Alpenflow Yoga Studio Recovery Fund

Hello friends, family, and community, 

I was once told, "If you need, ask, and if you have, give."  These words have always stayed close to me, and have become a pillar in how I move through life. I have always placed giving at the top of my priorities and purpose, and I am now in a place of asking.

My name is Mike Richardson, and I am the owner of Alpenflow | Yoga Studio Tahoe . I bought Alpenflow in December 2018 and since then, I have worked tirelessly over the course of the past 16 months to rebuild a yoga studio, and a community, rooted in the foundations of the Bhakti Yoga Tradition. Bhakti is a devotional practice, it's premise is to be in service to others, and the greater good of all.

I personally, have maintained a full time, 40 hour per week job separate from Alpenflow, as I have taken on the full time operations of Alpenflow and teaching. What a gift. This has helped me to pay the loans I borrowed to buy the business, and keep my personal expenditures separate from Alpenflow. This journey has been one of the most beautiful I have ever experienced. I wouldn't change a thing.

Over the course of the last few months, we as a global community, have experienced the unimaginable.  

First and foremost, my focus and support, is on the health and safety of everyone. As more information became available, I personally closed Alpenflow, and self quarantined, to help prevent the spread of the corona virus throughout our communities, and to more vulnerable populations. 

Now my focus is on keeping Alpenflow sustainable, and able to serve our community. Being listed as a "non essential" small business owner, is understandable, but for many of us, yoga, beyond the poses, is an "essential" part of our well being.

Alpenflow's old business model has been decimated. Our memberships have been reduced to a fraction of what they were a few weeks ago as many people are experiencing immediate financial hardship. I am working with everyone to cancel memberships and refund money where it is possible. This was our primary source of income. The focus now is ADAPTATION.

We are in a new, unprecedented era. I have been working on a business continuity plan to shift how Alpenflow functions and serves our community. I have been working non stop to:

-support our community
-support the global community
-support our teachers
-adapt and rewrite our working business plan
-incorporate a continuity plan
-explore new revenue streams
-contact our landlord
-contact our creditors
-contact our business insurance company (we were denied)
-and the something new everyday

I have also applied for the SBA disaster relief funding. Hopefully we will receive a loan to help us, but we do not know the timeframe that we will, or will not receive a loan.

I have been utilizing the resources being provided to help bridge the financial gap Alpenflow is beginning to experience. Quickbooks, GoFundMe, and Many, Many businesses have teamed up to offer support to small businesses like Alpenflow. There are companies and programs that will match your donation to Alpenflow, and many other small businesses on this platform if we qualify.

I am humbly asking for your help, so that Alpenflow can continue to help others during this crisis, and beyond. I am also asking that you help other small businesses, your neighbors, strangers, family, your communities, your states, your country, other countries, in anyway that you can. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this.

Stay safe, stay healthy, you are loved.

Mike Richardson

#SmallBusinessRelief