Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor O’Dore.
Hi Taylor, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I took my first Aerial Yoga class in college. I was overweight, drinking often, and eating poorly. I stumbled upon an aerial yoga studio, in awe at what I saw in the window. Something made me sign up for that class, even though I didn’t feel “ready”. Needless to say, I became obsessed. I quickly made it my entire personality… taking 3 classes a day for months. For the first time, I started taking care of my body for how I felt, instead of how I looked. I had to limit my drinking, because I couldn’t go to class hungover. I had to eat better, so I could have the energy to fly. I had to cross train with weightlifting and cardio, so I could be stronger and excel at my training.
At my peak of training, I was down 70 lbs and never looked or felt better in my life. Just as things were going really well, COVID19 hit. My beloved aerial yoga studio closed and I was forced to move back to Seattle. What I thought was the end, was actually just the beginning. During COVID, I was setting up my portable hammock and hosting “Open Air Aerial Yoga” outside. “Open Aerial” started to sound catchy. Once things opened back up, I started taking classes at Flightroom- Seattle’s chain of 4 Aerial Yoga studios and I’ll never forget when I received their email about their Xinalani Aerial Yoga Retreat + Aerial Yoga teacher training in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico where we are hosting our own retreat in May! I have never gotten my credit card out so fast in my LIFE! Xinalani was not only where I received my first of many Aerial Yoga teacher trainings, but also my first solo international trip. I have since practiced and taught Aerial Yoga retreats in Thailand, Singapore, Greece, Spain, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and the Dominican Republic.
Somewhere along the way, the dream of owning my own studio went from a daydream in my cubicle to a plan in action. I picked Huntington Beach to open Open Aerial after falling in love with vacations in Newport Beach, where I happily live. I call it my permanent vacation.
Once I got here, I continued with my “Open Air” events at farmers markets and beaches on weekends and evenings between shifts at my day job as a sign language interpreter. I wanted as many people to try Aerial Yoga as possible! Everyone who tried it got to give me their email and follow me on Instagram. I credit this grassroots work in the community for Open Aerial’s instant success, opening with 2x founding memberships as our goal!
Once we opened, I took it upon myself to master every aspect of digital marketing to keep our momentum strong. I dove into web design, SEO for yoga studios, and high-converting Meta ads so we could reach the right people at the right time.
Through targeted Facebook and Instagram ad campaigns, we attracted new students who not only booked a first class but became loyal members. I created content funnels that nurtured leads from their first click to their first hammock experience, and most importantly kept them because of our fabulous classes and teachers… the most important part.
In only 1.5 years, Open Aerial Yoga Huntington Beach has gained a loyal community that loves to share their experiences online. Our Google reviews, Instagram engagement, occasional viral video or segment on the Real Housewives of Orange County are testaments to how far my brand can reach.
Because of this success, I now offer consulting for other yoga and Pilates studio owners who want to fill their classes, grow memberships, and create a profitable, sustainable wellness business.
Whether someone’s goal is to experience the magic of aerial yoga here in Huntington Beach or to scale their own studio through proven marketing strategies, I’m passionate about helping them succeed.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The biggest struggles I had opening my business came from copying what everyone else was doing instead of learning how things work in the big picture and applying that to how I want my studio to run. The biggest example of this was that I thought since all the studios I worked at were on ClassPass, it must work. Right? Registering my business on the ClassPass app was a grave mistake that cost me thousands of dollars when I needed it the most and diluted the success of my launch. I also just charged what I saw other studios charging. Now I know that I need to know my own business’s numbers and charge accordingly. I also know now, from many studio owners telling me, that many studios website prices are either inflated to get a bigger payout from ClassPass, or diluted to be more competitive to book directly. Now that I understand what I need to charge in order to reach my own goals, I don’t care what other studios are charging and I know my target market.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Open Aerial Yoga?
Open Aerial Yoga is the 1st and only dedicated Aerial Yoga studio in Orange County. All of our classes use the aerial hammock as the ultimate prop. At Open Aerial Yoga in Huntington Beach, we have the yoga and Pilates classes you already love plus the added fun of the aerial hammock.
All the proven results of yoga and Pilates while cradled in a ballerina slipper pink cocoon.
It never gets old!
We are proud to be a beginner friendly aerial studio. Many people see aerial yoga hammocks and think of circus tricks, and we do have a couple advanced classes on the schedule, but we really hone in on brand new students who just want to use the aerial yoga hammock for yoga, Pilates, and sound healing. We are plus size friendly!
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
With the rise of AI and GLP1’s, the fitness industry is facing many new challenges. I know that a community based fitness class that yields real physical results cannot be replaced by AI nor GLP1’s, so I think being as authentic as possible with students and ensuring they get results will make boutique fitness experiences even more valuable.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://openaerialyoga.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/open.aerial
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-o-dore-995845106/
Image Credits
Kate Miller, Seattle Photographer
