What's Next: Kim Blaine of Downtown Yoga Center JC

WHAT'S NEXT: 
​KIM BLAINE OF DOWNTOWN YOGA CENTER JC

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​By Allie Bynum

Photo Courtesy of  Downtown Yoga Center

Small business owners nationwide have been faced with the difficult decision to either close doors indefinitely or adapt their services to the world's current state of affairs.

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I spoke with Kim Blaine, owner of Downtown Yoga Center in Johnson City, Tennessee. She and her team of yogis are learning new ways to offer their services to the community, digitally. Ms. Blaine has been a small business owner in Northeast Tennessee for five years, and her passion for yoga started in 1999.

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"As a business owner, there are always so many things that you never knew you were going to learn or have to do. No one could have ever imagined it would be something like this."
- Kim Blaine

Photo Courtesy of  Downtown Yoga Center Johnson City Facebook

Towards the end of March, Ms. Blaine and her dedicated team of yoga instructors knew that change was coming as the State of Tennessee grew closer to implementing a stay-at-home order. "One of my lower moments was the week before close- The reality is that as a yoga studio owner, I am being asked to make a decision (whether to stay open or close) that could determine someone's life or death. I don't want to put my students or staff in danger or their health at risk," she said. The business began receiving a few messages of concern "here and there" asking if classes would continue. "It started getting more and more real, then one day we had all of our equipment locked up. That's when the reality hit," she said.

The studio's Front Desk Manager from Spain approached Ms. Blaine with an idea. She offered to help convert the business onto a streaming platform to allow their staff of instructors to teach from home. "Over the course of a week, we put a plan together and began testing staff's internet for online streaming," Ms. Blaine said.

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Photo Courtesy of  Kim Blaine

Ms. Blaine is making an effort to keep a positive outlook on this unprecedented event. "The process is not fun, but there's gotta be something good on the other side," she said. The small business owner anticipates the continuation of yoga streaming services to be availble in the ongoing future to help share her passion with the public.

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A Message from the Owner

"We look forward to seeing everybody in person again, that's for sure. Not just for me, but for all the downtown businesses and businesses everywhere- Everyone needs to help everyone right now. Whatever ways you can help- make donations, buy food or gift cards from downtown. It can really make a huge difference to get small businesses to carry through this time. If everyone helps everyone, we can be okay." - Kim Blaine

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Photo Courtesy of  Kim Blaine

The Downtown Yoga Center staff is now streaming live yoga classes daily. They have adjusted classes to an online special of $10 per class, plus the added benefit of not leaving the house. You can see the full class schedule here and reserve your spot.

Help support this small business by taking a class, donating here, or buying a gift certificate with no expiration date towards present or future classes.