Meet Candy Kressman | Yoga Studio Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Candy Kressman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Candy, how does your business help the community?
We are a community. I try really hard to make everyone feel invited in and have them want to stick around awhile, talk to each other. I have read that isolation and loneliness is an epidemic in our country. I’m not sure it that is true but I do know that people spend way too much time on their phones and online and they aren’t making real connections through a screen. We give them a place to have a digital free meaningful connection. There is a big table with chairs in front. There is a couch inside. People are encouraged to talk to their neighbor before and after class. We have events and parties throughout the year. Small talk can have a meaningful impact for people.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I own a yoga studio in the heart of Carlsbad. We are a laid back yoga studio with a light hearted philosophy. Yoga improves your overall wellbeing but it intimidates some people. Yoga can come off as snobby; with the high price brand name stuff and the incense and Sanskrit. There is a commercialization and at the same time a hyper-spiritualization. It can be scary. It can also make you age gracefully with better balance and flexibility. Yoga is so healthy! It’s so good for people, they just need to get over the fear of looking dumb and walk into a studio. Hopefully find a group of people who make you feel welcomed and accepted regardless of what brand yoga pant you are wearing. It’s just yoga! I have a master’s degree in Health Promotion and it’s sort of being used. I am trying hard to get people who wouldn’t ordinarily try yoga into being comfortable with it. That is a huge challenge, fun but challenging. A marketing person told me it’s like trying to get non soda drinkers to drink Coke rather than trying to get Pepsi drinkers to drink Coke. She pretty much told me I was fighting a losing battle. But… YOGA IS SO HEALTHY! Look at me, sort of using that masters degree. I have learned that owning a business is totally overwhelming. It is best to ask for help from experts. I have also learned not to trust itinerant, traveling, teachers who over commit to all the amazing things they can provide the studio.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Hmm…
a week is a long time to plan out
a yoga class, hiking at Daly Ranch, hiking at Mission Trials (there is a great deli in a liquor store over there), hiking Torrey Pines and pizza at that place right there, I think it’s Buonesera. Swimming at the beach in front of Army Navy. Breakfast burritos at the beach. Vinaka Cafe for breakfast, Board and Brew for lunch, Pizza Port for meeting friends and having beers. Taking the coaster Downtown for Padres games. The San Diego Growlers games, they are at Mission Bay High School. Not enough recognition (my son plays for them). I love Panama 66 at Balboa Park and walking around the park, bring a frisbee. Some nights they light up the organ in the park and play music to lasers, very psychedelic. There is a good Philly cheesesteak place near the park called Giorgino’s. Puesto has great beer, an Italian Pilsner, in Mission Valley. I like to cook so if I had friends in town I would make them dinner. Picnics at the beach at Tamarack and picnics in Balboa Park. Oh, walking the sea wall in Carlsbad is nice, we have good sunsets. Roller skating on our bike path. Probably end with more yoga because I own a yoga studio and that sounds like the right answer.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My kids! I have 4 kids who spent their teens being forced to do all things yoga. I think they understand yoga has benefits but they don’t particularly like it. They would come to classes. Bring last minute necessities to my events. They had to hear about the ups and downs, listen to my drama the first time I let someone go. I also feel bad for missing random sporting events and charity walks they had been apart of because of focusing attention at the studio. Is this the cliche mom response? They are all adults now and I when I look back on the last 8 years they have been the consistent sounding board and last minute support. They did get the benefit of yoga classes. My boys all played baseball so I would have them come to stretch and yin classes with me. They would be snoring during class.
Also, my customers though the years. Every once in awhile someone will stop me at the door and tell me how much better they feel from yoga or how happy they feel when they leave the place, sometimes they will even thank me. It feels so good and motivates me to stay at it.

Website: https://carlsbadvillageyoga.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlsbadyoga/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candace-gibson-54959b16b/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carlsbadyoga/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/carlsbad-village-yoga-carlsbad

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iumOQlmvG98