Today we’d like to introduce you to Toni Farris.
Toni, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
When I was pregnant with my children and after, I had some serious health complications. After being sick and on bed rest for so long, it was hard to do simple things. It was hard to turn around to back the car out of the driveway. At 34 years old, something had to give. With a lot of hesitation, I started a beginner yoga class. Yoga slowly brought me back to health. Soon, the stairs in my house were easy and my mind was at ease. Most importantly, I had the energy to take care of my kids. My teacher was attending a training with Karen Prior, 500ERYT. I knew it was the right place for me. After teaching for about 5 years, some students approached me about teaching them. Karen had moved to Oklahoma, and at that time, there weren’t great programs here to choose from. With the support of friends and family, we founded Yoga Tree. We have over 50 graduates who teach all over the US and even in the UK and Italy. It is a blessing to be able to share the benefits and wisdom of Yoga with so many others.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Having a small business is wonderful and hard. The hardest part is staying committed to the administration. Sometimes we have to choose between focusing on the Yoga or the business. In the end, if I stop and just take care of the clients, the business takes care of itself. We have also struggled with our location. As Downtown Plano has revitalized, parking and street repairs, festivals and traffic have all created some challenges. Overall, it is amazing to be part of such a rich and vibrant downtown. It is like no other place in Plano. The community here is rich and thriving.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Yoga Tree – what should we know?
We are a true Yoga studio. We focus on the physical, mental and spiritual benefits of this ancient practice. Because we train teachers here at the 200 and 500 hour level, our staff is extremely skilled. We are able to offer classes for all levels of students, including some who never imagined they could.
We also specialize in corporate wellness and mindfulness. Organizations are looking for ways to provide tools for team members to practice mindfulness. I have a corporate background, and it helps me understand the potential challenges and benefits of executing mindfulness in the workplace.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My teacher Karen Prior, 500ERYT was exceptional. She was classically trained. Her understanding of the Yogic tradition as well as anatomy were exceptional.
Mona Lisa and Rudy Ringle were huge supporters as well. They moved into Downtown Plano the first week we opened. Sometimes it was just Mona Lisa and I in class. They even had our anniversary parties in their beautiful home. She helped find our expansion location when there wasn’t anything on the street for sale. She was the agent on the deal. She even helped me design the build out. Without them, we wouldn’t be here.
All the teachers and staff here have done their best in every class to give a great experience to our guests. They work nights, weekends and holidays so that our clients can enhance their health.
Finally, our clients are the absolute most important element to the success of our space. Our students are fun, peaceful and energetic. There isn’t any competition or judging here. Our clients welcome new students like it’s a home. This warm friendly environment more than anything is the key to our success.
Pricing:
- Drop in and try Yoga Tree for $18
- Join for $55 for the first month. That is 1/2 off.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1035 E. 15th St.
Plano, Tx 75074 - Website: Yogatreeplano.com
- Phone: 214.642.1348
- Email: toni@yogatreeplano.com
- Instagram: @yogatreetoni
- Facebook: @yogatreeplano
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.
