Business Brainstorming

Deciding on business names, slogans, logos, and the like is very fun! It can also feel a bit stressful because it is such an important part of your business.

When I was deciding on a name for the wellness center I went through a creative brainstorming process. I use this process often for creating workshop titles and the like as well. I even used it when I was naming this blog!

Here is my process:

1. Brainstorm any and all names that I have in mind

For the wellness center some of the ideas were Women's Wellness Center, Women's Voices Collective, Alive Wellness Center, Living Well Center, Wellness Living Center, Wellness for Life Center, Niagara Living Wellness, Living Wellness Institute, and several other permutations. Eventually I decided to remove women from the name because I didn't want to exclude like-minded men.

2. Define the purpose of the event or business as best I can

I knew the purpose of the business would be to promote health and wellness in a variety of ways.

3. Jot down key adjectives of the experience I hope my clients will have

This is probably my favorite part! I spend a few minutes with my eyes closed breathing deeply and focusing on my intention. Then I just let the descriptors flow! For the wellness center these were: community, dynamic, joyful, inspiring, ageless, timeless, listen, life, love, lotus, laugh, look, lively, live, life, learn, local, lush, reflect, renew, rejuvenate, rediscover. I adore alliteration so often I will focus on one letter for while...

This process eventually brought me to the slogan for the center: look within, love who you are, live out loud! I feel it perfectly sums up my intentions for the center.

4. Review the above and write mission statement

For the wellness center I created this mission statement: To provide an inspiring, peaceful space that welcomes the community in to nourish their health and wellness through a variety of healing arts.

It has the key words of inspiring and peaceful - the feeling I hope to evoke in clients - and community - I envision the center as a gathering place for like-minded individuals - and health and wellness - the main purpose of the business - and healing arts - a broad descriptor of the type of services the center will offer.

5. Sit with all of it for as long as needed

Usually I like to let it be for a few hours or days. Sometimes once I've gone through this initial process and I stop focusing on the idea for a bit I will get some unexpected insight or idea about the project.

6. Eventually settle on a name that encompasses as much of my intention as possible

Hence... Living Wellness of Niagara: look within, love who you are, live out loud!

Image credit

Tree of Life Yoga Studio's new home

As of September 28, 2009, Tree of Life Yoga Studio has moved to our new home inside Living Wellness of Niagara at 1517 Main Street! The transformation of the space has involved loads of hard work (which I admit has been mostly the hubby's, not mine). Here are a few pictures of the finishing touch at the studio - an Om mosaic.





























Voila! The finished product! The new studio has gorgeous hardwood floors - perfect for yoga - and plenty of space. If you haven't had a chance to stop in yet, consider registering for our Chakra 1 workshop on Tuesday, October 20th at 6:30pm. Or sign up for the Women's Wellness Retreat I am hosting along with life coach Kim David on Saturday, November 14th. More information on these workshops and our daily schedule here.

Namaste,

Mindy

Happy Moving Day!

Moving Day has arrived! Tree of Life Yoga Studio has settled into its new home at Living Wellness of Niagara!

Yesterday I taught my last yoga class at The NACC. It was a bittersweet feeling. I can't believe that it has been less than a year since I opened the studio there and now I am already moving into my very own wellness center. As of last summer, opening a yoga studio was a 3 year goal of mine and opening a wellness center was a 5 year goal! It is amazing how quickly things happen! Although I am thrilled about the wellness center opening, I'm also sad to be leaving The NACC. It is an amazing place where no matter what time of day you pop in there is some creative soul in the building painting or recording music or singing or sculpting. I truly will miss the energy of the place and I plan to find various reasons to make frequent visits back there!

I have many more exciting updates about the studio coming soon, but for now I'm heading over to our new place to put the finishing touches on before class tomorrow evening. Pictures to come soon! And the new schedule, including information about a mini-retreat!

Happy Labor Day!

I hope you're enjoying your Labor Day! I slept in until after 9 this morning, which felt divine, and then decided to work around the house. I folded laundry, something I rarely do but since my husband has spent nearly every waking moment working in my office I figured it was least I could do for him!

I sweetened the task by listening to Kimberly Wilson's latest podcast as I worked. I'm contemplating signing up for her online creativity circle as well. It starts tomorrow so I better contemplate quickly!!!

This morning I also cleaned the area beside my bed, also known as the book breeding ground. You see I start with a few books beside my bed so that when I turn in for the night I have some choices. (I always read several books at one time.) Then it seems like the books multiply or something!!! There were at least 20 books beside my bed, plus a handful of magazines and a mandala coloring book. It was definitely a bit much! I pared down to a mere four books, leaving my beside area much more serene looking.

Next I moved on to my desk/work area. I've actually been working on this space throughout the weekend as I move into my new office. I took some "during" pictures of the transition, but don't want to post them until I have some lovely "after" pictures to share as well. Hopefully soon! My therapy office officially opens tomorrow! I am very excited! I have created what I feel is a beautiful, peaceful environment for people to relax in as they reflect on their lives, struggles, goals, hopes, and dreams. More on my practice as a psychologist to come soon! And pictures of the office as well!

