Today we’d like to introduce you to Kata Bilanchone.
Hi Kata, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started teaching yoga 10 years ago at only 20 years old. I studied in India for an entire summer where I fully immersed myself in Jainism. I was studying Jainism for a course I was taking in college as I had dived deep into Eastern Philosophy. My home studio of 7 years closed indefinitely during the pandemic and I was devastated. I lost my community and the classes I worked so hard to build.
Soon after I started teaching at Greenmonkey in Miami Beach. I quickly got involved in management, I took over their marketing, and created their first Teacher Training in years… little did I know that I would be buying the entire business and operation.
The owner at the time had become my mentor and he felt it was time to pass the baton over to me. Time was of the essence and I had to make a decision quickly so without any experience or foresight I bought a massive operation with over 25 employees. We had to relocate and face an entire build-out, all of which I had NEVER done before. As if all of that wasn’t risky enough I decided to REBRAND. I had a vision from Greenmonkey to Hanuman, the warrior God of India who represents fearlessness and GRIT.
We are now Hanu Yoga Studio, Hanu is short for Hanuman. I added new classes and brought in new exceptional talent. I brought in a Breath and Meditation class last March that no studio offered on a consistent basis. It has proved to be one of our most popular classes! We are MORE than just a trendy yoga studio, we are a place of HEALING.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It certainly was NOT smooth. I faced a lot of pushback from doubters and skeptics, fearful that at only 29 years old I’d fail. During relocation and build-out we were hit by a tropical storm. We sit in a massive flood zone in Miami Beach and to our dismay lost thousands and thousands of dollars of work. We had just installed new floors and so much water rushed in the floors were unsalvageable. I was so heartbroken and discouraged but I started over installing fresh new floors for the second time.
I had to learn to be a boss\leader and manage a staff of over 25 people, to keep the team motivated throughout the changes and challenges. I then had to brave a rebrand and do a huge marketing campaign to get the new name out there. It was a slow and challenging process but now everyone LOVES the story and sees the WHY behind Hanu.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Hanu Yoga Studio?
We were formerly Greenmonkey a business than ran strong for over 10 years but now we have evolved to Hanu, short for Hanuman the warrior God of India who is part human and part monkey. Hanu is unique in that we offer the MOST class styles and the MOST time offerings than any other studio.
Our mission is to be MORE than just another trendy yoga studio but to foster healing- on all levels. This is why you’ll find classes like Hatha, Stretch & Mobility, Breath & Meditation, Budokon, and more! We serve ALL demographics- not just the young and athletic. We have a beautiful community of people that range from all ages from their early twenties to individuals in their 70s. We feel that in all stages of life, we need community and a place to feel safe and seen.
A lot of studios now a day’s around the world can be so unwelcoming and intimidating to those who are not physically fit or young- and this is just heartbreaking. We want the world to know that Hanu is for EVERYONE in EVERY stage of life.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
That the healing arts such as yoga and Eastern practices are accessible to everyone in EVERY stage of life. I’d like to break out of the misconception that yoga is for the fit and healthy but rather yoga is the road to health.
Pricing:
- New Client Intro- 1 Month Unlimited $79
- Hanu Membership $133 a Month Unlimited (the BEST price in Miami Beach)
Contact Info:
- Website: Hanuyogamiami.com
- Instagram: @hanuyogamiami
Image Credits
Chris Bonilla
