For Nicole Lowe, owner and lead instructor at Santa Maria’s Treetop Yoga, a seventh year anniversary is an occasion to take in stride.
The studio celebrated the milestone in mid October by hosting a series of free classes that include yoga sessions for all ages and skill levels.
“It was neat to kind of have an anything-goes class regardless of age or ability,” Lowe said. “Some, especially the kids, just rolled over or crawled.”Ā
Moments like that embody a lot of what Treetop Yoga is all about: a tight-knit but open community.Ā
Class sizes are limited, to the point that sometimes potential students miss out on the particular session they want to take. And while Lowe acknowledges that may not be the best business practice in terms of making money, it’s invaluable for her.Ā
“I don’t like to turn people awayāit’s really hard to doābut we want to honor those small class sizes so that our students in our classes get the best experience,” she said.Ā
The more intimate setting is particularly attractive to beginners, who more often than not inquire about how many people are in the class before considering attending. Ā
“A lot of times people are very nervous or self-conscious when they are starting yoga,” Lowe explained. “They want to know that they’re gonna get some personal attention, with their alignment or help modifying [a pose].”
It’s a philosophy that’s created plenty of longtime customers.Ā
“We have students who have been with us since day one,” she said.
The studio experienced steady growth over the past seven years, according to Lowe, but business isn’t always smooth sailing. Even though there are regulars, overall retention of students is always tricky.Ā
“There’s turnover, that’s one of our challenges is just retention with wellness,” Lowe added. “I think that trying to get people to devote to take care of themselves is sometimes challenging.”
Taking care of one’s body is a struggle the yoga instructor is all too familiar with, she said. “I took a break from yoga for a while, but then I ran into my doctor at the gas station and he asked if I was taking care of my body,” Lowe explained.Ā
In that moment, it hit her: She wasn’t. So she dived back into her yoga headfirst.
“When I got back into it that’s when I really made it a priority in my life because it really just makes everything in my life go more smoothly when I’m doing my yoga practice regularly,” Lowe said. “I feel happier. I feel at ease. The little hiccups that pop up in your daily life just don’t seem as big of a deal … you’re able to cope with them more easily. At least, I am when I’m doing my yoga practice.”Ā
Currently, Treetop is offering sales to celebrate its seventh anniversary. To find out more, call (805) 266-6391 or email nicole@treetopyoga.net. The studio also offers one month of unlimited classes for first-time students for $40.
Highlights:Ā
ā¢ On Oct. 17, Santa Maria Mayor Alice Patino and City Manager Jason Stilwell delivered the 2018 State of the City address. Speaking in front of a small crowd of business owners, city staff, and community members, the two touted the city’s economic growth and outlined plans for downtown development. City leaders also called for more help from the business community to tackle affordable housing and for citizens to support the public safety tax fund, Measure U, in the November election.Ā
ā¢ Federal Community Development Block grants and Local Human Service funds are now available for Lompoc nonprofits and other organizations for fiscal year 2019-20. In order to apply for funding, interested applicants must attend a mandatory pre-application workshop Monday, Nov. 5, at 9 a.m. at the Lompoc City Council Chambers (100 Civic Center Plaza). Copies of grant applications will be available at the workshop, and are currently available on the city’s website at cityoflompoc.com/comdev/. Applications can be electronically mailed by request. The deadline for submitting completed applications is 3 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 6.Ā All applications must be submitted to the Community Development Division located at City Hall. Ī¼
Staff Writer Spencer Cole wrote this week’s Biz Spotlight. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, mail, or email at spotlight@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Oct 25 – Nov 1, 2018.