Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle “Mia” Weaver.
Michelle, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was born and raised in central Iowa (“If you build it, they will come…”), then lived in Indiana for approximately twelve years before I found my way to the great state of Texas (“Everything is bigger!”). I have lived and worked in Dallas for approximately thirteen years and I am so excited to be the owner of Yoga Pod in Victory Park and in the heart of Dallas. I hope you will peruse through our website to gain a better understanding of the Yoga Pod Mission, Vision, and Values as well as learn about how Yoga Pod can bring a greater passion and purpose to your yoga practice regardless if you have never taken a class or if you are an experienced yogi!
My background is in the Counseling field as a licensed counselor and I have been in upper management positions in the social services field for 18 years. In addition, I have been a committed student of yoga for 7+ years. I also get my groove on and my fitness fix teaching Zumba, Body Works, and Power Circuit which I’ve been doing for nearly five years. I love having the opportunity in each class I teach to help people appreciate their own fitness interests and desires and I am honored to be able to assist folks meet their fitness goals. It is so exciting to know I will be taking my own fitness and yoga practice to the next level as I get my Yoga Teaching Certification at the first Teacher Training offered at my new studio!
I got into fitness many years ago after a fairly significant health scare which quickly helped me to refocus my life. I was intimidated by the gym so I began my health regimen journey by putting one foot in front of the other on my treadmill at home. I started to see results and then a dear friend of mine asked me to go with her to the gym. I was nervous to walk through the door, but as soon as I did, I couldn’t have been happier! I started taking group fitness classes at the gym then joined a yoga studio shortly thereafter.
I participated in group classes for years then decided to go on to become a group fitness instructor which I continue to do to this day and I LOVE IT! I love helping people achieve their own fitness goals and have a fun time in the process. Fast forward several more years and now a dream of mine to own a yoga studio and leave the corporate world has become a realization.
Nothing worthwhile is easy though and it’s interesting to find myself ironically yet appropriately right back to putting one foot in front of the other knowing that building a strong team, creating a vibrant yoga community, and allowing the space and time for the Dallas community to discover all that Yoga Pod Dallas has to offer will result in a thriving and healthy community connection for years to come. Be. Connected.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Nothing worthwhile is easy and if it were easy, everyone would be doing it. Working a full-time corporate job while building a yoga studio as the sole operator of my business has not been simple. I have worked countless hours and continue to do so in order to develop the most amazing yoga studio Victory Park and Downtown Dallas has seen. I have the support of my wonderful boyfriend and my amazing parents, sister, and brother as well as the support of my friends and fitness followers. I also place great emphasis into the energy of the universe to help guide me and support me in finding the strength and perseverance required to make a business successful. It might sounds cheesy, but faith and hope come hand in hand with working your ass off for the good of something you believe in wholeheartedly.
Please tell us about Yoga Pod Dallas.
Yoga Pod Dallas is an amazing yoga and barre studio. We offer heated and non-heated yoga classes as well as an incredible fitness component. Our classes range from podBASICS for someone who has never stepped foot on a mat or who is returning to the mat to YIN classes which are restorative in nature with a meditative component. Poses are held from 2 to 5 minutes allowing the joints to open and creating strength in connective tissues and muscles around the joints. Our most popular class in podHOT where the temperature in the room is 105 degrees and 60% humidity. The heat brings a detoxifying quality to the practice and the body becomes more flexible transitioning from one pose to the next. It’s liquid gold pooling on the floors in podHOT! podFLOW 1 and podFLOW 2 are both vinyasa classes with podFLOW 1 following a set sequence with a peak pose where the sequence changes with the seasons. podFLOW 2 can be taken by beginners as well and has less set sequencing but is rather teacher directed and changes from class to class and by instructor. Yoga Pod also offers a full fitness series with both podFIT and podBARRE where cardio and an amazing playlist are integral to getting a great workout. Lastly, we offer Sweat, Heat, and Beatz every Friday at 6:30 p.m. where sequencing and proper alignment are less important than trying out new and different things and allowing practitioners to push their limits a bit while flowing through a fun sequence with laser lights and funky tunes. It’s our version of happy hour and it really can’t be beat (z).
In addition to our incredible class offerings, at Yoga Pod, we commit to breathe first and act second. We cultivate discipline through the rigor, heat, and focus of our practice. Through infectious, positive attitude and culture, we create community a build and impactful tribe. We strive to live in harmony with nature and our open, compassionate hearts guide us to do the right thing. For every social media check-in at the studio, a donation is automatically made to the identified “cause” of the month with recent causes including “Feed a Billion, Toys for Tots, Soles for Souls, and Hope for Haiti. Yoga Pod Dallas also has a commitment to the local community and we work to cross-promote with other small businesses and Victory Park residences, retail, and area businesses.
Yoga Pod Dallas is changing it up! Our fabulous new studio in the heart of Victory Park now offers Zumba in addition to our other core yoga, barre, and fit formats!! No dance experience needed but smiles and sweaxxy-ness will be found for sure! Keep your eye on our website, Facebook, and Instagram pages as well as Eventbrite for all of our upcoming events (many are free!).
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Hindsight is always 20/20. No new business ever opens without glitches, but I hold to the fact that mistakes, challenges, and bumps in the road are what give us character and what make us who we are. Some folks choose to be broken by these things or they succumb to the pressures and cave, but the bruises, aches, pains, and headaches of starting a new business are how I choose to learn and become better, stronger, and find ways to help others along the way. The future is bright. Looking forward is all that is necessary.
Pricing:
- Try a Free Week and Introductory Month is $79 if Joining During Free Week (subsequent months $109/mo)
- 10 Class Pass is $160
- Discounted Pricing for Teachers, Military Personnel, First Responders, and 55+ years of age
- Annual membership is $1090 (equates to two months free!)
- Drop In Class is $20 per class
Contact Info:
- Address: 2312 Victory Park Lane
Dallas, TX 75219 - Website: https://www.yogapod.com/dallas/
- Phone: 469-917-3019
- Email: info.dallas@yogapod.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yogapoddallas
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yogapoddallas/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/yoga-pod-dallas-dallas
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
