Save Some Like It Hot Yoga & Wellness
Donation protected
Staten Island’s FIRST & ONLY Authentic Hot Yoga Studio Needs Your Help!!
We need your help saving our community's Therapy- Our Sanctuary, our place to be broken, grow, cry, and achieve. The place where some of us get to be the best things that we can be, escape or let it all go. Whatever we need in the moment The time spent in this room is sacred to us all no matter why.
I can not even begin to explain the frustration and deep sadness I feel as I type this. The governor issued an executive order closing all nonessential businesses including gyms and fitness studios in New York on March 16th, a week before our 6 year anniversary. This order has not yet been lifted and we have remained closed for 9 months!
9 full months!
At first, we understood the need for the entire country to shut down. We immediately froze students accounts. Knowing how important the practice is to our community we started offering Facebook Live classes, free of charge, the next day.
We know, how specialized our Hot Yoga is. It is a prescription consisting of a very specific temperature and humidity percentage, 26 postures and two breathing exercises, which are specifically designed to work though your entire body both internally and externally, specific timing for each set of each posture, a specific dialogue, and a room void any outside distractions, especially cell phones, children and work.
We built a LARGE (5,000 sqft) HOT, CLEAN studio equipped with a state-of-the-art heating & pure air ventilation system, Flotex flooring, which is slip resistant, waterproof and offers constant protection against bacteria.
It is IMPOSSIBLE to deliver the same experience to our community via Live videos, therefore we did not feel right about charging our students, especially knowing everyone was affected in their own way by this virus.
We applied as an essential/safe business due to the amount of students who have reduced or completely stopped needing medication for chronic pain, blood pressure, anxiety, depression, thyroid conditions, addictions, diabetes, and many more. As we have learned over and over again, our physical health is the BEST WAY TO COMBAT COVID-19. We have also seen the numbers of those suffering with depression, anxiety, suicide attempts or successes, relapses or newly heavy alcohol and drug abuse. So many people need their community, their healthy habits, their way to cope to normal life…never the less a pandemic.
Unfortunately, we were denied.
We then applied for and received funding from the EIDL loans and the federal paycheck protection program. Upon receipt, we utilized the funds to backpay 4 months of our teachers payroll, rent payments, our opening SBA loan payments, and the studios expenses. We received these in July, so we thought we’d be opening soon and wanted to get caught up as well as stay caught up.
As phases began to be announced, we expected to be included in phase 3 as yoga was deemed a spiritual practice, not a gym, in 2012.
We weren’t.
Finally, the last phase was announced. Yoga was not included, in fact the entire fitness industry was not included and never given a cause nor direction for a future opening date. Finally, after the United States Fitness Coalition sued the governor stating lack of scientific data, he opened gyms, but would not open “indoor group fitness,” which he deemed yoga studios to be and again without a scientific reason.
9 months later, with the increase of cases, New Dorp Lane deemed an orange zone, and today’s closure of indoor dining leaves us little hope that an opening date will be announced anytime soon. While some expenses can continue to be deferred or lessened to cope with the lack of revenue, SLIH fears we won’t be allowed to open for at least a few more months and because of that will struggle to hold on much longer.
We know SLIH is not alone in this time of tremendous economic hardship: most small businesses have not been able to withstand such a long period without a means for revenue. Without revenue and additional emergency funding, many small businesses still standing will shutter.
This practice, our teachers, and our community means the world to me. I did not open this studio thinking I was going to be a millionaire. I opened because this practice saved my life. I was 28, very depressed and hated yoga before this. I wanted to share with my hometown the countless benefits received. I wanted all the people I knew that were practicing in other boroughs to have a home without a toll :) and I received so much more. You are my family. This is my home.
I am very eager to reopen. I miss you all dearly. It pains my soul to know I am right here and so are you, but I can’t let you in. I know via our survey, messages and calls that you are all eager as well and trust me I am doing everything I can to get us or keep us open.
We are holding steadfast and are incredibly dedicated to being here for our community. We need this practice! Especially now!
This point of this GoFundMe is to ensure we can cover our expenses over the coming months, including our teachers who have generously showed up live twice a day without pay.
We understand that the whole world is struggling right now, and we are deeply thankful for any and all donations. Even if you are not able to donate to our studio yourself, we would appreciate your sharing this with your friends, for that could make a difference, too!
No donation is too small, and every little bit will allow us to keep the doors open to our community, to continue in helping them greatly improve their wellbeing —and hopefully even saving their lives.
Our History:
Some Like It Hot Yoga & Wellness (Originally, Bikram Yoga Staten Island) broke ground November 28, 2016. While many advised me not to open here, I believed it was worth the risk. I believed, like me - a novice to yoga in general, people would try it, feel better and eventually not be able to live without it. Thankfully, I was right.
