BUSINESS: Yoga studios find right chemistry

By Victoria Hurley-Schubert, Staff Writer
   Chakras, or energy centers, are in line at two local yoga centers to create a business collaboration that is balanced and satisfying for their customers and each other.
   Princeton-based Wild Child Yoga and Skillman-based Princeton Center for Yoga & Health (PCYH) have joined forces to offer more classes and better serve their students, from infants to seniors.
   ”We teach all types of yoga as well, but children are our focus, pre- and post-natal,” said Justine Thomson Busch, owner of Wild Child Yoga, which opened at the Princeton Shopping Center in May 2010.
   Deborah Metzger, founder and director of the Princeton Center for Yoga & Health (PCYH) in Skillman was looking to expand her class schedule and Wild Child was looking to meet new clients.
   ”When we learned Wild Child had opened we were looking to keep a prenatal class going, and a lot of the women had started having children since they started coming here,” said Ms. Metzger, who now offers more than 50 classes per week. “Why should we be duplicating our services? Wild Child specializes in kids yoga and pre- and post-natal, so initially we started cross-referring.”
   PCYH, which is entering its 14th year in business, offers yoga classes for all ages and ability levels with some 50 classes a week. “We’ve had classes from pre-natal all the way up to seniors, but we’ve sort of separated this out,” said Ms. Metzger. “We decided to first cross refer to each other and then I was thinking a lot of people have been asking, ‘we want to take more classes and we want more times available, can you do something with another location?’ and I said let me just talk to Justine and see if we can have this collaboration.”
   As a student at PCYH, Ms. Busch welcomed the possibility.
   ”We’re cross-promoting, so people that come to (Wild Child) learn about us,” said Ms. Metzger. “Wild Child is new and we have a reputation, so people are learning about Wild Child through our publicity. It’s really a beautiful collaboration in terms of us supporting each other.”
   Competition isn’t a worry for these yogis, who each have their niche markets. “It’s not a competitive activity any way, so there’s not much of a point in competing with other studios,” said Ms. Busch.“”
   ”It works out,” said Ms. Metzger. “There’s not ‘this is my student, this is your student.’”
   Classes at Wild Child are six to 14 students. At PYH, they generally have eight to 10, with up to 26 in their space, which is much larger than Wild Child’s.
   ”I decided I would hold some of my adult classes here,” said Ms. Metzger. “I sent my teachers over, advertise it and anyone that purchases packages can come here for those classes. It makes it really convenient and there’s more teachers.”
   The ability to have more teachers adds more variety for the students with additional classes and times at two locations. This additional class time allows more teachers to work, developing their skills and a following.
   Collaborating and sharing space is also advantageous for the owners, who get to practice their craft as well. “I don’t practice a lot in my own studio, and since I have been having some adult classes coming in, I have an opportunity to take those classes, which I wouldn’t otherwise do,” said Ms. Busch.”’’”
   ”It’s an opportunity for them to have their own class at a time when people are really going to take the class,” said Ms. Busch.”’’”
   They have their logos and links on each other’s websites, e-mails and word-of-mouth advertising.
   The ladies are still working out some of the administrative processes, like registrations. “So far, people are just starting to find it,” said Ms. Metzger. “It’s still brand new.”
   Ms. Busch started Wild Child last May after practicing yoga for more than 12 years. “I’ve got two small boys, one is 5 and the other 7 and I’ve done yoga with them since they were babies and I thought there’s something to this,” she said.””
   Wild Child offers teen yoga, mother-daughter classes and even instruction for 2 and 3 years olds. “It’s like going to a music class or a dance class, they know the drill and their parents are here with them, it’s not a drop-off class, they are practicing with their caregiver or mom or dad.”
   Yoga can be a great stress reliever, even for children, said Ms. Metzger, and there is a style to fit every person.
   Classes at either studio cost between $14 to $18 per hour. Pre-natal classes are an hour and 15 minutes and cost $20 each. Three-hour workshops cost about $60. There are some packages available.
   ”Yoga is about self study and learning more about yourself,” said Ms. Metzger. “If you get your mind quiet, and yoga is a way to do that, you really get to know yourself.”