Today we’d like to introduce you to Chanda Ross.
Hi Chanda, 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?
The start of Let It Be Yoga Studio in Watkinsville, GA
I was encouraged by my husband (at the time) to stop working full-time and open a yoga studio. When he first mentioned the idea to me I couldn’t fathom that I would do just that and that the studio would be successful now 10+ years later.
In 2013, I was becoming increasingly burned-out with my long-term acute care hospital work. I absolutely love my work as a Speech Pathologist and yet the intensity of the long-term acute care setting was wearing on me. I began to wonder if everyone in life, myself included, was headed towards high blood pressure, diabetes type II and high cholesterol. It seemed everyone I worked with in the hospital had these three diagnosis in common along with other varying co-morbidities. I had already begun a personal yoga practice in 2007, encouraged by a friend to explore yoga as a way to help decrease my stress and anxiety while going through a divorce. I found the practice very helpful for my mental and emotional bodies, with the benefit of becoming more flexible with increased strength!
Along with my physical yoga practice, I began to research diet, exercise, meditation. I took a 200 hr. yoga course to deepen my own practice. I was not a practitioner who thought about teaching yoga originally. I was looking to improve my life through better habits so that I could age more gracefully and healthy.
I absolutely love being a speech therapist. I was broken hearted to understand that the often long hours I was working at the hospital, ultimately surrounded by a lot of ill health, many whose recovery or path out of pain would be to transition from this life was beginning to have a very negative impact on me personally. And then, I will never forget going to work one morning with one of my friends and colleague waiting for me in the parking lot. She put her arms around me and walked with me to tell me that one of our therapists had committed suicide. While the work was hard and often grueling, we had a great rehab team. I remember us being very close…I mean when you work 40 to 50 hours a week with a team of people…well we were not just colleagues but we were all friends too. Now one of our friends took his own life and none of us knew why or even saw that coming. It was devastating. And it was the catalyst that spurred me on to take Cal’s advice and open a studio. I took a loan from him and opened Let It Be Yoga Studio. A donation based studio, where practitioners can pay what is comfortable for their budget and attend any class that suits their schedule. The mission of Let It Be is to offer yoga to anyone irrespective of cost. Why? Because yoga is life transformative. Whether a person is looking just for physical increased flexibility and strength, for greater physiological health, for managing stressors in life, or managing pain, etc. The practice of yoga is a very healthy path for people to endeavor.
I needed to find more balance in life. I took a year from full-time work as an SLP and opened the studio, in 2014. I taught at least 6 classes of yoga per week as the sole teacher when we first opened. I continued to work as a speech pathologist PRN (as needed) which allowed me to really have some time and space to be in the studio, lead classes and recover from the grueling and just really all consuming job I had worked for 8 years. And I haven’t even gotten into marriage, divorce, single-parenting two young children (at the time). I don’t think for a minute my story with the life’s ups and downs is by any means unique or very different from anyone else’s. I write it to help illustrate that we humans are often needing and looking for the balance. Sometimes when we need this the most is when we may be at a very low point. I want LIBY to be the light within the darkness when it needs to be for others. A yoga practice can be life saving. Often when people need that kind of help it ought to be irrespective of cost, time or schedule restraints. Therefore, LIBY’s model has been drop-in, a suggested donation based on your financial budget, attend any class you like and/or are able. No loss in money or time if you can’t make it or need to alter your plans last minute. Ultimately, Let It Be Studio was born out of my need for balance and the personal understanding of how transformative a consistent yoga practice can be. It has thrived in this capacity as evidenced by the community that supports it and it’s many, many lovely practitioners to date.
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?
It has been a smooth road.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
“Walking into Let It Be Yoga, a donation-based yoga studio in Watkinsville, Georgia, is a bit like entering another world. Nestled in a forest off the side of the road, it has an eclectic and natural atmosphere. The neon sign on the wooden cabin, lovingly referred to as the “wonderbarn,” welcomes local residents into the cozy studio providing affordable yoga to all ages from around the community.
Let It Be strives to make yoga accessible to everyone in the surrounding areas by teaching everything from mindfulness practices to breathing techniques on a very flexible schedule. “
Article from the Red and Black by Olivia Wakim
Contact Info:
- Website: https://letitbeyoga.org
- Instagram: letitbeyogastudio
- Facebook: Let It Be Yoga
Image Credits
Blane Marable
