We recently connected with Gillian St. Clair and have shared our conversation below.

Gillian, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you scale up? What were the strategies, tactics, meaningful moments, twists/turns, obstacles, mistakes along the way? The world needs to hear more realistic, actionable stories about this critical part of the business building journey. Tell us your scaling up story – bring us along so we can understand what it was like making the decisions you had, implementing the strategies/tactics etc.

How did I scale up? I’m not sure if I scaled up financially much because when I started Steadfast and True Yoga everything was much more affordable, and even though it was always expensive to be a small business owner in Nashville it can seem almost impossible now. But I know for a fact the quality of our offerings is so much more now than it was. When I opened Steadfast I was still very young in everything, experience, wisdom, compassion weren’t qualities I had. 13 years later I know some stuff.

I know I can’t do it all on my own, I have an amazing studio manager Mary Beth and great teaching staff who truly knows not just my vision for the studio and how we can share yoga respectfully and safely. Both Mary Beth and I also teach weekly and are present in the studio so we have an understanding of what our teachers are going through and we are present to listen to the community and our students. I think it would be impossible for me to be an absentee owner and still respect myself.

I’ve learned a lot about boundaries and unfortunately had to learn those lessons the hard way. I never wanted to be the bad guy or an authority figure and I truly thought there was a way to be everyones friends and own a business. Now I know I can’t nor do I need to be everyones friend but I can still be kind while keeping the studio a safe place to practice and teach in.

I suppose my “Scaling up story” is just continuing education in my craft, and my communication skills in my relationships. I of course also believe in what our studio has to offer and know that value of the many practices of yoga, the magic, the practicality, the wisdom and the continuation of respectfully sharing with Nashville and beyond.

I still get to do what I love, I am here and I am happy.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hi, my name is Gillian St.Clair and I opened Steadfast and True Yoga in September 2010. I started yoga when I moved to Nashville TN from Seattle WA. I had been a dancer in my youth and was looking for something to fulfill my need for movement but also need for community and a sense of belonging. I was and lonely, a bit lost and yoga was an endless supply of study.
I got into the industry because I loved teaching yoga and the studio I was working at was closing, I also felt strongly about having a home base for all my students and colleagues.

Our studio provides various forms of yoga, Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Yin, Restorative, Slow Flow, Mobility, Short forms, Meditation, Basics etc. I am most proud of how skilled and kind all of our teachers are, we have an amazing Yoga Teacher Training Program, 200hr and 300hr continuing education program. I love that we are able to offer scholarships and affordable pay what you can classes. I believe that this is a safe space for people to explore the benefits of yoga, We are into learning (not just flow and go) and we strive to provide honesty and authenticity as well as a huge emphasis on honoring and understanding yoga it’s history and lineage. We not going to tell you that this is the right way, but we will walk along side you as we figure out a way for you to find some space to move, breath, think, or even think less and just rest.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Word of mouth, We keep it old school, sure we have social media but kinda wish we didn’t need to rely on it to stay relevant. We gain one student at a time and they stick around and share us with their friends. We try to stay away from gimmicks and special tricks to get students through the door. I feel icky when I think I’m doing something for financial gain so I inadvertently sabotage myself on the money front. Don’t look to me to build a business but feel free to ask me about my joy and peace of mind.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

We’ve had to move the studio 3 times and navigated through the pandemic, our name explains a lot of who we are. Steadfast; constant, unwavering, faithful, uninterrupted, still.

There is no one story that can express our resilience we are the story. I opened this studio with a 10k loan and never looked back, For me I never thought it wouldn’t work, it had to work. We provide a valuable and needed service if we weren’t here it would suck. So we stay as long as we can.

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: steadfast_and_true
• Facebook: Steadfast and True Yoga
• Twitter: gross, no