Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ashley Cummings. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ashley, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s something crazy on unexpected that’s happened to you or your business

I have a crazy and unfortunately negative experience to share regarding entrepreneurship. The first brick and mortar studio I built in 2007 Just Breathe Yoga was fraught with a negative experience with an auspicious beginning involving two business partners (franchise owners) that contributed nothing financially or otherwise. The opening of my first yoga studio involved two “business partners”. I was asked to open a third franchise studio (they owned two other studios) and I was so excited as this was my first yoga studio. Unfortunately, at the age of 27 and conflated with my excitement for opening a yoga studio. I did not fully understand that their (two business partners) working definition of what a franchise was, is me building the business (financing, contractors, securing lease etc.) and giving them majority ownership because I would be using their franchise name. There was an operating agreement that the “two business partners” ignored. After three months including finance, build out for brick-and-mortar establishment and everything that comes into opening a small business. My partners then demanded public ownership of 2/3rds of the company. They gave me a deadline of Wednesday 5pm that they would become majority owners, or I(Ashley) can do it all alone.
Wednesday 5 pm came and I did not sign the legal framework to have them be majority owners. I went to sleep that night and I prayed. I woke up the next morning to my 9am teacher calling me from the studio telling me the studio had been broken into, and all electronics had been stolen(computers to check students in/speaker systems etc.) and they defamed the front door signage. They went even further and made a website saying that my location had closed.
I woke up to a studio that had been vandalized, stolen from and publicly announced was closed. I felt violated on a visceral level that studio was my baby.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I will never forget the day that my first Voyage LA article was published; the day after I closed my second yoga studio, Agni Yoga, located in West Hollywood. It was excruciating!!!! The last few months of my 3 year lease at that location were a roller coaster to say the least. As as business owner it was heart breaking as every fiber of my being wanted to continue, renew the commercial lease, but it was just not possible. As well, my father was very sick on the East Coast, I finally decided to finish out the lease and move back home to care for my father. The last weekend was especially sad, I let all studio members and Instagram know that the last Agni Yoga class would be 6:00 pm Sunday February 27, so if I am not mistaken, the date of my first Voyage LA article would have been published Monday February 28,2017. So much had transpired in my vacillating on whether or not to renew the lease, many trips across the country to visit and care for my father, traveling with Yoga Expo; I had sort of forgotten about the interview all together. Life was just moving so fast then, the last weekend I taught all Vinyasa classes which was 8, by Sunday evening I was beyond exhausted on every conceivable level. And it would be the last time I left that space that I had spent so much time and put so much love in creating, it was a very sad evening. I woke up to so many texts, “Ash! Your in Voyage LA!!” It could not have been more ironic, and I could not help but smile, at how beautiful and funny this world can be. Thank you again.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Yes, I think pivots are inevitable, in way life is the space between the pivots. I am proud of being able to shift, flow and be resilient in the pivots. For example, when I closed Agni Yoga, West Hollywood, in 2017, I lost the brick and mortar space when I did not renew the lease; obviously. Although I had zero legal obligation to honor class packages of students that had not made it before I closed, I did, I also love teaching. There was a park next door to my now former space, Plummer Park, in West Hollywood, I sent a mass email that I would be teaching there twice a day, and would honor any classes that were paid for, as well accept new students/ compensation for the “Plummer Park Yoga Classes”. Many people came, many were not happy being outdoors, but new students came JUST to practice outdoors, so it was cool to experience. I think we just always remain creative and prepared, everything is possible.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

The best source of new clients for me has always been word of mouth. I do believe in marketing oneself, Instagram and other social medias have also been helpful/ effective.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ashleycummings420.com
• Instagram: @venicecanalsyoga
• Youtube: @AshleyCummingsYoga