On the Job

Nine years ago, when Virginia Williamson was looking for work after raising her kids, there was one thing she knew: "I didn't want to go into pantyhose and high heels," she says. So she started teaching yoga. Today Williamson is the owner and co-director of Lithe and Easy Yoga in Port Charlotte, where she and five other instructors offer daily yoga classes.

How did you get into this business?
I got into practicing yoga by needing an exercise routine. I didn't like to jog. I didn't like tennis. I found a yoga class [and] realized that here was a physical fitness system that I could be successful with. I applied for certification and I trained, [and] that was when I recognized how full yoga really is; it has a whole philosophy.

What did you do before the yoga studio?
Before this I was a stay-at-home mother. Before that I was in public relations and volunteer administration for nonprofits. I think some of the skills that I learned, especially in administration of volunteers, helped me to be sensitive to people's needs.

What's the biggest challenge of this business?
The biggest challenge is actually paying the rent because I need a big space. Commercial space is expensive.

How do you find enough clients to meet that overhead?
That's where the public relations [background] comes in handy. There is a lot that can be done that doesn't cost money, [such as] using press releases and calendar listings. The best way to get customers is through word-of-mouth. In order to develop a word-of-mouth community, you have to consistently provide quality service.

Is running a yoga business any less stressful than other businesses?
I think yoga teaching is a different kind of business because it isn't motivated strictly by profit. The main reason to get in is to share the physical, mental and emotional benefits. I have my days when it's like, "Ugh. Gotta get up and go to work." Then I remember what my job is.