Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Spearman.
Hi Lauren, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I started R&B Yoga in 2017 in Chicago, where I was born and raised. The concept stemmed from my love for yoga since the age of 14. I did yoga for mental reasons in middle school, and I enjoyed flowing in my room to R&B music. I started out the business by renting out a small studio in Chicago. By that summer I began hosting rooftop yoga classes in Wicker Park and was selling out every time! At the beginning of 2018, I had 2 sponsored classes by Macy’s and was motivated to expand to Los Angeles. I started teaching in LA during the Spring and Summer of 2018 at OUE Skyspace LA, on top of the U.S Bank Tower. My classes went very well at Skyspace and I was able to market their biggest yoga class with over 70 people in attendance. Since living in LA I have had partnerships with ARRAY, LA Phil, and TenTen Wilshire. I also have gotten the opportunity to teach private classes at Warner Records, ADCOLOR Futures Summit at the Spotify headquarters, Planned Parenthoods National Conference, & Black Women Animate at Cartoon Network.
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?
I started my business when I was only 23 and I am also a woman of color. I definitely thought I was underestimated in the business and yoga world at first. Since I was so young, I felt like I had to try even harder to gain partnerships with businesses in the beginning. I always made sure to have all of my business papers and insurances together just to prove to other owners that I was legit. Even though it was a struggle at first, I knew that starting my own business would inspire more yogis to create their own yoga following. Throughout my 5 years of owning R&B Yoga, I’ve had a lot of people of color reach out to me telling me how I inspired them to want to become a yoga teacher and start their own classes!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about R&B Yoga?
R&B Yoga is a pop-up yoga studio based in LA. Classes are taught to R&B and Hip Hop music. We also promote body positivity, welcome all levels, and encourage students to not take yoga so seriously. What makes R&B Yoga so special is that we make everyone in our classes feel invited and comfortable. We get many beginners who express that they never felt that yoga was for them because of the lack of representation in the yoga world. I am the most proud of the community I have created. I have had so many attendees approach me after class and just express how grateful they are to be able to do yoga with such a diverse group. R&B Yoga provides a fun and safe space for people to find peace of mind.
I currently host R&B Yoga class on top of the TenTen Wilshire Helipad in Downtown LA!
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Risk-taking is so important! You cannot be scared to take chances with your business. If I had not taken risks and put myself out there, then I would not be where I am today. I have taken many risks in my business! One that I can share is me putting myself out there to bigger companies. A lot of the venues I worked with and partnerships I received (in the beginning) was secured because I asked them myself. When I was looking at rooftops in LA, I reached out to every single rooftop I could find. I got a No from every single company except for OUE Skypace LA, the nicest rooftop of them all with an observatory deck. I didn’t even think that they would respond to me, but all I needed was that one Yes. That’s how I was able to teach on the 2nd tallest building in LA, and I wasn’t even from here!
Pricing:
- $40 Helipad Yoga Ticket
- $120 4 Class Pack
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rnbyoga.net/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rnbyoga/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RnBYoga/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsnEUGrOOHLHoUCH6ILAG2g
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-190679889
