A Letter To Our Beloved Community
October 8, 2020
Dear Prana Community,
We are reaching out today to update you on the current state of our beautiful space. During the past 7 months, we have successfully connected online and become a fully functioning virtual studio. We are grateful to have stayed together and to have kept our physical practice space- especially as we have, heart-breakingly seen many local studios permanently close their doors.
Despite our best efforts and although we are grateful for how many of you do show up for classes, we have not had enough student retention to sustain the studio expenses. After 7 months of this deficit, we are about 2 months away from being unable to keep our studio space. I would rather alert you to this now, to give you opportunity to be part of the solution, than later when it’s too late.
Prana, as a business can go on virtually and on-demand without our space, but as you know, this space is truly our Sanctuary and has been the hub of our community for many years. We are blessed to have several community members come alongside to support us with a list of ways that you can help. Thank you to Shari Cohen, Shannon Green, Karen Linson, and Kelly Rolston for putting your hearts, minds, and resources together to support us and our community as a whole.
Here are some ways you can help:
Recurring Financial Gift*: Commit to 3 months of a recurring gift to get us over the hump.
-Or contact us to set up another amount. No amount is too small.
One time Financial Gift*:
-Online through Prana’s Venmo @PranaYogaCenter with the memo “Gift”
-Check made out to Prana Yoga Center with “Gift” in the memo and mailed to: 78 Broadway, Denville NJ 07834
*These contributions are considered Financial Gifts and are not tax deductible
Fund a class for another student. We have always provided partial and complete scholarships for people in need to take classes, workshops, and teacher trainings. By sponsoring a class, you are helping to support Prana’s instructors and meet our expenses.
Share our posts, classes, and special events on social media, through emails, and with friends.
Invite your friends. With virtual streaming, we are able to practice with people from all over the country! We now have regular students attending classes from Virginia, California, Arizona, and Tennessee. This is a great opportunity to meet up and take yoga classes with your friends and family during this time of separation. Make a yoga date!
Recommend. If you are financially unable to give, please write a testimonial for us or a review on Google or Yelp. These are invaluable to us and let prospective new students know how special this long standing community is.
Connect. Please come to class! Your presence matters. Support your instructors and your mental health by setting aside the time to attend class in person. On demand is a wonderful feature, but connecting in person is part of what makes this practice so powerful.
Have another idea? Please reach out. We would love to hear from you.
Missing your favorite instructors in person? Contact us to set up a private or semi private class in the studio!
Our community is essential.
Here are the things that we have done together to support our local community during this time:
Donation of $4,718 to the Interfaith Food Pantry
Assembled and donated nearly 400 headbands to local health care workers to alleviate the discomfort of long term mask use
Supported 2 local blood drives
Provided scholarships and discounts for Yoga classes to people whose financial circumstances have been affected by the pandemic
Began a book club
Along with Liz Harkins, hosted a series of Conversations around Whiteness, Racial Inequality, Privilege, and Bias
Facilitated a photo challenge supporting local businesses who were unable to transition to a virtual platform early in the pandemic
It is our deepest honor and privilege to be a part of your daily life and to practice alongside you. The power of community is so evident in times of uncertainty and we are doing our best to ensure that we can maintain our sanctuary for years to come.
With Gratitude,
Christy and April