Local Yoga Studio Looks to GoFundMe to Avoid Bankruptcy

Yoga State has been a haven – a place of healing and a workout for both the body and mind – for thousands of local residents since November of 2006, but this family-run business with locations in East Lansing and Okemos is on the brink of bankruptcy. Yoga State is asking for help to keep its doors open by launching a GoFundMe. It’s a request owner Jennifer Hayes is not used to making.

“We’ve never asked for anything before, so emotionally, this was hard. It’s not the way I would like it,” Hayes, a single mother, said. “I like to work hard, and support myself, and give instead of asking.”

The fundraising campaign has a goal of $32,000 to keep Yoga State open. To keep both locations open, they would need closer to $60,000. This attempt follows a misstep which led the first campaign to a costly error.

“My daughter set up the first GoFundMe in July, and we didn’t realize that there was a cutoff date. So on Thanksgiving morning, we got all these notifications that everyone had been refunded.” In this second go-round attempt, the pair selected to have donations deposited frequently into their account as the campaign carries on.

All in-person classes were canceled in mid-March when Yoga State closed its doors due to pandemic-related restrictions. Aside from a short stint in August when they were temporarily able to operate face-to-face classes, Yoga State’s doors have been closed.

Saturday, Jan. 16 at their Okemos location marks the first day group classes will be available again, now that restrictions are being lifted. Even that temporary ‘win’ feels a bit strained though, since Hayes received a letter from her Okemos landlord dated Jan. 8, requiring her to pay $30,000 or they would proceed with eviction within seven days. Seven days from the postmarked date would be today, Jan. 15. Hayes’ landlord did not return her calls, so she is unaware of additional details.

“My attorney basically said ‘if you don’t pay that, because Yoga State is one entity, we would have to file bankruptcy, it would be a ripple effect, and shut everything down.’” The attorney, a friend of Hayes, a fellow yogi, is donating his time to assisting her in the case.

Hayes opted out of initially offering online yoga classes to students and said the plethora of free online yoga classes on YouTube, combined with other local studio offerings provide enough support. After her mother was diagnosed with a fast-paced dementia, Hayes also became a full-time caregiver and hasn’t made time to offer online yoga classes.

“It’s just a lot to transform everything to online, I’m just not a screen person,” she said. “I’m not a techy person. That was a difficult thing for me in general, and it’s actually a lot more work than people realize to figure out how to do it, and the quality of it.”

In honor of the fundraising campaign, Hayes is offering her first Zoom – a special donation-based yoga class – to the public on Friday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. While the physical studio is reopening in Okemos on Saturday, Jan. 16 to try things out, the East Lansing location will remain closed for at least the next two weeks. Safety procedures limit nine people in the yoga room, and eight people in the spin room.

While Yoga State is usually a peaceful, transformative space, dealing with one hurdle after another has left the business in somewhat of a frenzied state.

“In May, somebody used a crowbar, and broke into the East Lansing location, stole all of our merchandise and our computer. We had a big loss with that robbery,” said Hayes.

According to Hayes, “The police just said they didn’t have the capacity to help or to find them, even though we had it on camera. We had a video of the thieves, but they’re wearing masks because it’s a pandemic.”

Although these setbacks have left Hayes feeling hurt, she’s more worried about the potential loss to the community, rather than her own deficit.

“How are we going to help the community if we go under,” she asked. “This studio means so much to people. I keep getting private emails and messages from so many people in the last week saying ‘this saved my life.’”

Through online testimonials and an outpouring of generosity, Hayes has spent this past week feeling many ups and downs, realizing “the importance of what this studio contributes to the community. This almost isn’t even my decision if I wanted to close, or if I wasn’t able to stay open,” she said. “I have to try to work harder to try and keep us open, because it matters to so many people.”

She’s received messages detailing how previous students have gone on, moved across the country, and still use the tools learned at Yoga State in their daily lives, relationships, and careers. For many, yoga has become a cure for daily anxiety and depression. Those messages are what keep this yoga teacher feeling inspired and motivated to push forward.

“I just don’t feel like our work is done,” she said. “We have a lot more we can do. It’s just a shame that this could all end because of a pandemic or a lack of money. This is so much bigger than money, but money could crush it.”

Before the pandemic, the studio had steadily grown from Hayes acting as the lone instructor to about 18 teachers at both locations, including her 20-year-old daughter. January 2020 marked a milestone, with the largest number of enrolled teachers in the 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training program. This year’s program is being offered online, beginning Feb. 15.

Like many small businesses, Hayes has applied for help through grants, receiving $2,500 from the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP) and was recently awarded $3,500 from Meridian Township. Her attorney, however, said that if she is evicted, she can’t accept that grant. Hayes hopes to apply for more grants next week.

The East Lansing native grew up in the area, and graduated from East Lansing High School. She’s proud to be a part of the small business community, and feels for her fellow business owners in dire need. Some of which have also asked for help via online platforms, including Curious Book Shop and Pinball Pete’s GoFundMe.

“My parents took me to Pinball Pete’s when I was a kid,” Hayes said. “In high school, we’d go there on our lunch, walk down there, and get a $0.25 soda. It’s a thing in our community, and I’m so glad it’s working for them too.”

As for Yoga State, Hayes is grateful for individual donations, especially during a time when most people are also facing financial difficulties.

“For every person that takes interest in our story, it’s going to help so many people in the future if we can stay alive.”

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