By: Deborah Johnson Wood
Multi-million dollar business developments seem to be springing up on every Grand Rapids street corner lately. But in East Hills, Carolyn Heines' recent business venture is proof that entrepreneurs don't need millions to bring a dream to life.
With an investment of under $5,000, Heines is opening The Yoga Studio at 955 Cherry Street, a 1,200-square-foot space of serenity and light where her 150 students can unwind.
"We're working with things we already have," Heines said, explaining the minimal investment. "Some people are volunteering their labor or doing it for very low cost."
The studio will have open studio space, changing rooms, and a small area to display and sell yoga props. The wood floor is partly the building's original maple flooring and partly the flooring salvaged from the girls' gymnasium at Catholic Central High School. A faux mahogany wall, exposed brick, and ivory-painted surfaces—including the original 11.5-foot-high pressed-tin ceiling—open up the space and lend an airy feel.
For the past 29 years, Heines has taught Hatha yoga at various locations in the area: her home in Heritage Hill, an extra room at Gaia Coffeehouse (now the restaurant's dining area), and three separate locations in East Hills—including the space at 955 Cherry.
"I like the Cherry area a great deal," Heines said. "There's a lot of energy and potential. I've been haunting the area for several months looking for space because I knew this is where I wanted to be."
The Yoga Studio has four instructors who teach daytime and evening classes of Iyengar Hatha Yoga Levels I, II, and III, and a Gentle Class for students with physical limitations. The store will open daily from 1 PM to 3 PM.
The grand opening is May 4 from 5 to 7 PM.
Source: Carolyn Heines, The Yoga Studio
Photograph courtesy of Jim Gebben
Deborah Johnson Wood is the Development News Editor for Rapid Growth. She can be reached at [email protected].
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