Exciting updates

Reasons I have not posted in oh-so-long:

1. Working hard at the future home of Living Wellness of Niagara. Exhibit A: moi standing on a ladder painting my new office in eco-friendly paint. Also note the gorgeous new fan and light fixture installed by my lovely hubby. Disclaimer: he really did most of the painting! The place used to be a framing shop so there were about a zillion little holes in the walls that we had to fill in and sand off...ugh! I tried to capture some of the amazing woodwork & leaded glass windows in the top left photo. I am so in love with this place! I cannot wait until it is ready to be revealed to all! The hardwood floors are being refinished throughout this week and then we have a bit more painting to do.


2. My poor furbaby Monty had to have a minor procedure that left him with stitches and one of those goofy (but effective) cones on his head.










3. My hubby and I took a short trip to Sonoma, California.




Pictured to the right is the view from Viader, our favorite winery in the area.

We also went into Napa to have dinner at Ubuntu, a fabulous vegetarian restaurant/yoga studio. I didn't have a chance to take in a yoga class, but I did enjoy a relaxing practice everyday in the hotel room.


This is what I had for dinner at Ubuntu. It is an amazing salad filled with scrumptious flowers, vegetables, and more from their biodynamic garden - so delicious!!!!









4. After traveling home from California, I spent the day at the American Psychological Association Conference in Toronto for a workshop on private practice. I always feel invigorated after a day of professional development, whether for yoga or psychology!


5. Next the family and I headed off to Rhode Island for a wedding! Whew! A lot of traveling in just a few short weeks! It has been great to take some time away. Sometimes it is hard to pick up and leave in the midst of a big project, but I feel confident that we will return refreshed and inspired to continue our work!

Time Flies!

My how time flies!

I can't believe it has already been a week since I officially finished up at work!

I'm keeping busy learning the ins and outs of setting up a private practice as a psychologist, fitting in as many yoga classes as possible, enjoying early morning walks in my neighborhood, taking trips to the public library, and enjoying many celebrations with friends and family - birthdays, going-aways, new babies, weddings!

Today the hubby and I took a trip to Home Depot to pick out light fixtures and paint for the new office. We invested in paint without VOCs, a serene blue aptly named Healing Waters for the therapy office and a peaceful light lavender, Heaven's Wind, for the yoga studio. I can't wait to see it all come together!

In the midst of so much excitement and change, I'm working to rest in the delight of everyday things. My daughter laughing and dancing with a sparkler on a summer night. A cool glass of Pinot Grigio shared with old friends. Lounging on our comfy chaise and reading The Red Tent. My niece giggling at me. My gramma's snickerdoodles. Homemade ice cream. Fresh mango. I could go on and on... I'm such a lucky girl! What everyday things can you be thankful for?

Swampy Saturday

It feels like it has been raining forever! Yucky, yucky weather :-(

I started my morning teaching a yoga class by candlelight at The NACC. I felt called to focus on the knee joints. All of this damp weather has mine feeling creaky and in need of some major TLC!

I headed home afterwards for my staple breakfast of coffee and yogurt with granola and fruit. Yum! After a change of clothes, I hopped in the car and commuted to my UB office. I decided to come in and work for a few hours because I am concerned that I may not be able to get everything tied up here before my scheduled end date of July 3. It's only two weeks away!!!

So I'm just taking a quick break and then it is back to work!!! Last night the hubby and I spent some time at the new building taking stock of everything we need to do before we can open up in the Fall. I kept gushing about paint colors and he kept reminding me about water damaged drywall! We balance each other out so well :-)

Okay....back to work! Hope you are either spending this Saturday in a less swampy place or you are curled up under a blanket reading a novel or watching a movie or something equally lovely!

Inspiration

Have you heard of this idea of picking a word for the year? Sort of like summing up your New Year's resolution in one word? I'm not sure where I came across this idea; I'm thinking it was probably from Kimberly or Kelly Rae...

Anyhow, my word for the year is inspiration. For me, inspiration means many things: waking everyday feeling excited about what lies ahead of me, delighting in everyday things, feeling the urge to create, and more!

This morning I woke up feeling very inspired! I had an amazing dream about wandering around and adoringly inspecting the soon-to-be home of Living Wellness of Niagara (pictured above). We are scheduled to close on the property next Friday - yay!!!! I feel so at home in this space, even though I've only been inside about five times. It just feels so right! I can't wait to get in there and start painting and picking out furniture and decorations :-)

After my few minutes of blissed out daydreaming, I headed to the gym and then came home to (of course) study. After two hours in front of the computer I was feeling anything but inspired... so I took an inspiration break. After journaling for a few minutes and taking a nice hot shower complete with Mango shower gel, I was feeling better!

Some of the other ways I've sought out inspiration this week are: an hour in Starbucks with a soy chai latte, my journal, and these two books, studying in Panera over a yummy veggie sandwich & salad, signing up for Goddess Leonie's new e-course, and an hour browsing in Barnes & Noble and buying myself this treat.

A few of my other sure fire ways to spark inspiration include:

• yoga


• a walk in the sunshine


• writing


• buying fresh flowers


• reviewing my long-term goals


• some time with a good magazine, really like this one


• getting a massage & facial


• painting, coloring, drawing


• meditation


• eating a fresh fruit salad


• reading


• getting a pedicure


• lighting a candle

Wishing you all a day filled with inspiration!