In the week’s leading up to our opening I was petrified. It was my first brick and mortar business and the first authentic, disciplined hot yoga practice on the island. Most people never heard of hot yoga, and when they did were petrified by the thought of it. But, on March 22, 2014 we opened our doors and over 70 people practiced between the two classes offered.
I was beyond grateful to see so many bodies moving in sync. Brand new, scared & excited! In our first year we offered only 90 minute Bikram Yoga method classes, held 950 classes, had 16,501 visits to the studio and 2,085 new student walk through these doors. Most practicing yoga for the first time.
Fast forward to March 2020: we’ve changed our name and sign, offer a 90 minute, multiple 60 minute, Silent and Core classes. All variations of our original Hot 26 & 2 practice. Additionally, we now offer Kick Your Asana, Ignite and Core Barre. We have had 18,312 first time visits and 411,432 visits to the studio. We held two Hot 26 & 2 teacher training, one Ignite training and are thrilled to have 9 extraordinary women as teachers and family.
We’ve come a long way! These last 6.5 years have been about hard work, dedication, exactitude, creativity and attention to students’ needs and desires. This was also reciprocated by our students, many of whom started when we opened. We hit many road blocks....our ceiling almost fell through the first year, our building wasn’t receiving enough gas & electric which caused our system to frequently breakdown over two years causing lots of heartache as well as financial distress. At one point I was teaching all classes, opening, closing, cleaning and trying to fix our heat in between, just to keep the doors open. We did. After 12 years of this practice I learned a lot, including slow and steady evaluation and action.
We persevered, because of our students and their continued, unwavering support throughout the years. Our community is everything to us. We are diverse – pre-teens, seniors, men, women, students, scholars, teachers, businessmen, athletes, mothers, fathers, cops, firemen, television stars, and restaurateurs - and this makes us rich in our common belief in this practice. SLIH is not just a get fit and de-stress gym– it is a place for people to come together to practice, change, grow and forge lasting wellness and friendships.
We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished, especially the family of wellness we have built here on Staten Island. Thank you! Thank you for your support through all the ups and downs. This would all still be a dream if it was not for all of you.
Namaste,
Nicole
Website
Facebook
Reviews A
Reviews B
We need your help saving our community's Therapy- Our Sanctuary, our place to be broken, grow, cry, and achieve. The place where some of us get to be the best things that we can be, escape or let it all go. Whatever we need in the moment The time spent in this room is sacred to us all no matter why.
I can not even begin to explain the frustration and deep sadness I feel as I type this. The governor issued an executive order closing all nonessential businesses including gyms and fitness studios in New York on March 16th, a week before our 6 year anniversary. This order has not yet been lifted and we have remained closed for 9 months!
9 full months!
At first, we understood the need for the entire country to shut down. We immediately froze students accounts. Knowing how important the practice is to our community we started offering Facebook Live classes, free of charge, the next day.
We know, how specialized our Hot Yoga is. It is a prescription consisting of a very specific temperature and humidity percentage, 26 postures and two breathing exercises, which are specifically designed to work though your entire body both internally and externally, specific timing for each set of each posture, a specific dialogue, and a room void any outside distractions, especially cell phones, children and work.
We built a LARGE (5,000 sqft) HOT, CLEAN studio equipped with a state-of-the-art heating & pure air ventilation system, Flotex flooring, which is slip resistant, waterproof and offers constant protection against bacteria.
It is IMPOSSIBLE to deliver the same experience to our community via Live videos, therefore we did not feel right about charging our students, especially knowing everyone was affected in their own way by this virus.
We applied as an essential/safe business due to the amount of students who have reduced or completely stopped needing medication for chronic pain, blood pressure, anxiety, depression, thyroid conditions, addictions, diabetes, and many more. As we have learned over and over again, our physical health is the BEST WAY TO COMBAT COVID-19. We have also seen the numbers of those suffering with depression, anxiety, suicide attempts or successes, relapses or newly heavy alcohol and drug abuse. So many people need their community, their healthy habits, their way to cope to normal life…never the less a pandemic.
Unfortunately, we were denied.
We then applied for and received funding from the EIDL loans and the federal paycheck protection program. Upon receipt, we utilized the funds to backpay 4 months of our teachers payroll, rent payments, our opening SBA loan payments, and the studios expenses. We received these in July, so we thought we’d be opening soon and wanted to get caught up as well as stay caught up.
As phases began to be announced, we expected to be included in phase 3 as yoga was deemed a spiritual practice, not a gym, in 2012.
