When I opened the studio 3 years ago Humble Warrior Yoga was a dream, it was an idea I had about sharing a truer, more authentic, version of yoga. I wanted to build a community of open minded and interested people willing to explore their own understanding and to share the rewards of this transformative practice.
I never imagined having to navigate a world wide pandemic and then the increased costs caused by amongst other things the war in Ukraine.
Since the studio doors opened, we have overcome so much, I still remember the opening day, the night before I had been up until 3am cleaning the space and getting ready for our first class the next morning. Some of you were there for that first class. Between then and now we have been forced to close, we have taken our classes online, we have comeback together in the studio but are now facing the impacts of unsustainable increases in operating costs.
Over the past few months, it has become increasingly difficult to continue to run the business in the way we began, the soaring costs of energy are uncapped for small businesses and with more on the way I have made the very difficult decision to close Humble Warrior Yoga as we all know it today, and to reincarnate Humble Warrior Yoga in a different form.
So I am writing today to tell you that from 29th September 2022 Humble Warrior Yoga will close its doors and leave our studio space.
This does not mean the end of Humble Warrior Yoga, because Humble Warrior Yoga transcends bricks and mortar. So long as Humble Warrior Yoga has its communty, it will have a purpose and a reason to keep going. So the search has already begun for a new home of Humble Warrior Yoga, this will mean we offer less classes, it will mean that the teaching staff changes and shrinks, and that the way we offer classes and charge for classes will also change – but what will not change is our vision, our philosophies, and our joyful appreciation of you, and of shared practice.
So whilst I know this will come as a shock to you and I know that you will have many questions, I am hoping you will continue to support our dream, our idea for truly transformative and accesible yoga.
If you are a current member, we will pro-rata your final membership payment amount to reflect the period between your final payment and the 29th Sept. (e.g. if you pay on 14th Sept you will only be charged for 15/30 days or 50% of your usual payment).
If you currently have a class pass I ask that you use the remaining classes before the end of September to prevent you losing out on those classes left unbooked.
I will continue to keep you updated about the decisions we make to move forward, about venues for classes, about a new schedule of classes and about the tough decisions we have to make regarding the teaching staff.
Humble Warrior Yoga is not me, or the other teachers who help me, Humble Warrior Yoga is not the bricks and mortar that we practice in, Humble Warrior is the chatter, the laughter, the community that we all participate in. Humble Warrior Yoga is all of you.
On a personal note, I want to take a moment to thank you, the community that you are a huge part of has helped me more than you will ever know, you have helped me to grow and mature in to the person I am today, disappointed, but optimistic about the future, someone who is excited at continuing the journey with you all, even though it will look different to how I dreamed.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via email, whatsapp, or talk to me in the studio.
Until the next update,
Yours,
Iain.