Conversations with Ashby Drake

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashby Drake.

Hi Ashby, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Growing up, I had a lot of energy and struggled with my ability to focus/quiet my overactive mind. My parents took a very natural, holistic approach to raising us, so they didn’t believe in using a medication to solve the issue. Instead, my mom made a conscious effort to help me release my pent up energy via movement and mindfulness activities. She started taking me to the only studio that offered yoga classes within 30 miles of my hometown when I was just a teenager. It was non-heated, very traditional hatha style classes and, to me, over all pretty slow, But it served as a great entryway into my practice and I saw the value in staying as consistent as my school and baby-sitting schedule would allow.. However, it wasn’t until I left for college and stumbled into a heated vinyasa class that it really clicked for me. I took one class, and fell completely in love. I had never felt so clear-minded, so connected to my own body, even after years of playing sports, running consistently and dabbling in every movement practice I had access to. I knew pretty immediately that I wanted to become a teacher. Soon after, I started teaching yoga at a small, local yoga studio in Louisville, Kentucky, where I completed my first 200 hour YTT. Having Lauren Eirk, the founder of that studio (which was called “Yoga Integrated Science” at the time) as a mentor inspired me to start thinking about one day owning a studio of my own at a very young age.

Fast forward, I ended up moving to Los Angeles and teaching at various studios all over the city from the age of 20 to 27. During these years, I started to notice a gap in the yoga community and it became very clear what I wanted the mission of “my yoga studio” (which was at the time still a complete fantasy) to be. I wanted to create a space for students to go when they were ready to dive deeper. Whether that was deeper into yogic philosophy, deeper into their physical practice, or to form deeper, more meaningful connections with their community and teachers alike. My teacher friends and I would get together and chat about the lack of connection and authenticity we were feeling not only to the communities but often times even to our own personal practices. Where did we go after we’d learned every set sequence many of the corporate studios required us to teach? How could we expand and learn new things when the culture was so heavily driven by numbers and valuing profitability, “brand consistency” and “accessibility” over encouraging growth and connection within their long-term communities that had been with them from the start?

In 2023, I began seeking out an investor to supplement the money I had spent years saving to open the space and finally, the stars aligned. With one small investment confirmed, I reached out to my friends Leila Rishwain and Ashley Turner and asked them to be on the core team. Leila and I had managed studios in a corporate chain at the same time and I would always crack jokes that I was opening my own space soon and she had to come with me. Lucky for me, she actually did. Ashley wasn’t a teacher but was an incredible designer and visionary (and one of my closest, life-long friends) and she accepted to join as our creative/marketing director (because, as you all can imagine, we all wear several hats when we’re in the early phases of a start up.) We got clear on the vision, and all agreed that we wanted to open a space focused on fostering deeper connections with ones community, offering the best yoga education possible and most importantly, a place practitioners can go when they’re ready to broaden their horizons in their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual practices.

I remember writing in one of my yearly “dream journals” a few years prior that I would open a yoga studio at 27 years old. We opened 10 days before my 28th birthday on October 7th, 2024…

Since opening, Satorii has blossomed into the home of the most incredible, deeply connected community, the highest quality, most authentic, kind instructors, and a space for people to explore the mind-body-spirit connection in new ways every time they step on their mat. We’re hosting our first 200 hour teacher training in January and hopeful to offer even more long-form educational programs for the new year to come to continue our mission of sharing the magic of this beautiful practice and supporting teachers and students alike in becoming the best versions of themselves both on and off the mat. In a world where many are looking for a quick fix or a magic pill – Satorii Yoga + Wellness just wants to continue holding space for students and teachers to fall more in love with their practices, their own bodies and feel supported by a community of like-minded movers and seekers. And we couldn’t dream up a better support system during this journey than we have today.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’d love to pretend it was smooth sailing after we finally got some financial support… But we had no idea what was coming our way. From landlords that weren’t ready to take a chance on a start-up (or wanted to see just how much they could get away with if they had given us the space…) to fighting with the city/building owners about getting permits for things that felt “make or break” for the business once we were finally locked into a lease – it was a whirlwind to say the least. The girls (Leila & Ash) and myself found ourselves constantly wondering how people willingly start businesses without being extremely passionate and driven by their mission statement because… We simply couldn’t imagine enduring some of the obstacles we encountered without pure, genuine love for what we were building.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a 500 hour E-RYT (Experienced registered yoga teacher.) and the CEO of Satorii Yoga + Wellness. I specialize mainly in creative vinyasa sequencing but I’ve also finished a 50 hour rocket training with David Kyle and a 500 hour training with Sri Dharma Mittra in New York City. I’m likely most known for my ability to build community and connect with my students as well as my “personality split.” (Students are often very surprised when they initially start practicing with me that I teach some styles in such a meditative, grounding manner, while I’m more commonly known for my ability to teach a very strong, vigorous flow.) Because of this, one of my favorite things to teach new teachers is how to create a specific tone for each of their classes and to become a versatile teacher that can’t be put into a box. (If you are confident, knowledgable about whatever lineage you’re teaching and authentic, you can be an incredible teacher of MULTIPLE styles of yoga. You don’t have to choose a path if you are diligent and focused.

I am currently most proud of the team we’ve built at Satorii as well as the community of students. Somehow, every class feels warm, educational, inspiring, playful, peaceful, meditative, healing… all at once, I don’t really know how else to describe them. It’s truly so special.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
One thing I always tell new teachers or current teachers that hope to one day open their own space is to find someone they resonate with first and foremost. If it’s a teacher training you’re seeking, ensure you LOVE the lead trainer(s) and have taken class with them!! Make sure they’re someone you hope to one day be similar to as that’s who you’re learning to, at least initially while you find your teacher voice, be quite similar to. If it’s a business mentor, take the owner of the studios classes!!! Connect with them and maybe even try to work at the space to see the inner workings of a yoga studio. Every day you go to work becomes a learning experience. You may not realize it in the moment, but the smallest things can make a huge difference to understand when you’re ready to make the jump yourself!

Lastly, be genuine. Be supportive of the small communities that you’re involved in. attend workshops, trainings and events. Be the student in class that you would want in your own class (Be respectful, listen to your teacher, connect with your peers.) And try to remember that your kindness and effort comes back to you. As long as you treat other studios, teachers, students with love and respect, you’ll have that same energy returned to you when you’re a teacher or studio owner too! 🙂

Pricing:

• intro offer $49 for 2 weeks unlimited
• monthly unlimited $199

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.satorii.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/satorii.studio
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/satorii
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/satorii-los-angeles

Image Credits
Yves Bright
Skye Miller