Assist MJ with Palo Santo's Closure & Transition

It’s MJ here… The years of running a community oriented business have been both a heavy burden and a beautiful blessing - in more recent times, people have asked me, “how have you kept the cost so low & yoga so affordable for the people?”

Well to acknowledge some backend truths… Palo Santo's drop in rate is still $18 and the average is now $25-30 for yoga classes in Philadelphia. Additionally, our overhead costs have risen nearly 30% in the last 4 years and we have only increased our pricing by 10%. Our intention, had we stayed operational, was to incrementally increase prices over the next few years to adjust for rising overhead fees & inflation; however, this is no longer part of the plan due to closing…

So, how is this possible?

By reducing the underlying and outsourcing costs to keep this business afloat… With skill and ability, MJ has managed to continually do the bulk of the work that has required the studio to maintain its operation and potential for growth.

Other than being the Owner + Operator… she is also the graphic designer for promotional advertising, the website designer and up-keeper of information, the backend software/MindBody worker at its most glitchy needs, the hirer of teachers + coordinator of all events and community happenings, the social media director and newsletter campaign writer, the accountant tracking + bookkeeper & payroll processor, the correspondence behind many of the email questions, the organizer of the studio schedule, the teacher of many classes, a co-facilitator of our 200 + 300 hour training programs, on top of holding space for monthly gatherings, workshops, and other community needs in the studio over the last 8+ years of providing her services at Palo Santo…

Additionally MJ owns + operates her own private practices providing healing services and bodywork therapies in South Philly and has taught in other studio spaces as well as facilitated collaborative offerings locally & internationally over the years providing the opportunity to absorb overhead costs & financial obligations for Palo Santo. This personal work ethic, while continuing to offer outside services, has supplemented financial income that provided the space for Palo Santo to operate a lower overall cost for the community has required a commitment of work that extends beyond a 40 hour work week or provides for vacation breaks, benefits, or general days off.

Our GoFundMe is an option and opportunity to support MJ and the studio in their final months of holding space and beyond… Being a small business owner, so much of the energy and effort that goes into making a space operational has little financial support to real aspects of time, effort, and energy it takes to hold space for so many.

Our intentions with these financial community donations are :

Other ways of kindly supporting MJ & her Teaching Staff, book their healing services, attend upcoming events, or continue taking class as they move to new locations in Philadelphia!

With Deepest Gratitude.