Why Shutting Down Your Business Might Be the Right Move with Krista Shirley, CEO & Founder of The Yoga Shala

Join our host, Lee Murray in the latest episode of the CEO series. In this episode, Krista Shirley, CEO of The Yoga Shala, recounts her story of resilience and reinvention. After medical setbacks forced her to close her yoga studio, Shirley channeled her passion into teaching yoga for those with chronic conditions, demonstrating that adversity can pave the way for new opportunities and growth.

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Krista Shirley (00:00:00) - If you have had to close your business or you will have to close your business just now, remember that there's always other doors that open as soon as one door closes. And if you are going through medical stuff, you have to focus on that. And once you're healthy again, the world is yours.

Lee Murray (00:00:19) - Welcome back to Exploring Growth and to our CEO series, where I'm interviewing CEOs around Central Florida area. Today, we have a unique opportunity to look at what it takes to relaunch a business. My guest, Krista Shirley, CEO and founder of The Yoga Shala here in Orlando. She's here to talk to us about her journey of persevering in the face of much adversity. So welcome, Krista.

Krista Shirley (00:00:42) - Thank you so much for having me. I'm really excited to be here today.

Lee Murray (00:00:46) - It's great. So excited to have you. I'm excited to talk with you because I know that there is someone listening right now that is feeling crushed by the weight of something, right? they're that's either affecting them in their business or affecting them personally.

Lee Murray (00:01:01) - And I was really excited to talk to you because I, I think that your story will be an encouragement to them.

Krista Shirley (00:01:09) - Thank you, I hope so. I'll try to make it kind of concise, but I'll start with saying that I am not naturally a business person. I got a degree from Rollins College in anthropology and Classical Studies, and I stumbled into yoga while I was in college, fell in love with the practice, and then started going to India and Thailand to continue my studies, and really found early on in my life that I really loved yoga, and I wanted to share the practice with the world. I really have always been interested in the body and body mechanics and how that works, and after a certain period of teaching, the logical next step really was to open a studio, which I did officially in 2009. And from the jump, it was a little bit of a challenge, because the day after I signed the lease for my first space, I found out I was pregnant with my son, who was now 14 years old.

Krista Shirley (00:01:55) - but I pushed for it anyway, and I just put one foot in front of the other. Especially given that I had no business background. I really built my business as a yoga teacher with a passion for yoga, kind of figuring out how to run a business. And I will tell you that I became very successful doing it that way. And along the way I got proper mentorship, and a lot of help to learn how to run a business. And I loved owning the yoga shala, which I ran successfully for many, many years. we were in Winter Park from 2009 until 2016. We moved to College Park, where we were until I close the studio in January of 20 or April of 21. and it wasn't specifically because of Covid. So I'll get a little bit into my story now. 2018, while I was helping my mother, who was disabled, she was overweight and she had had a stem stroke, which affects your cerebral cortex, so she couldn't use her body. I was trying to get her out of her wheelchair into the car, and she basically pulled me down and pulled my shoulder, so it ripped my supraspinatus tendon off the bone.

Krista Shirley (00:02:58) - I did a lot of PRP therapy, physical therapy, and eventually chose to go with a very basic arthroscopic shoulder surgery. unfortunately, that surgery gave me a nasty infection almost killed me. And I did a revision surgery in Colorado with one of the best surgeons in the nation for shoulders and scapula. And unfortunately, that surgery, my super scapula nerve was severed. And the super scapula nerve powers two of your four rotator cuff muscles. So I was left very disabled. I wasn't able to use my limb at all and it was a long journey. I ended up undergoing quite a few surgeries, the last of which was a nerve transfer that took away even more function. They took out the muscle of my trapezius to try to renovate my shoulder. I had to wait an entire year to see if that worked and it didn't. So in April of 2021, we did the nerve conduction study that had been exactly a year. and my nerves had not regenerated, and I lost my trapezius in addition to my super and infraspinatus.

Krista Shirley (00:03:53) - And every doctor basically said, really sorry, get on disability and good luck with your life. Yeah. And, you know, I still to this day kind of kick myself for many choices and decisions I made along the way, one of which was in my mind from late 2019 until April of 2021, in the midst of Covid and everything, I kept the business alive. I got into a lot of debt thinking in my mind, as soon as I get my body back, as soon as I get my function back, I can rebuild this business. I know I can. And then I came up to a wall, and the wall basically said, you have to stop. But I remember very poignantly, at that moment in time when all those doctors told me, your option is disability and just learning how to live with your dysfunction. And I remember thinking, that is not that is not the option I'm choosing. So even when I closed my business. I had no idea what was next. And I will say, and transparency, that I sort of convinced myself I would never reopen a studio.

