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Each week the Free Press profiles a local business that has used resources provided by the Business Incubator Center, a nonprofit organization that provides entrepreneurial assistance to new and expanding Mesa County businesses.
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — When Tess McInnis moved to Grand Junction, she searched for two things: a job and a hot Vinyassa yoga studio.
There are at least four different yoga studios in the valley, but none was exactly what McInnis, 30, was accustomed to, she said.
Since 2001, McInnis has practiced what she calls Vinyassa yoga, a fast-paced, flowing type of yoga.
“I wanted to start a yoga business of the style I do,” she said.
McInnis signed up for a basic business class at the Business Incubator Center, a nonprofit located on the banks of the Gunnison River just past the Orchard Mesa Cemetery. The center offers a variety of entrepreneurial services to new and expanding businesses.
Staff at the Incubator helped McInnis with her business plan. She also learned about taxes and licensing.
“I’d meet with them once a week,” McInnis said. “They’d look at what I’d done, make suggestions, guide me to what to do next.”
McInnis moved to Grand Junction in September 2007, and by June 2008 had opened her Yoga: Vinyassa studio at 2500 Broadway, Suite D, in the Albertson’s shopping center.
“Here (yoga) is a full-body workout,” where people are not afraid to get sweaty, McInnis said.
The studio is heated to between 96 and 100 degrees.
“We have a lot of athletes. We have big-time runners, a lot of skiers. We have a lot of guys who love it,” McInnis said. “Business is up every month.”
While the majority of classes are intensely cardio-based, McInnis also offers restorative classes twice a week at a slightly lower temperature.
She teaches classes seven days a week and also conducts a teacher-training series at the studio. McInnis hopes to have three newly certified teachers by March.
One of those future teachers will likely be Danny Paulson.
“I’m doing the training to bump my practice up a bit and hopefully teach once a week,” Paulson said.
Paulson, 28, has practiced yoga for 10 years. He adopted hot yoga last summer.
“I really enjoy the Vinyassa flow that Tess teaches there,” Paulson said. “It’s very intense. It’s brought me more in touch with myself, both physically and mentally.”
McInnis attributes her business success to the Incubator.
“I couldn’t have done it without them,” she said. “They give free counseling. In my opinion it’s the best business resource in the valley.
“I’m very impressed with how intelligent and experienced the people are at the Incubator. These are people who know what they’re talking about.”
For more information about Yoga: Vinyassa, visit the Web site: www.yogavinyassa.com or call 424-5116.
For more information about the Business Incubator Center, 2591 B 3/4 Road, call 243-5242 or visit: www.gjincubator.org.
Reach Sharon Sullivan at ssullivan@gjfreepress.com.
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — When Tess McInnis moved to Grand Junction, she searched for two things: a job and a hot Vinyassa yoga studio.
There are at least four different yoga studios in the valley, but none was exactly what McInnis, 30, was accustomed to, she said.
Since 2001, McInnis has practiced what she calls Vinyassa yoga, a fast-paced, flowing type of yoga.
“I wanted to start a yoga business of the style I do,” she said.
McInnis signed up for a basic business class at the Business Incubator Center, a nonprofit located on the banks of the Gunnison River just past the Orchard Mesa Cemetery. The center offers a variety of entrepreneurial services to new and expanding businesses.
Staff at the Incubator helped McInnis with her business plan. She also learned about taxes and licensing.
“I’d meet with them once a week,” McInnis said. “They’d look at what I’d done, make suggestions, guide me to what to do next.”
McInnis moved to Grand Junction in September 2007, and by June 2008 had opened her Yoga: Vinyassa studio at 2500 Broadway, Suite D, in the Albertson’s shopping center.
“Here (yoga) is a full-body workout,” where people are not afraid to get sweaty, McInnis said.
The studio is heated to between 96 and 100 degrees.
“We have a lot of athletes. We have big-time runners, a lot of skiers. We have a lot of guys who love it,” McInnis said. “Business is up every month.”
While the majority of classes are intensely cardio-based, McInnis also offers restorative classes twice a week at a slightly lower temperature.
She teaches classes seven days a week and also conducts a teacher-training series at the studio. McInnis hopes to have three newly certified teachers by March.
One of those future teachers will likely be Danny Paulson.
“I’m doing the training to bump my practice up a bit and hopefully teach once a week,” Paulson said.
Paulson, 28, has practiced yoga for 10 years. He adopted hot yoga last summer.
“I really enjoy the Vinyassa flow that Tess teaches there,” Paulson said. “It’s very intense. It’s brought me more in touch with myself, both physically and mentally.”
McInnis attributes her business success to the Incubator.
“I couldn’t have done it without them,” she said. “They give free counseling. In my opinion it’s the best business resource in the valley.
“I’m very impressed with how intelligent and experienced the people are at the Incubator. These are people who know what they’re talking about.”
For more information about Yoga: Vinyassa, visit the Web site: www.yogavinyassa.com or call 424-5116.
For more information about the Business Incubator Center, 2591 B 3/4 Road, call 243-5242 or visit: www.gjincubator.org.
Reach Sharon Sullivan at ssullivan@gjfreepress.com.
