St Leonards Studio CIC
A collective of teachers within the heart of St Leonards providing for the whole community
History
Annie Cryar and Zowie Martin were friends (still are!) who believe in the practice of the spirit of Yoga – ethical living, respect for others and for the environment. We were inspired to set up a studio for yoga, qigong, shiatsu, meditation 8 years ago because of a lack of affordable and secure spaces in the town. As well as securing a venue for our own work, we wanted to create a space for the businesses of mind/body practices and natural health care. We hoped that by bringing like-minded teachers together we could encourage the growth of these arts and create a collective that would benefit the community.
About
St Leonards Studio CIC is a community interest company focusing on providing complementary health and well-being care to the community. Our idea is that when operating together rather than isolated individuals, our combined energy increases community participation in well-being activities. We want to run a business that mirrors the values of our yoga practice. We do this by creating and maintaining a collective of qualified teachers and therapists, sharing a common aim of supporting the local community with preventative healthcare.
We can keep hourly rental prices as low as possible because of our collective set-up.
Our provision so far: yoga, pilates, mindfulness, many forms of dance, shiatsu, creative writing, nutrition, tai chi qigong, yoga for teens, mums and babies, yoga for people with auto immune problems, yoga for back pain, chair yoga for motor disability, beginner yoga, yoga for injury recovery. We work with U3A, we have links with Active Hastings and local charities. We want to build bridges with other local Community Interest Companies to create a network, a hub for a variety of community endeavours.
All teachers joining the studio are fully qualified and insured and encouraged to be part of a governing body to ensure a standard of professionalism students can trust
Why are we different?
Members of the studio are independent sole traders and remain fully autonomous in the running of their classes but are encouraged to think of themselves as being part of a whole that runs for the good of all. Teachers are encouraged to connect socially with one another, to experience one another teachings and to participate in raising social awareness through collaborative free community events such as Mental Health Awareness Week, World Meditation Day and charity events.
We provide in-house trainings for both existing teachers to continue professional development and new teachers and practitioners to train through the Shiatsu College Hastings and Yoga Teacher Training, a British Wheel of Yoga approved school.
We have strong links with the Sara Lee Trust, a local charity providing free complementary therapy for those with a life threatening illness and their families. We are forging links with the local People’s Health Alliance
We care about the way that yoga has developed along fitness industry lines and that the heart of mind/body/sprit practices run the risk of being lost in commercialisation and glamorisation. We do not make a profit from teachers but plough everything back into the studio. We hope to encourage new teachers and facilitators by providing favourable terms and conditions as well as being part of a supportive collective. We care about community – both the community of teachers and the wider community of people who want to take charge of their health.
To find out about hiring the studio or to help with our fundraising – call 07722868397
info@stleonards.studio
