Voted Folio’s Best of St. Augustine Yoga Studio. Now & Zen Studio’s Elorah Davis has come a long way since she took over the business two years ago. She has created a space that is welcoming for the community, has learned a lot about owning a business and herself. She sat down with me to discuss the challenges, the joys, and her plans for the future.
Tell me how you feel about being voted Folio’s Best of St. Augustine’s Yoga Studio?
I was honored to be nominated. When I learned that I won I was surprised because I didn’t realize you could vote daily and I don’t think anyone else realized it either. I’m grateful to everyone who voted and continues to support Now & Zen. I’m ecstatic about winning and I definitely feel like it has been one of my bigger accomplishments as a business owner.
You’ve owned the business now for a couple of years, what have been some of your challenges?
I think most people know that I teach, but they don’t realize that I put equal time into planning each class as I do teaching it, sometimes more so. On top of classes, there is my personal practice, event planning, payroll, teachers, private classes, cleaning, renovations, etc and it all falls on me. I’m learning to delegate and let go of the illusion of control to allow other people to do things. I’m setting up systems for the business and trying to work towards a better schedule for myself to have time for my life outside of the business.
What do you love most about owning the studio?
Everything I’ve learned, not only about owning a business but about myself. The business has taught me not to give up. I also enjoy having space available for people to build a community, hold events and hold space for themselves. We also carry many local, handmade products which I am so grateful to be able to display at my studio, sample them, and spread the love.
Do you feel like you’ve grown a lot?
Yes! I have definitely pushed my limits and learned to balance between pushing myself and letting go when I need to, which is a big essence in yoga. I think at first, I missed the punch-out clock because work doesn’t end when I leave the studio and I need to make sure that I give myself downtime. I have to tell myself “I did enough today,” so when I get home I can honor that time for myself. There are always lessons to be learned and experiences to enrich self growth.
What’s your favorite type of yoga practice?
Ashtanga…it taught me discipline in my practice and in life.
However, I do prefer the more therapeutic approach to it, where it is built more for the personal body then just leading through a series and pushing myself through postures when my body is not wanting to do that posture. I honor listening to my body now.
What have you learned about yourself since owning the business?
Pushing my limits and learning to balance work with personal time. I can do a lot more than what I thought I could do so I surprised myself. I have worked three jobs since I was fourteen years old and owning a business is like working three jobs or more. When I initially started I didn’t think it was going to be that hard, but as I expand to teach different types of classes and overall keep up, sometimes it becomes more difficult. The chair yoga was super eye-opening for me, that a movement of just lifting an arm above ones head would be difficult and so beneficial.
Do you feel like you’ve become more confident owning the business?
As a teacher, I have definitely gained a lot of confidence. I remember the first yoga class I ever taught. My friend and Grandma came to the class and they were like “we can’t hear you”. I had a lot of anxiety when I first started and that’s where my low talking came in, it was pretty bad. I think back to that time and wonder why they let me teach yoga at all, but that's how you do it and figure it out. If I wasn’t teaching eighteen plus classes a week for a while now, then I wouldn't have learned as much as I have about teaching.
When I was in teacher training I had to create a flow and teach it to the other students. During the yoga flow I messed up my cues and had everyone backwards on the mat, so there is a lot to learn and it all gets better with time and experience, just like anything else.
What types of events are you planning for the studio and community?
There are always things in the works. Currently, we have wine yoga every Wed at Casa De Vino downtown. The second Saturday of every month is a Barre Fusion (a blend of Pilates, yoga, and barre) with Berta of BFit. Yoga for Relaxation March 24th with Dana Marie of Sage Healing. We have a Yoga to Transform Trauma Teacher Training starting May 17th. Keep checking the calendar on nowzenstudio.com and follow us on Facebook, new events are added all the time.
Tell me what your plans are for yourself in the future?
I’m open to any growth or opportunities that present themselves or that I discover. I definitely see my home life becoming more settled and I want to start holding retreats every year. Ones that are focused on the symbiotic relationship between nature and us. I’m not sure where or when so stay tuned…
Now & Zen is located at 224A San Marco Ave. St. Augustine FL 32084
Follow them at:
Comments