Krista Shirley (00:04:54) - I think I did that more because I needed to grieve the loss of my studio. It was like it was like a child. It was like a sure, for sure. but I spent the year of 2021 literally doing every kind of outside the box body mechanic, anything I could find trying to find the most off the wall you could think of. And I was lucky. I did end up finding somebody who was willing to sort of work with me in a different way, because unfortunately, physical therapy doesn't really work with neurological issues occupational therapists do, but they really work with very traumatic situations. So because I could get my clothes on and I could feed myself, they were like, really can't help you. So long story short, with that, I eventually got to a point where I had enough function. I was rebuilding my personal yoga practice and figuring out what I was going to do next, and I did start teaching a little bit of yoga again. And, from a little bit of yoga, just organically evolved to teaching more yoga.

Krista Shirley (00:05:50) - And then my mom actually passed away in June of 2022, and right after she passed away, I felt her energy, I felt something, and it was like, okay, it's time to start teaching a daily morning yoga program again, which is something I didn't even know how much I missed. And I spent a year and a half literally renting time out of a studio, partly because I there was no way physically I could open a studio. But again, I didn't think I wanted to. And fast forward over that. Last year and a half, my programs have grown, my private clients have grown, everything has really evolved again, as well as my continuous function recovery of function. and so it became a very logistical solution to have my own space again. And that was another hard choice to make, because it was sort of in my mind, I was like, I don't know if I can do this again. I just I don't know if I can do this again. And there were a lot of things, you know, as anybody listening, you know, if you have a business or have had one in the past, you look back and you're like, gosh, I really would have done that differently.

Krista Shirley (00:06:45) - And so there were so many things from my past experience owning a business that I was like, I just don't want to own a business again. But then when I was presented with an opportunity, when I outgrew the space we were using, and the only two options were to literally rent time again out of the space, but to basically it was going to be as expensive as paying rent. I sat with myself and I said, okay, if I if I really try to do this again, how can I do it differently and do it all the ways that I want to be successful, but also not all the ways I didn't enjoy about my business in the past. And I set with myself, really making notes about how to make that possible.

Lee Murray (00:07:21) - Okay, so before before you get to that, let's let's go back a couple of steps because I'm really interested in I think it was 2021. You said you hit a wall. Yes. what what was that wall. Was it an emotional wall? Was it just the physical, you know, toll that it's taken on you or.

Lee Murray (00:07:40) - It was a.

Krista Shirley (00:07:41) - Little bit of everything. So before the nerve conduction study in April, my studio was still open. But from whenever we March of 2020, when they put the restrictions and closed businesses down in Florida, and then when we reopened in May or June. My yoga studio is even more specialized than most in that we're very hands on, lots of adjustments, and we really, really focus on a very specific deep breathing with sound. So as you can imagine, with Covid, nobody wanted to be close to each other, nobody wanted to be touched, and nobody wanted other people breathing close to them or close to them. So we were open, but we were dead, and that existed anyway. But like I said, when I thought when the nerve with the nerve study says my nerves would come back, then I'm going to, you know, I'm going to make this happen. And when the nerve conduction study said nothing has come back, you've lost your mid and lower trap. Your infraspinatus supraspinatus never came back.

Krista Shirley (00:08:35) - I definitely hit a mental wall, of like, oh my God, what am I going to do? I was still very, very disabled. I literally my limb kind of hung by my side. I could not lift my arm at all and I wasn't a lot of pain. And I did some pain management for a while, but it was more of a mental wall than anything. But physically, I was incapable of running my own business fully by myself and I, and it was a very scary place. But I also want to just backtrack and say that during Covid, while my studio was open, I kept getting in my ear every friend, family, person that loved me. What are you going to do now that you can't teach yoga? And I was it was a very strange place for me because I felt like I was a little bit crazy. I was like, stop talking like that. What are you talking about? Of course I'm going to get my body back. I'm not changing my career.

