Pure inspiration creates Pure Yoga.
Meet Suzy Schaak. She is genuine, grounded and gifted. She was a key sounding board for the development of Live Dynamite and an early adopter of the practices. See how she brought her vision of owning her own yoga studio to life this spring as she opened Pure Yoga in Stillwater, MN. She now inspires and supports others to create an overall sense of well being and inner strength.
Suzy Schaak, Stillwater MN
My journey began about five years ago when I was at a Christmas party with Maryanne. She told me about some healing classes that she was going to take and invited me to join her. We spent a lot of time together in these classes and on our rides to class she shared with me her vision for Live Dynamite.
At the time, I was fairly unclear about my path, but with her guidance, I began to map out a plan for my future. Part of my plan was to attend the Live Dynamite Circles. I then became part of a smaller coaching circle where we continued to practice the principles together.
I feel like the Live Dynamite Circle helped me to organize my thoughts, visions and define my passions: yoga, the healing arts and painting. Over the next year, I did a lot of writing about what I wanted to create in my life and how it would feel once achieved.
Over time, my vision became clearer and I was able to chunk it down into the steps I needed to take to get started. My small group helped me take it a step further. I was held accountable for taking action toward my vision. Throughout the entire process, Maryanne was my biggest cheerleader. She kept encouraging me to see that the changes I was making, even though uncomfortable at times, were good.
The first major change was a move from St. Paul to Stillwater, MN. As soon as I set my roots, I began creating a business plan for a yoga studio. This plan incorporated all of my passions–healing through yoga and art. I spent over a year refining this plan; meeting with entrepreneurs, small business owners, bankers, yoga studio owners, etc. I think I took half the Twin Cities out for coffee.
Finally, in March, I decided that I needed to push myself again and take a big action step. I signed a lease! And on April 19th, 2010, Pure Yoga opened its doors. All of the planning, writing, discussions and visioning has paid off. I am now the owner, instructor and featured artist at my yoga studio. I am surrounded daily by other gifted teachers and extraordinary students who enrich my life in immeasurable ways.
Looking back, I’ve come to realize that creating change is one of the scariest things in life for me. It’s uncomfortable. I’m still uncomfortable. But I feel alive and involved and constantly challenged. After every yoga class I teach, I feel a sort of high because I am making a difference in people’s lives.
If I didn’t have the skills that I learned from Live Dynamite and the constant encouragement, I’m not sure I would have made these changes in my life. I am very grateful!
(Learn how to stay rejuvenated at Pure Yoga. There’s nothing like creating a greater sense of well being and flexibility to help you move through life with ease.)
