Today we’d like to introduce you to Madi Dupont
Hi Madi, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m an MBA in Finance with a 35 year career in Marketing and Sales (Hallmark Cards, Disney, Universal Studios, The Jim Henson Co.) who discovered yoga in my 40’s. I had always assumed yoga was not much of a workout and only involved “boring” stretching. When I finally tried Vinyasa Flow with Yogaworks in 2003, I was amazed and hooked. It wasn’t long before I had completely given up running and the gym, my main workout prior to yoga, and was practicing yoga almost daily. Over the years I transitioned into consulting which afforded me the flexibility to take my yoga to the next level which was teacher training (2014) followed by teaching. Backing up slightly, during teacher training, I found the philosophy underlying yoga to be profound, and as I became more in tune with myself, I was drawn to more yoga and less consulting. Being in my 50’s at this point made my wonder how I could be on this earth so long and not have found spiritual meaning and awakening sooner. One day during one of my teaching gigs (PCT Buildings in El Segundo), one of my students suggested that I open a yoga studio. I asked her if she wanted to invest, and she said yes, so the rest is history. She became my partner and we started HOMTOWN Yoga.
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?
No smooth road here– We opened in September of 2019 after many delays (lease, construction, build-out, etc.) so we hadn’t really gotten off the ground yet when COVID shut everything down, March 16, 2020. Overnight, I became a pivot-master, figuring out the best platform for to go virtual, finding the best mic, lighting, etc., applying for PPP and other government support or grants, marketing in this new environment, exploring other ways to monetize teaching yoga and yoga philosophy, securing outdoor locations to offer our classes, re-opening and then closing again before finally reopening in March of 2021. I would say the true turning point bringing us more solidly out of the COVID nightmare was January 2023. Other challenges have involved learning about marketing for a local in-person business (vs big brand marketing) and boutique fitness nuances. For example, communicating our location easily in ads (we’re located on the literal corner of 5 cities: Westchester, Playa Vista, Culver City, Ladera Heights, Inglewood. For brick and mortar fitness, convenient location is key since it’s a place you’ll be visiting 2-3 or more times per week, and generally at busy times of the day. Another challenge has been better understanding the journey and personal challenges of our customer as they embark on achieving their wellness and fitness goals with yoga along with the commitment, time and energy it takes to succeed. People need support along the way to help keep life from getting in the way of getting to their practice consistently.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
What we really do is help people better their lives to become healthier and happier through yoga, the physical practice as well as the philosophy behind it which brings in mindfulness, meditation, and a focus inward. Our key offering is Vinyasa Flow Yoga. Vinyasa Flow links movement to breath through a dynamic sequence of poses that moves energy throughout the body. The smooth, continuous flow deepens breathing, increases endurance, and consistently tests the edge of your balance, strength and flexibility. This is the practice I fell in love with and that I’m still motivated to do pretty much daily for over 20 years now. We compliment our flow classes with Yin Yoga and Sound Healing both of which are more restorative and a great option for those looking to calm their nervous system while dropping into a state of ultimate well-being and ease. We bring variety to our community through pop-up classes such as Yoga Sculpt, YoBox, Yin + Massage, plus others. HOMTOWN Yoga is known for having a welcoming vibe where all ages, body shapes and cultural backgrounds will feel at home in a beautiful, modern and always clean environment. Our teachers are very experienced and also welcoming at the same time.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
As we moved through the COVID experience, clients’ goals went from becoming more fit to decreasing stress, to becoming and feeling healthier. The boutique fitness and fitness industry in general is heading towards offering greater wellness through services beyond just fitness. For fitness business with the space, it might be adding a cold plunge service or infrared therapy. For example, we are just beginning to offer nutrition coaching as a step in this direction.
Pricing:
- We offer autopay memberships as an options with the greatest value per class and as a way for our clients to commit to themselves and their journey. Beginning and keeping a new yoga habit is not easy but the greatest benefits come with consistency.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://homtownyoga.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homtownyoga/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HOMTOWNYoga
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/h%C5%8Dmtown-yoga-los-angeles-4?osq=homtownyoga
