June 24 changes my life ... again

June 24th marks the one-year anniversary of Hiatus 24. When we opened, it was pretty terrifying.  Classes were empty. I kept telling myself to be patient -this takes time.

I’m not going to pretend it’s all been a stress-free magical journey. It’s been scary, full of self-doubt. At times, I truly thought I’d ruined my family's lives. Who was I to open a yoga studio? I’m not even a yoga teacher! It made no sense. I actually thought, “Maybe I really am crazy?”
But here we are—one year in.

I LOVE THIS STUDIO. I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY. And I’m incredibly grateful for our teachers. I have a deep love and respect for each of them - they’ve taught me way more than just yoga and Pilates.

Casey, our joyous warrior, has been with me since DAY ONE. Finding great yoga teachers was so hard - I was getting discouraged. I scoured Indeed and stumbled across Casey’s resume. I loved her experience and her trauma-informed training. I reached out, and funny enough—she didn’t even know her resume was still posted. She wasn’t even looking for a job. But something about this felt right to her (THANK YOU, GOD).

She’s taught me the importance of resting your nervous system—something I had never even thought about. Turns out, it’s a really big deal. Casey always has amazing insight. She’s basically my personal guru and a pretty awesome yoga teacher.  She brought us authentic 26 & 2 practice and Hypnoyoga!  (Personal fave!) 

By August, things were still pretty bleak. Class attendance was low, and I was struggling to find a great Pilates teacher and a social media producer.

Then came Valeria.

I posted an ad  and in under 30 seconds, Valeria responded. Her resume was too perfect. Former barre studio owner, certified in Pilates, social media expert, AND a passion for photography? No way. I was sure it was a catfish situation. I suggested a Zoom interview first, just to be safe.

She popped onto my screen and was REAL—and fantastic in every way. She had just closed her barre studio and was at a crossroads. We found each other at the perfect time.
She jumped in and helped immediately. “No more free classes,” she said. “You need to generate revenue.” (Smart call.)

Running a business is a LOT—paperwork, new systems, bank forms, accounts for a million different things, dealing with the state… tedious stuff that I really don't love.

Sometimes it felt overwhelming, but Valeria’s mantra—“Just go step by step”—was exactly what I needed. So simple  - and yet so effective.  This step by step approach helps me daily  and I share with anyone who feels overwhelmed

Valeria made our social media cool and creative and “Hot Pilates” was a huge hit.

The three of us were a small but mighty team. But we needed another yoga teacher. Casey was in school and couldn’t teach ALL the classes. We needed a hard-core power teacher (not easy to find).

Then we got a single response: Aaron.

His resume was exactly what I was looking for—trained in Hot Core Power Yoga in Hawaii and the UK. He came in for his audition at ENERGY 100. I talk fast, but he gave me a run for my money!

At first, I was hesitant. I thought,  “He doesn’t seem like a yoga teacher… Is he really going to show up at 6:00 a.m.? He lives 40 minutes away!”

Then he stepped onto the mat.  BOOM -  He was a master teacher. So focused. So strong. His hands-on adjustments? Mind-blowing. I remember thinking, “Ohhh… THAT’S how you’re supposed to do that pose.” He’s one of the best technical yoga teachers I’ve ever seen.

Aaron taught me not to prejudge people. Not only has he never missed a class - he shows up an hour early… and makes me laugh all day.

With Aaron on board, our schedule finally felt complete: well-rounded, versatile, and elevated.

Then on Saturday, January 18th, my daughter,  Sofia’s 14th birthday - we hit our first waitlist class! (Valeria’s Hot Power Sculpt Pilates.) 

It finally felt like we were gaining momentum and maybe I wasn’t so crazy after all! 

Don’t get me wrong, We still have slow days. Every week, I wonder if anyone will show up. But we’ve come a long way. I can’t believe we’re hitting our one-year anniversary! 

So how am I celebrating?
A retreat in Bali? Um… no. I’ll be in surgery getting a hip replacement!

“I’m 50 and getting a hip replacement” might be the least sexy sentence I’ve ever said. But I’m SO excited. The fact that the surgery falls on the one-year anniversary has to mean something, right?

The first year was about building this business. Year two is about conquering the last major thing hurting my quality of life: chronic pain.

I’ve been through many transformations in the last 10 years—quit drinking, quit smoking, got fit, changed careers—and I did it all while in pain.

When I first got into fitness, I was all or nothing (always am). I dove in hard working out 7 days a week, I  LOVED IT.  Then the pandemic hit. The gyms shut down. I lost my stress relief.

So I started running. I never liked running. I 've never been particularly good at running  - But boom— I was a runner now!  I pushed too hard, too fast, and injured myself. And I never gave my body a chance to rest. I just kept going—boxing, HIIT, all while in pain. I just got worse and worse but I just pushed through. 

I was born with hip dysplasia - when I was a baby I had to wear shoes with a bar to correct it. BUT, I’ve always been tight, achy, in pain. I’ve seen every kind of doctor—MRIs, X-rays, therapy, steroids, anti-inflammatories. Never real solutions.During the Hiatus 24 renovation, the stress and costs ballooned. I remember one night lying on the  floor, in tears. 

“Why am I even opening a yoga studio when I can barely walk? Who’s going to want to come here—when the owner is writhing in pain?!”

Not exactly the best advertisement.

When we opened, I was embarrassed. I couldn’t do a lot of the poses. I was scared people would judge me: “She’s the owner? She can’t even do Standing Bow!?”

I’d feel the need to explain myself after class—just to make it clear the yoga wasn’t causing my pain, I already had it. Some people just nodded awkwardly, like, “Um… okay, lady.”

But the truth?

Nobody was judging me—I was judging myself.

That was my ego talking. Everyone else was focused on their own practice. This community has been nothing but supportive. In fact, I’ve come to realize that my struggles made me more relatable. Yoga can feel intimidating, so when the owner is tipping over and wobbling right alongside you, it actually takes the pressure off.

This place… this community… has reminded me of something important. Most of the “judgment” we fear is really just us judging ourselves. 

BUT the pain was becoming unbearable and I had to do something.

I found a new doctor. More X-rays. He couldn’t believe I was even walking. Bone on bone—both hips. He said I needed both replaced. I was thrilled. Honestly—I think I was the happiest hip replacement patient they’d ever seen.

I can’t believe I might finally be pain-free. I can’t believe the surgery is on June 24th.
Every part of my life is affected by this pain—sleep, sitting, walking, working out. I can’t even imagine what it’ll be like to live without it. But I’m ready. The sky’s the limit.

Funny thing is, I’ve been open about my hip at the studio—but I haven’t told a lot of my lifelong friends in NY and LA  and I’m. not sure why. They’re supportive and loving.  Not one person has said anything but totally positive things about opening the studio .  

SO again  it's my own self-judgment!  Maybe it makes me feel old. Maybe it’s imposter syndrome. 

But I’m done hiding. I’m going to tell everyone. I’m going to document it - raw and real and maybe it helps someone else take action to change something about their lives.

So yes—I’m 50. I’m having a hip replacement on the one-year anniversary of Hiatus 24. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Stay tuned.
xx,
Patty``