The Power of Being in Listening
A personal share from Humble Haven’s Marketing Manager, Hailey Yost
When I stepped into the role of Marketing Manager earlier this year, it felt like one of the most natural shifts in both my career and personal life. One of the first things I asked was if I could continue helping out as a member of the front desk team, a role I've enjoyed since finding Humble Haven back in 2018 while in college at VCU. I knew that being able to continue making face to face connections with those who entered the space each day would lend itself to helping me in this role. I am a firm believer that marketing a brand is only as successful as your ability to truly understand and connect with one’s community, and this is especially true in the wellness space.
So how does time spent checking students in for class, mopping the studio floors, and folding lavender towels allow me to better show up in my role of creating content that speaks to our past, current, and future students? It’s all in the listening. The chance to hear those seemingly small moments when a community member shares about how a teacher or class served their physical or emotional needs. As yoga students we all show up to our mats for a variety of personal reasons, but at the end of the day those reasons and results of showing up are universal.
A few months ago, I overheard a student on their way into class, speak to the importance of his Hamstrings + Hips + Spine practice. He mentioned the practice’s ability to “undo” and counterbalance the effects of working all day at a desk. After hearing this testimonial, I found myself reconsidering my own HH&S practice and the potential benefits that the class style could offer a typical Bootcamp/Power/Yoga Build attendee like myself. The chance to possibly “undo” some of what my body and mind were holding onto.
Fast forward a bit and I now weave in Hamstrings + Hips & Spine into my weekly class attendance. Incorporating another class style into my typical routine has offered me the chance to further diversify my practice, and slow down both physically and mentally on the days when my body needs it most. I find that in HH&S classes I put less pressure on myself to ‘get things right’ or achieve a certain level of fitness and rigor, thus offering my body and mind a deeper release and more “gentle” form of movement. I still love the way Bootcamp and Yoga Build offer a safe space to challenge and work my body, but I have come to realize the ease and release of a gentler practice is just as important.
It was a similar experience the first time I decided to try out Bootcamp a few years ago. Let’s be honest, just hearing that I needed running shoes to participate had me feeling intimidated! Little did I know Bootcamp would end up being a weekly staple for me, and possibly my favorite class on the days when I just needed to show up, move, and let my brain turn off. I am now a big advocate for the class and truly feel the ways in which it is founded in the Power Yoga practice, and how much stronger I have become because of it.
I know I am not the only student to find myself stuck in my class comfort zone. And all it took for me was hearing a first-hand testimonial to convinced me it was time to try something new. Honest feedback and sharing from students has allowed myself and my team members the chance to think more deeply about how we describe and share Humble Haven’s diverse offerings. Being in listening for what is needed or appreciated in the studio helps us tackle challenges head on, expand upon what works, and offer more meaningful connections to our members when they step through the door. It is what helped make it possible to grow and expand the studio’s physical space. It has helped us build a community within our studio, as well as on social media, and within the greater Richmond community.
Holding space and being in listening is just one of the many strengths I see from my team members at Humble Haven, and is a strength to be admired in any business, large or small. I share all of this with the hope that our students and community know and feel that they are heard each and every time they join us.
How to get started at Humble Haven Yoga
All of our classes are formatted to be accessible to all practitioners, and our teachers are equipped to offer modifications and amplifications for every pose to help meet you where you are each day. We often suggest that those who are new to vinyasa-style or new to heated yoga try our Power Down or Hamstrings+Hips+Spine offerings first, but encourage you to try each of our various class styles. Please reach out if you have any questions. We hope to see you soon!
Roll out your mat.
We’d love to invite you to join us and have shared two special offers below, for students brand new to us.