Today we’d like to introduce you to Kata Bilanchone.
Hi Kata, 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 stumbled upon a yoga elective back in college and fell fiercely in love with the practice. So much so that I changed my entire degree to Easten Philosophy with a focus on Hinduism. Shortly after, my father passed unexpectedly and it allowed me to dive even deeper into my spirituality. It made me a better teacher, more compassionate and empathetic.
I took off to India for an entire summer to study Jainism, a minority religion in India. I completed my 500 Hour Master Teacher Training, now allowing me to certify others in the art of Yoga.
My home studio of seven years closed due to the pandemic and Greenmonkey Yoga quickly brought me over.
I loved everything about Greenmonkey and quickly found myself in a marketing position and then later in a management position. The owner at the time was to become my mentor.
Two years into teaching at Greenmonkey, a deal of a lifetime fell on my lap. My mentor offered to sell me the business. At first, I was paralyzed with doubt and anxiety.
But with his guidance, I accepted the offer and became the new sole owner of Greenmonkey Yoga Studio.
Everything happened so fast, scrambling to get a business loan, to sign a new lease in a NEW location.
I went from zero to 1000 it felt like!
We relocated to a bigger space, with over 4000 sqft, the biggest yoga studio in Miami.
I host Teacher Training, workshops, book clubs, and Yoga Retreats all over the world.
My next retreat is this October in Morocco.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not, there were times I thought I couldn’t turn this into a full-time career.
My most recent struggles have been learning to be a business owner, how to manage my employees and my teachers.
Owning a brick and mortar is so unbelievably stressful and yet so beautiful because I get to execute my vision.
I quickly learned that being a business owner is nothing glamours.
I’m the marketing girl and the tech department. I’ve spent countless hours painting, scrubbing the sidewalk of our storefront and etc etc.
From just teaching to full-on running a brick-and-mortar business.
As you know, we’re big fans of Greenmonkey Yoga Studio. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
The business itself has survived 12 years and I am beyond grateful to be the new owner carrying on its legacy.
We offer the MOST diversified yoga schedule meaning we offer more than just Power Yoga classes. We offer Yin, Restorative Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Stretch & Mobility, Breath Classes, and a soft flow we call Suave Flow.
Our most trending class is our Breath & Meditation class, it is quickly becoming our most popular class.
We offer workshops almost every weekend, we offer 200-Hour Teacher Trainings and Mentorship programs.
What I am most proud of is that all our teachers are different and unique while most yoga studios have a set sequence and all their teachers have to teach the same, we actually encourage all our teachers to be unique and to teach from a place of intuition.
No one class is alike, every class is a different experience.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love the culture and diversity! I’m so excited to see Miami grow given I was born and raised here. I love meeting all the new people who are moving here. Having a business on the beach I am constantly meeting transplants and they are say the same thing, Miami is the best place in the world. At first, it use to shock me but now I realize how beautiful our city is.
Pricing:
- New Students get one-month UNLIMITED for $79
- 6 Month Autopay is only $133
Contact Info:
- Website: Greenmonkey.com
- Instagram: @greenmonkeyyoga
Image Credits
Chris Bonilla @bonillavibes
