There is something profoundly peaceful about 136.1 yoga studio, located in Alwarpet and Nungambakkam, Chennai. Is it the light fragrance of candles or the soft chanting in the background? Is it the simple and soothing interiors or the view from the practice rooms? Is it the remnants of the chant still resounding in the rooms? It’s all of this I decided, as I spent an hour being cut off from the chaos that defines our daily life. The ambience definitely sells, which I learned is as important as the practice of yoga.
“The journey with yoga starts by exploring it for yourself,” begins Sheela Vishwanath, partner at the studio. Vishwanath, runs Orion health centre, which also teaches Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. Her partner Yashwant Saran was a part of the fitness industry as an instructor before he went for the teacher-training course at the Bihar School of Yoga in 2009.
Between the four partners, Saran manages the studio, Karthi Sekar manages the admin duties. Vishwanath handles the role of finding teachers for the different forms of yoga. Maitri Shah, who lives in Mumbai, handles the back-end operations and online tasks. In order to have a better perspective and to constantly innovate, none of the partners teach yoga at the studio, though they practice it.
The name refers to the ‘Om’ tone which is 136.1 hertz. The studio was set up in November 2010 in a 1,800 sqft space at Ispahani Centre, Nungambakkam. It received such an astounding response in four months that the directors decided to open another one in Alwarpet. “We provide a blend of good ambience and experienced teachers for different traditions and styles under the same roof,” says Vishwanath. They offer yoga for children and senior citizens too. “Value addition is important for people. So we constantly try to innovate,” says Vishwanath. Also, they address the retail needs of people by having a tiny shop and adequate parking space.
They want to take yoga to the youth, raise awareness about having a fit body, mind and spirit. Holistic fitness is not something a gym can give you, they believe. You can learn more about the studio and classes at www.136point1.com.
The perfect example of a bootstrap model, the four began with an investment of Rs 25 lakh. They recovered it in four months.
Their revenue sources are four, as described by Saran, “Subscription from group classes, paid personalised yoga sessions, dedicated workshops and lastly through our retail area, which sells soaps, mats, books, DVDs, and organic food.” Their annual membership costs Rs16,000 and a three-month membership is for Rs 9,000. For those with specific needs or those who cannot keep up with the pace of the group, personalised classes can be opted for. “We have proven that there is life in the model we have established. Now it needs to grow big,” says Saran, who hopes to open centres across India. “Yoga is a discipline that has withstood the test of time and has still not lost its essence. There is nothing new we are introducing. We are trying to take the discipline to the people in a new format, without compromising on the essence,” says Saran.
— preethi@newindianexpress.com