Today we’d like to introduce you to Sallie Vaughan.
Hi Sallie, 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 backstories with our readers?
I completed yoga teacher training to become a Registered Yoga Teacher in 2017 at Yoga Masala in Columbia, South Carolina. I began my career teaching hot yoga at Soulift in Florence, SC, formerly Soulshine Yoga of Florence. After a year, I noticed the stigma around yoga kept many people from stepping on a mat, which inspired me to open Good Company Yoga in 2018. Good Company Yoga is a pop-up yoga business, and I travel around the Midlands teaching yoga at locally-owned breweries, wine shops, coffee shops, gyms, pet boutiques, event venues, and beyond. Offering yoga in non-traditional places reaches those who would normally never take a yoga class. These types of classes aren’t intimidating, and they can provide familiarity in a space you already hang out. I like to make the classes fun and enjoy hearing laughter. After yoga, participants are encouraged to stay and support local by purchasing a meal and/or beverage. These events introduce yoga to everyone and support our local business community at the same time.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Accepting that I cannot please everyone can be challenging. There are many people in the yoga community who frown upon yoga at a brewery, goat yoga, mimosa yoga, etc. After almost 4 years of running this business, I’ve learned to accept it and move on. I am playing with fire discussing this topic, so although I have a lot more to say, I will leave it at that. My vision remains the same each class and that is to offer yoga to those who would normally never step foot on a yoga mat. You never know if it may open doors one day.
Another challenge I face has nothing to do with running a business and everything to do with the unexpected while teaching.
When you teach yoga in a public space, you never know what might happen. During class, I’ve had a pig pee on my yoga mat, a family of four purposely talking loud nearby, a participant with a nose bleed, cars beeping as they drive by, and so forth. I like to joke that our classes are exactly like life. Throughout life, there are noises and distractions all around us, and we must practice acknowledging it, tuning it out, and then letting it go.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My grandma was my next-door neighbor throughout my childhood. She taught me everything from how to cook vegetables with bacon grease to how to love unconditionally. When I started practicing yoga consistently, the tables turned and my grandma asked me to teach her. We practiced chair yoga together up until 2 months prior to her passing. I am so fortunate to have a few videos of our classes, and I will cherish them forever.
Contact Info:
- Email: goodcompanyyoga@gmail.com
- Website: www.goodcompany-yoga.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodcompanyyoga/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goodcompanyyoga/
Image Credits
Anna V Printing & Photography
