We were lucky to catch up with Meghan Foley recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Meghan, thanks for joining us today. Let’s jump right into the heart of things. Outsiders often think businesses or industries have much larger profit margins than they actually do – the reason is that outsiders are often unaware of the biggest challenges to profitability in various industries – what’s the biggest challenge to profitability in your industry?

I’ve worked in the yoga industry for 15 years as a yoga instructor, director of operations, co-owner, and mentor. From day one, I have believed in the ethos that when we all do better in this industry, we all do better. I’ve been fortunate to work alongside other yoga studio owners and managers who feel the same way. We share notes, challenges, and wins because this business is inherently challenging to navigate due to its low margins.

What feels uniquely difficult about the wellness industry is that, as wellness professionals, we must always walk the fine line of making smart business decisions that will keep the doors open, without losing the authenticity, charm, and personal touches that initially drew customers to our studio. I always say that the yoga industry is like a unique puzzle—there is never a demand issue. People know yoga works, and they want it. However, customers often feel like they are paying too much, teachers rarely get paid enough (certainly not enough to live off of), and studios frequently struggle to be profitable because of the sheer overhead needed to run a brick-and-mortar business. Even with multi-use spaces like massage rooms, childcare, and cafes, studios still face a utilization issue.

As both a yoga instructor and the director of operations, I have always felt uniquely positioned to see things from both the independent yoga instructor’s perspective as well as what will keep the business open. I think it’s critical to maintain integrity and ethics in all industries, but there’s an added obligation in industries that teach integrity and values—like yoga, religion, and education. The list of yoga teachers who have fallen from grace due to their hypocritical and unethical behaviors is long. That’s why I’ve made it my personal mission to infuse everything I do—whether as a yoga instructor, director of operations, or now in my new role as director of marketing and programming at a private social club—with integrity.

Meghan, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

When I was 11 years old, my dad took me to weekly yoga classes with a Swami. I didn’t know what yoga was, but I remember loving how I felt in the presence of this sweet, elderly man with perfect posture, who wore all orange—down to his socks! We would do an hour of gentle yoga, fall asleep in Savasana, and then, the best part (and most likely, how my love for yoga was secured), my dad would take me out for cheesecake afterward.

Fast forward to college, where I started taking weekly yoga classes that piqued my interest and led me to sign up for a summer intensive 200-hour yoga teacher training. I couldn’t get enough. I began teaching as much as I could, fascinated by the deeply resonant ancient teachings that felt as relevant today as ever.

In my early 20s, I suffered debilitating nerve damage in my wrists, which prevented me from doing the type of yoga I had come to love. This led me to look deeper into the practice of yoga, going beyond the postures and back to the philosophy. It was this journey that eventually led me to yoga therapy—a one-on-one approach that takes into consideration a person’s health history, injuries, goals, and their mental, spiritual, and emotional health.

At a very young age, I started devouring all the wisdom I could get my hands on: signing up for extensive anatomy trainings, learning Ayurvedic medicine, and becoming pelvic floor yoga therapy trained to specialize in pre- and postnatal students. I went on to develop my own teacher trainings and have consistently taught group and individual yoga classes and workshops for the last 15 years.

What sets my brand apart is my extensive training and ability to make complex concepts digestible and approachable—without watering down the ancient philosophy. Early on, a mentor told me that yoga students come to our classes “to be seen, heard, and touched, and that it’s very possible you are the only person who has said their name today and asked them how they are.” That has always stuck with me. People love a great yoga class with an amazing sequence and a cool playlist, but more than anything, they will remember how you made them feel.

For the last 10 years, I managed a 60-employee prenatal and postpartum yoga, education, and wellness center. It is rare for yoga instructors to make a living solely by teaching yoga, and most typically have other jobs. I felt fortunate to have a full-time position within the yoga umbrella, but it did not come without its challenges. I had the unique opportunity to see firsthand how challenging it is to run a studio, and given my background, it was critical to me that the quality of our service stayed high, while also ensuring that the business remained profitable.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I worked exclusively in the health and wellness industry for 15 years, and then I received an offer to be the Director of Marketing & Programming at a private social club. My friends and family had a hard time making the connection and asked me what I was doing. While I may no longer be able to wear yoga pants to work, I don’t find these roles all that different when I really think about it, because at the end of the day, I’ve been in the people business my entire life. Actively listening to clients, making people feel seen, heard, and appreciated, approaching problems from a place of logic and fairness, giving people the benefit of the doubt, being present—these are skills that translate across industries.

I used to put so much emphasis on a prospect’s resume, credentials, and hard skills, but what I’ve learned after managing people for 10 years is that you can’t teach hospitality. You can teach the small things that make a room or experience feel hospitable—like lighting candles and getting the music and lighting just right—but I can spot from a mile away if someone has the hospitality gene. That’s what I hire for on the spot.

Now that I’m in marketing and overseeing all of the club programming for our members, I’ve never before had my ability to hold space, make people feel comfortable and welcome, and show them that I care come in so handy. And for that, I have my years of yoga experience to thank.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Early on in my yoga career, my dad told me that he was proud of the path I had chosen, but that I needed to prepare myself to witness many of my peers—who had chosen other careers—make a lot more money than I would. However, he reminded me that I would have something many people never get: a career that feeds my soul, is purpose-driven, and deeply meaningful.

What he said stuck with me, but I was never satisfied with the idea that if people were consistently saying that yoga and their yoga instructors changed their lives, fixed their back pain, made them happy, etc., why should yoga instructors—who were clearly adding enormous value to their communities—have to work for so little?

Thus began my quest to acquire as many trainings and skillsets as possible, to not shy away from the business side of things, to engage in hard conversations, and to think innovatively. While there were many years where I barely made enough to get by, deep in my soul, I felt like I was preparing for something great with all of this extensive study. And I didn’t limit my learning to just yoga; I expanded by taking accounting courses, meeting with retired business mentors, and persevering.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://meghanfoleyyoga.com
• Instagram: @meghanfoleyyoga
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghan-foley-b2675862/

Image Credits

Mahowald Photography (business headshot and 3rd photo on second slide)

Sarah Hrudka (first two photos on 2nd slide)