as usual, there are so many points to get across, and I always have to think and re-think how to get them across with utmost clarity and brevity!! We're celebrating our 5 year anniversary in business next weekend and our 2 year anniversary in this studio. 5 years. 2 years. I can't believe it. I remember just over two years ago now as I was signing the 5 year lease for the studio, my hand shaking, wondering if it was too late to change my mind, and my realtor looking at me saying "Sarah, you'll blink your eyes and five years will have passed." I didn't believe him then. I see now what he meant. I remember the early days at Bodymax and White Oaks, with only a few people in class, and about 4 classes a week. I remember everyone thinking I was crazy for wanting to teach yoga "full time". I also remember the people who believed in me, loved me and supported me unconditionally - my father Francesco, my mother Margaret, my then-boyfriend Timothy, my grandparents, my neighbour Ed, my best friends Sarah and Laura, the owners of Bodymax Barb and Ken, White Oaks management... My grandmother Valeria, whom I shared a birthday with, passed away about two weeks after I taught my first yoga class. I remember her telling me that she would be my "secretary" and sit at the door and collect the money. Sometimes still, late in the evening, when I'm leaving the studio, I see her there, sitting on the bench by the door. So, we've come a long way in 5 years. I'm pretty sure I counted 11 people at our last staff meeting (12 if you include my mother - but she still doesn't take any money for her Wednesday morning reception shift!). Our January 2004 schedule is offering just over 30 classes a week... when we opened the studio 2 years ago, we were offering 16 classes weekly. A really big heartfelt thank you and lots of gratitude go out to my amazing support staff - Rhonda and Sharon (oh my goodness, what would I do without you guys?!), Sarah, Jo, Cathy, Allison, Lisa, Stacey, Ma, Krysti, and Angela. Each of them, has brought their own flare and such diversity to our studio, but most importantly they bring their love and their passion for this amazing work that we're doing. And of course, none of this could be possible without all of you, our members, our students (but I really say that you're our teachers), for continuing to come to class - for supporting us spiritually, physically and financially - and for all of your positive feedback, constructive criticisms, suggestions... I am eternally grateful. For those of you who know me well, I do a lot of what seems like complaining about my long sometimes 14 hour days - but know that I wouldn't have it any other way right now - this is my business, my passion - THIS WAS MY DREAM - and I often wonder how I became so incredibly blessed.
So, I think I've just blown the brevity plan of this e-mail. I'll try to be a little more concise in the more down-to-details portion of this newsletter!!
Come and celebrate with us at our Annual Christmas Open House Friday December 19 and Saturday December 20 This years open house marks 5 years in business and 2 years at the Studio on Queenston St. We are celebrating on Friday, December 19 from 3-9pm and Saturday December 20 from 9a-5pm. We of course will have some food and drink, so come and celebrate with us!! Enter in our draw for a chance to win one of several merchandise or yoga/pilates packages!! That weekend only, we have several membership incentives being offered, including 10% off any yoga or pilates package - so it's a great opportunity to get registered or signed up for January classes. Also, it will be your last opportunity to purchase a One Year Unlimited Yoga Membership and receive 2 extra months free - we will be discontinuing the 2 free months after Christmas. If you purchase a one year membership during the open house, you will receive a $20 gift certificate towards merchandise!! To celebrate our 2 year anniversary at the studio, if you purchase a 10 class pass you get 2 free classes!! To celebrate our 5 year anniversary in business, if you purchase a 20 class pass you get 5 free classes!! More details can be found on our website www.yogabysarah.com
Classes During the Holiday Season We are closed on Wednesday December 24, Thursday December 25, Friday December 26, Wednesday December 31 and Thursday January 1. All other classes are running as per our schedule dated September 15 - December 20, 2003. Please be sure to pick up a copy of our Holiday Schedule at the studio or print one off of our website www.yogabysarah.com
Holiday Pilates Drop-In Schedule Our current session of Pilates is ending December 20, 2003 and our next session will start the week of January 12, 2004. We are offering a few Drop-In Pilates classes to get you through the 3 week break at a cost of $12 + gst. Feel free to come out to any of these classes - Monday January 5 10:30am, Tuesday January 6 5:30pm, Saturday January 10 10:50am. These classes are considered "All Level" - but you must have some previous Pilates experience. Again, you can pick up this schedule at the studio or print it off our website www.yogabysarah.com January Schedule
Our website has www.yogabysarah.com been updated with the new schedule for January 2004. Copies of the schedule are also available at the studio. Our drop-in yoga schedule will commence the week of January 4, 2004. We have added on a Sunday morning Meditation/Breathing class taught by Cathy that is included in our regular drop-in schedule. This class is ongoing and open to all of our members who have a Drop-In schedule membership. You will notice that we are reintroducing our Community Charity Class Mondays at 4:15pm which is taught by our newest student teacher, Louisa Teunissen. This class is open to anyone from the community (member or non-member) and there is a suggested $5 donation to attend the class, and ALL proceeds of the class will go to Women's Place. This is a great way for Louisa to get experience teaching and a great way to give back to the community!! Please pass this information along to others!! You will notice on the drop-in schedule that some of my usual classes that I teach, I will be alternating/sharing them with some of our other instructors like Lisa, Jo and Allison. So you will find that one week I will teach, the next week they will teach. I am finding the need to cut back on the number of classes that I personally teach so that I don't get burned out. As the business is growing, there is an ever increasing amount of behind-the-scenes management work that needs to be taken care. This break in my teaching schedule will allow me some time to do that work, and hopefully start getting to bed before 2am!!
Pre-Registered Yoga and Pilates classes starting the week of January 12, 2004 All of our pre-registered classes start the week of January 12 and registration is now open for them. We are highly suggesting that you register during our open house next weekend as you will get 10% off of the published rates. As usual there are several Pilates classes to choose from (including Teen Pilates) as well as our specialty yoga classes such as Beginner Hatha Yoga, Beginner Power Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, Baby and Mom Yoga, and our newest programs Children's Yoga and 50+ Gentle Yoga. More specific details can be found on our website www.yogabysarah.com If you have any questions or would like to speak with someone, please feel free to contact us via e-mail or telephone. We love to hear to from you!!
Wishing you a wonderful holiday season...
Always,
Namaste - I honour that divine place within you, the place of peace, the place of love, the place where we are all ONE.
Sarah L. Giovannone
Yoga by Sarah
105 Queenston St. Suite #101
St. Catharines, ON
L2R 2Z5
Tel. 905 682-4469
Fax. 905 682-1936
www.yogabysarah.com