Pulsation Yoga thrives in Lake Zurich, Arlington Heights
An interview with Kathy Simonik, co-owner of Pulsation Yoga in Lake Zurich.
Q: Describe your business.
A: Pulsation Yoga studio has skilled instructors who value the welfare of the student, emphasize alignment, therapeutics, and community, host teacher trainings and workshops in our new location in Lake Zurich and in our Arlington Heights location.
We are unique in that the owners, Kathy and Jim, have 11 and 12 years teaching experience and continue the pursuit of attending master teachers workshops and trainings to keep their education heightened so they can pass on the most current in-depth teachings to their students. Most of the instructors went through Kathy's comprehensive 200-hour teacher training, so they are all teaching with a similar philosophy and care for the student. We consider ourselves a real place to learn.
Q: What made you start your business?
A: Kathy had multiple back surgeries ending up with a spinal fusion and rods in her spine and was facing having two more surgeries in her neck and back and decided to go a different route. She started doing private yoga sessions with a teacher who specialized in yoga therapeutics. She ended up attending his teacher training and helping manage his studio for 8 years. After the owner moved to California she and her husband Jim, who also worked at the studio with her decided to open their own business. She now specializes in yoga therapeutics.
Q: What has been the most difficult obstacle in running or starting a small business?
A: You might say the money but actually the most difficult part is finding teachers who share your vision and philosophy. We feel after 3 years we now have a staff that has that vision and lives it. The other obstacle might be finding balance in your own life - taking time off to just 'be.'
Q: What do you enjoy most about operating your business?
A: No doubt the students who come. Our studio is big on community - students frequently stay after class and chat with each other, come out after class for a bite to eat or socialize. We have made so many wonderful friends and love teaching.
Q: Is this what you pictured yourself doing when you were young?
A: My husband was in marketing and I was in graphic design. I always wanted to be an artist (and still am). We both had an ad agency when we first got married. You could have never ever told me I would someday get up in front of people - I was terrified to do any kind of public speaking no matter how remote. My husband was the more outgoing one. Now we both are very at ease with the students and just focus on being "us" - authentic. It makes our jobs very comfortable.
Q: What keeps you up at night?
A: Did I forget to email the teachers? Sometimes I have 'yoga dreams' where either I am teaching all night in my sleep or where I am doing a pose that normally would be difficult for me like handstand in the middle of the room.
Q: If you could give one tip to a rookie business owner, what would it be?
A: Create a business plan. We actually did - not many small businesses do. Putting on paper what you want to create is 99 percent of it. Then going back in a few years and constantly refining it to match where you are. Create a mission statement that is authentically you and live it. If it doesn't feel right keep working on it. Surround yourself with people who support your vision and have good ethics in and outside of work (probably the most important!).
Pulsation Yoga
Address: 729 W. Route 22 Lake Zurich and 26 S. Evergreen, Arlington Heights
Owners: Jim and Kathy Simonik
Website: www.pulsationyoga.com
When business started: 2014 in Lake Zurich, 2011 in Arlington Heights