We weren’t.
Finally, the last phase was announced. Yoga was not included, in fact the entire fitness industry was not included and never given a cause nor direction for a future opening date. Finally, after the United States Fitness Coalition sued the governor stating lack of scientific data, he opened gyms, but would not open “indoor group fitness,” which he deemed yoga studios to be and again without a scientific reason.
9 months later, with the increase of cases, New Dorp Lane deemed an orange zone, and today’s closure of indoor dining leaves us little hope that an opening date will be announced anytime soon. While some expenses can continue to be deferred or lessened to cope with the lack of revenue, SLIH fears we won’t be allowed to open for at least a few more months and because of that will struggle to hold on much longer.
We know SLIH is not alone in this time of tremendous economic hardship: most small businesses have not been able to withstand such a long period without a means for revenue. Without revenue and additional emergency funding, many small businesses still standing will shutter.
This practice, our teachers, and our community means the world to me. I did not open this studio thinking I was going to be a millionaire. I opened because this practice saved my life. I was 28, very depressed and hated yoga before this. I wanted to share with my hometown the countless benefits received. I wanted all the people I knew that were practicing in other boroughs to have a home without a toll :) and I received so much more. You are my family. This is my home.
I am very eager to reopen. I miss you all dearly. It pains my soul to know I am right here and so are you, but I can’t let you in. I know via our survey, messages and calls that you are all eager as well and trust me I am doing everything I can to get us or keep us open.
We are holding steadfast and are incredibly dedicated to being here for our community. We need this practice! Especially now!
This point of this GoFundMe is to ensure we can cover our expenses over the coming months, including our teachers who have generously showed up live twice a day without pay.
We understand that the whole world is struggling right now, and we are deeply thankful for any and all donations. Even if you are not able to donate to our studio yourself, we would appreciate your sharing this with your friends, for that could make a difference, too!
No donation is too small, and every little bit will allow us to keep the doors open to our community, to continue in helping them greatly improve their wellbeing —and hopefully even saving their lives.
Our History:
Some Like It Hot Yoga & Wellness (Originally, Bikram Yoga Staten Island) broke ground November 28, 2016. While many advised me not to open here, I believed it was worth the risk. I believed, like me - a novice to yoga in general, people would try it, feel better and eventually not be able to live without it. Thankfully, I was right.
In the week’s leading up to our opening I was petrified. It was my first brick and mortar business and the first authentic, disciplined hot yoga practice on the island. Most people never heard of hot yoga, and when they did were petrified by the thought of it. But, on March 22, 2014 we opened our doors and over 70 people practiced between the two classes offered.
I was beyond grateful to see so many bodies moving in sync. Brand new, scared & excited! In our first year we offered only 90 minute Bikram Yoga method classes, held 950 classes, had 16,501 visits to the studio and 2,085 new student walk through these doors. Most practicing yoga for the first time.
Fast forward to March 2020: we’ve changed our name and sign, offer a 90 minute, multiple 60 minute, Silent and Core classes. All variations of our original Hot 26 & 2 practice. Additionally, we now offer Kick Your Asana, Ignite and Core Barre. We have had 18,312 first time visits and 411,432 visits to the studio. We held two Hot 26 & 2 teacher training, one Ignite training and are thrilled to have 9 extraordinary women as teachers and family.
We’ve come a long way! These last 6.5 years have been about hard work, dedication, exactitude, creativity and attention to students’ needs and desires. This was also reciprocated by our students, many of whom started when we opened. We hit many road blocks....our ceiling almost fell through the first year, our building wasn’t receiving enough gas & electric which caused our system to frequently breakdown over two years causing lots of heartache as well as financial distress. At one point I was teaching all classes, opening, closing, cleaning and trying to fix our heat in between, just to keep the doors open. We did. After 12 years of this practice I learned a lot, including slow and steady evaluation and action.
We persevered, because of our students and their continued, unwavering support throughout the years. Our community is everything to us. We are diverse – pre-teens, seniors, men, women, students, scholars, teachers, businessmen, athletes, mothers, fathers, cops, firemen, television stars, and restaurateurs - and this makes us rich in our common belief in this practice. SLIH is not just a get fit and de-stress gym– it is a place for people to come together to practice, change, grow and forge lasting wellness and friendships.
We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished, especially the family of wellness we have built here on Staten Island. Thank you! Thank you for your support through all the ups and downs. This would all still be a dream if it was not for all of you.
Namaste,
Nicole
Website
Reviews A
Reviews B
Organizer
Nicole Stuckey-Ippolito
Organizer
Staten Island, NY
Inspired to help? Start a fundraiser for someone you know
