BeneFIT’s Closure
BeneFIT closed its doors before midnight on January 1st, 2023, as the landlord demanded it do so. Come the end, the landlord, the leasing agent, and property manager completely ceased all communication with me, not even responding to my requests to buy any extra time in the space. I do not fault any of them as they had full rights to do as they did. In fact, it was only with the landlord’s willingness to work with me through and since COVID by allowing me to pay minimal rent to him that BeneFIT was able to remain open for business at all. Though there have been times that I was late in paying rent, there is no back rent due and I always paid as agreed. The tradeoff was that BeneFIT brought foot traffic to the center on a daily basis, something that’s very important to the health of the other tenants in a center and the center overall. Apparently, this and the small amount of income to him was no longer worth it.
Benefits of Collaborative Tenants in a Shopping Center
Many factors go into choosing a location for a brick and mortar business one of which is the added exposure generated by other tenants with similar clientele. There were many years in which BeneFIT operated in that location without any other tenants in the building it occupied. BeneFIT took a big hit when its neighbors, first the daycare center and then the organic cafe, closed. While other tenants, an HVAC parts and supply store, a quilting store and a start up church, moved in for a short period of time, there was very little benefit to be had by the lack of common interest in the clientele. So it was great when Pikopye’s Town, a playscape where young children and their parents have the ability to play and work/relax on their own, finally opened it’s doors for business right next to BeneFIT in mid December. The way in which these businesses could work together has a lot of potential. So much so, in fact, that the owner of Pikopye’s Town, was very disappointed to see BeneFIT close it doors.
Potential New Bikram Yoga Studio in Lakeway?
Two of BeneFIT’s teachers had explored the potential of reopening a studio in the same space and even submitted a letter of intent to the landlord to lease the space. They took into consideration all the factors involved in opening, owning and running a yoga studio and ultimately decided the risks were too great. Meanwhile, the owner of Pikopye’s Town was feeling the loss of BeneFIT closing and reached out to me to see about the potential of me reopening BeneFIT by subletting through her if she were to take over that space. While acknowledging that all possibilities for the future exist, the intention was for her to be able to lock up the space for the expansion of her business in time, which she projected to be six to twelve months. I have been greatly feeling the shock and costs to BeneFIT’s community and me for my lack of preparation for a smooth closing of BeneFIT’s doors and was happy to be given the opportunity to clean up my mess with the clients and community and I seriously considered this potential. It would be very easy and quick for me to reopen there with minimal upfront costs to clean up the space and improve the systems already there.
What’s Next?
She submitted a letter of intent to lease the space to the landlord and was consulting with her accountant and investor while I went back to my original business plan to review, revise and rework the numbers so that they could reflect the current business environment including the damage done with the abrupt closing. The other two parties on her side didn’t like the idea and nor did my soul. It is time for me to move on to whatever’s next for me and my brand, BeneFIT. Ending that chapter of owning and operating a physical brick and mortar business is clearly the right thing for me. I can’t go back, even for just the six months to a year I’d need to clean up the mess and have the time to find or build a new location, doing what I’ve already done in the way that I’ve done it in the past. I have exhausted my resources (time, energy and finances) in keeping it open much longer than I should have. I feel deeply the pain and suffering by BeneFIT’s community in the loss of its sanctuary and that’s the main reason behind my consideration of reopening. My soul is calling me to bring my other interests, skills, gifts and talents that I’ve been developing over the years, some of which are available via the website, to the world beyond just the local area. I feel all of this with a heavy heart that is already looking toward a new future with courage enough to step into the unknown territory ahead of me.
Refunds
I have personally reached out to each of BeneFIT’s members who had an active package on January 2, 2023, and are therefore due a refund. I initiated a text (or email if the account in PocketSuite was established using an email address instead) from BeneFIT’s phone number in the PocketSuite app (512-572-3989) with information about the the unused time and/or classes on the package as of the date the studio closed, January 1st, 2023. If you did not receive the text via SMS, please open the PocketSuite app and look for the message in there. Many students decline the notifications in the app when they set it up on their phones and, if that’s the case for you, you’ll need to actively look for the message inside the app. Though I have done my best to be as thorough as possible, there is a chance that I have missed someone and their package. If you’re one of them, please send a text to me at 512-572-3989 and let me know.
Many of you were very kind and waived the need for the refund. Thank you very much for that. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the acknowledgement of any service rendered above and beyond just the classes provided and the gratitude expressed, whether it was just in words or by allowing me to keep the money as many of you did. Thank you.
I have initiated the withdrawal of funds from my retirement account to be able to cover all the refunds necessary. That money should be in my account on Monday, January 23rd, or Tuesday, January 24th, at the very latest. As soon as the funds are present, I will refund the monies to the credit card used for the purchase. If that will not work for you, please let me know so that we can work out another method.
Were You Contacted?
A few of BeneFIT’s clients were contacted by the teacher(s) who were exploring opening a studio in wake of BeneFIT’s closing, or someone on behalf of them, to verify their contact information. This was done without my awareness or permission. Setting aside how this made me feel when a client pointed it out to me, please know that while the contact information was taken from my business software, they did not have access to your credit card information, birthdate, or social security information. Your identity has not been compromised and remains fully in tact. I, and I’m sure they, apologize for any uneasiness this may have generated in you.
What’s in Your Future?
I have devoted over 20 years to practicing and mastering the teaching of Bikram Yoga. I believe that the regular practice of Bikram Yoga is one of the cornerstones in the foundation of a healthy and happy life. I have yet to experience anything that so effectively heals and aligns the Body – Mind – Spirit triad that’s required for true health and happiness. It’s brilliant and I love teaching it. I know that there are several of BeneFIT’s members that have, or had, wanted to do the teacher training that I developed and only offered once, in the beginning of 2020. This is one potential facet of BeneFIT’s future that I have not ruled out.
New teachers would be required to open a new or reopen the studio and I would be fully onboard with leading another such training. If someone or a group were to come together with the desire and intention to open a yoga studio, especially one aligned with BeneFIT’s mission of helping people create a healthy body, healthy mind, and a truly happy life, I would be very happy to collaborate in support of their vision. Please keep this in mind as Bikram Yoga will forever be a part of my life.
A Note about Bikram Choudhury
I am very grateful to Bikram for having brought his beginning yoga class to the world. It has made a tremendous difference in the quality of my life and that of hundreds of thousands, if not more, others all over the world. His formula is brilliant and should remain unchanged. A few people have asked me in the past and even recently as to whether Bikram has or does receive any of the monies paid to BeneFIT by its clientele. The answer to that is no. I did not partake in the franchise that he created around the time I opened my studio. I paid him $5,000 for my teacher training tuition in fall 2001, shortly after 9/11, and paid the appropriate fees and dues for the recertifications, advanced seminars, and tour to India that I attended over the years. I have donated my time and energy at several of his teacher trainings and in the beginning of the yoga competitions. I do not appreciate or condone any of his inappropriate behavior or actions involving women and learned long before I opened my studio to not get entangled with him in any way shape or form.
My Love & Prayers to You
Thank you for taking the time to read through all of this. I wish you the best in all of your future endeavors and hope that our paths will cross again in the future. I am devoted to helping heal the world one person at a time, supporting those who wish to work with me to create healthy and happy lives that they truly love living. I am looking forward to having the time to develop more ways that I can support you and the world at large. May it be with the blessings of the Universe that all that we do benefit each of us in our Spiritual growth, awareness and understanding.
Namaste