Background & Work Experience
As a founding Owner, General Manager, Yoga Studio Manager and Yoga Teacher at ARC Climbing + Yoga (2014-2022), I learned a lot.
I learned that I am capable of many things and I can’t do it alone. Building a business and community around that business required a vision and sharing of that vision with staff and members. The vision was to build a community that would be welcoming, inclusive, supportive and safe for people to explore what they are capable of through climbing and yoga. Along the way people lived their lives. They became friends, got married, had babies and grew in many ways. Growing up as a “military child” who moved around a lot, I know how important and life changing belonging to a community can be. Countless staff and members have shared how important ARC was for them during a particularly hard time in their lives (ie: mental health, loss of a loved one, health challenges, divorce, new to town, the pandemic…). A time when they were suffering and the ARC community provided support, relief, space and healing for them. I know it did for me too.
It also taught me that people get sick, injured and suffer through many hardships. Many of those same people are resilient and can heal and recover. I got really curious about this process and it’s a big part of why I’m a yoga therapist now. I noticed there was a gap for many people in where they wanted to be and where they currently stood and there was a lot of suffering within this gap. I’m really proud that ARC Climbing + Yoga is still going strong under the direction of the new owners. Way to go Sarah and Prince!
I also learned a lot about business. How to work with many different people, to communicate, budget, schedule, create programs, apply for money, plan, strategize, resolve conflicts, problem solve, train staff, give feedback, apologize and listen.
I learned a ton about stress, worry, anxiety and how they can impact the body and mind, especially during the pandemic. Not only personally as a business owner during this time, but also seeing many of our members and staff suffer through in different ways.