Today we’d like to introduce you to Alyson Foreacre.
Hi Alyson, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was a long distance runner and found yoga while marathon training. Not only did my running improve, but I also noticed injuries healing, my posture improving and my state of mind becoming more calm and clear. My running coach ran the fitness program at the recreation center in my neighborhood where I taught swimming lessons, and she offered me the opportunity to teach yoga classes as well. I got certified, and started teaching in my neighborhood until I had to give up the space for summer camp. I had a dedicated group of about 20 students that wanted to continue, so we found a space to rent month to month outside the neighborhood until we could get back to our original room. Because we were formerly in a deed restricted neighborhood, only residents could attend, but when we went off-site, the 20 students brought friends, and through word of mouth we grew to 75 students within 2 months. At that point, my husband told me to think of a name-he was putting me in business, and Yoga Den was born.
Having a need for teachers with no certification schools in Jacksonville, I developed the Teacher Training program in 2004, and was the first school in Jacksonville to receive accreditation from the Yoga Alliance. For the next 10 years Yoga Den was a part-time “hobby-job” for me because I was raising my children and wanted to be fully present. In 2012, after watching the growth of the business and trends in the industry, my husband decided to leave his job and join the business with the goal of expanding to open a 2nd location. Not long after, we had interest from a long-time student wanting a Yoga Den of her own, and developed the franchise program. Chip (hubby) and I grew to 6 locations of our own with 1 franchise, and decided that each location deserved a present owner, thus we decided to sell all but the original Mandarin location which we still own and operate today.
Having 9 locations in 2023, we joined forces with some local entrepreneurs with the goal of improving upon and ultimately expanding the brand. Currently there are 11 Yoga Den studios in 4 cities, with Middleburg the most recent and set to open in Q2 of this year. Through all of the growth, change and added responsibility, my original passion which is teaching has only become stronger. I still teach 5 regular classes on a weekly basis, and lead our Teacher Training program. My inspiration comes from seeing thousands of students over the years find greater health, happiness and over all well-being. I’ve seen many friendships formed, and get to be a part of a wonderful community full of positive energy. I LOVE YOGA DEN!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Overall it has been a fantastic ride with a few bumps in the road that come with the learning curves of any kind of entrepreneurship.
The greatest obstacle was the pandemic. I don’t think anyone could have been prepared for that. We had to become videographers over night, and deal with the concerns that come from being a business which focuses on deep breathing in a closed room full of people once we could reopen. Fortunately we were able to sustain, and we learned just how strong our community was.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
While my title is President and CEO of Yoga Den Franchising LLC, I would define myself as a yoga teacher. I do have other responsibilities, but my natural skillset lives inside the studio, and my life’s work has been spent sharing the practice with others.
I studied under a variety of teachers and took what spoke to me to create my own style of classes, not intentionally but out of necessity. Back then it was considered taboo to break from tradition, but I had to make personal adjustments and modifications due to my lack of flexibility from running. Also, having back issues I had to be careful to avoid certain things all together. This resulted in teaching with permission based cueing and a “listen to your body” philosophy. Now, post-traditional teaching is the norm, but we were definitely at the forefront.
My classes are taught to the rhythm of the breath, which requires specific sequencing, and being able to maintain cues on tempo with the music to align with the students respiration. It’s tricky, but I’d say that’s what my classes are known for, being able to put students on a “breath ride”. It creates a feel, which scientifically explained is modifying brain wave frequencies to cultivate a meditative mind-state.
I am most proud of the Yoga Den culture, and the amazing owners and teachers that vibe with the no-judgement philosophy of the brand.
What sets us apart in our demographic is the ability to practice unlimited at any Yoga Den studio with our passport membership. This makes it as easy as possible to get on the mat. What sets us apart in both demographic and as a brand is our variety of class style offerings. We have something for everyone- the hot and sweaty Sun Power and/or Sculpt Fusion, the floor-based Yin and Restorative, and a few class styles that fall in the middle like Mind Body and Mind Body Flow.
How do you think about luck?
I’m not sure how I feel about luck. If in fact it is luck and not divine order, then I have been very lucky in life and business, but how I feel is blessed. Not that it has been easy, I have had my share of failures and hard times, but I came out on the other side a little wiser and stronger. I am super full of gratitude.
Pricing:
- $125 Passport unlimited membership to ALL Yoga Den studios
- $200 for a 10-class pass to studio of choice
- $25 drop in any time!
- $50 New Student Special- 2 weeks unlimited
Contact Info:
- Website: https://yoga-den.com
- Instagram: yogaden.studios
- Facebook: Yoga Den
