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My first class had three students: a retired nurse, a young teacher, and a college student who wandered in off the street. I taught for free that day. They came back the next week.
Word spread slowly through local Facebook groups and the community bulletin board at the library. The truck became my lifeline. I loaded it with rolled mats, bolsters, and a portable speaker.
The way I kept the classes gentle and encouraging—no one was judged for modifying poses or arriving late. I never raised my voice. I listened, and they kept coming.
Nights were long. I worked full-time at the office from 9 to 5, then headed to the studio. I taught two evening classes, cleaned up afterward, and often stayed until midnight updating schedules or answering emails from new clients.
Weekends meant more classes, more driving, more loading and unloading. My hands were rough from hauling equipment. My back achd from carrying stacks of mats.
But every time a student thanked me after class, saying they felt calmer than they had in months, the exhaustion felt worth it. I never mentioned the struggles to my family. When my mother called to ask how things were going, I said, “Fine.”
When Dylan texted asking if I needed help, I replied, “I’ve got it.”
I didn’t want their opinions.
I didn’t want their pity. This was mine. Months turned into a year.
The studio slowly changed. New mats replaced the old ones—thick, grippy, in soft colors. I installed better lighting and a small sound system.
What started with three people became 8, then 12, then 20. I raised prices slightly, but kept them affordable. People came back because they felt seen.
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