Krista Shirley (00:09:19) - But at the same time, that little, little pieces of me were trying to make moves. So, for example, I self train myself how to do audio narration. And during the entirety of Covid, I narrated audiobooks and so I, I was able to teach myself, okay, Krista, even though you're almost 40 and you're kind of disabled, like, you can you can make something happen, you can learn new skills. And, so when April of 21 came, I was an incredibly forlorn. I was definitely sad and disappointed, but I thought, okay, I need to look ahead. I need to figure out how I'm going to, like, build my life again, build a career again. Yoga's gone. Not that personal yoga was gone, but maybe forever. Teaching was gone. and I did walk away from it for a while. I went and worked at Universal Studios for about six months. and I kept some private clients throughout that time, but I actually didn't want to teach for a long time because I think emotionally it was hard for me.

Krista Shirley (00:10:11) - It was hard for me to to talk people through practices that I couldn't physically even do myself. so I hope that answers that a little.

Lee Murray (00:10:18) - Yeah, it does. And, you know, I think one of the themes that I'm pulling out is just the passion that you have for this discipline. You know, and I think that in addition to that, I would say, what stands out to me is that you have a true entrepreneurial spirit. and that is one of tenacity, one of discipline, one of, fortitude, perseverance. you know, even stepping back and have patience that sometimes at some point when it's necessary. you know, I've been through you've been through a lot and still have the sort of, gumption to get up and say, you know, I'm going to look at doing this again. But it's rooted in that passion and and I think that's where I think your story, the message to whomever is listening to this, going through something right now, even especially medical because medical is such a, you know, it's almost sort of like what is happening to me, you know, type of thing.

Lee Murray (00:11:12) - And that can really take you emotionally and mentally, and it pulls you away from the things that you are passionate about and things you're doing well in your, in your business. but I think people hearing that story and connecting to it is important because there are people going through, you know, negative life circumstances. We all always have something that we're either, as I say, going into, into or coming out of, you know, this is how life is. so I think it's very, it's very, admirable and also encouraging to, to see that, you know, there is a light on the other side, you know, if you're in a dark place right now, you might just need to take a step back and, you know, look at everything because your story ends, you know, is that part of your story is ending really well. You know, where you're coming back to the passion and with renewed spirit. and you have something new to give. So I think that's amazing.

Krista Shirley (00:12:11) - Thank you. And I want to add to actually to coming back for anybody out there who has had to close your business for any reason. If you ever get the desire to kind of. Re-enter your business or start over. I just can't encourage you enough to really push through with that passion because I'm going to get emotional. It's it's worth every second of it. And, I, I'm going to turn around so you guys can see my scars a little bit. So I'm missing your my supraspinatus here, my infraspinatus here, which does external rotation I don't have.

Lee Murray (00:12:44) - Now for the layperson. What does that mean? I'm sorry for the layperson. What is that medical term.

Krista Shirley (00:12:49) - You're so you're supraspinatus that I'm missing on this side. Assist with any lifting of your arm. The first 15 degrees. Okay. Infraspinatus is right about here. And any time you externally rotate your arm or, for example, this position, I can't do this on this side. And then your mid trap is this muscle right here.

Krista Shirley (00:13:10) - And your lower trap is this portion of the muscle. So yeah you can see my rhomboid here. But I don't have a mid or lower trap on this side now. Right. Yeah. And. Great. What's very cool is the body is really cool. And I want to make a couple comments and it's whether or not you're dealing with something that's medical or something completely different. I just want to say that the process that I went through was like a two year process of just complete fortitude, like not willing to give up and trying everything. I have not only learned so much more about the anatomy of the human body and all of that, but I've gained so much more inner perspective of of humanity, truthfully. And, I wish that this had never happened. But now that I'm back into my career, I have a whole different perspective. And I actually most of my clients, I wouldn't say most of them. I specialize now in working with people with chronic musculoskeletal or neurological issues. Now I work with tons of people who are normal and have no problems with me.

Krista Shirley (00:14:06) - but I find the most gratification and working with people that I can truly help through a situation somewhat similar to mine. So I just want to again, anybody out there listening know that what what you've gone through, what you're going through is never not for nothing. yeah. And I feel that more than ever before, and it's actually given me a lot of strength and inspiration and the gusto to move forward. That's another reason I wanted to have a space when it became really obvious that I needed to do something different than what I was doing, I wanted to create a bigger space for anybody in Central Florida to know that there's hope, because I can't tell you. Just like you had said, I've had clients. I can think of a gentleman right now. He's in his late 60s, early 70s, very, very successful human being with his business. And then he got diagnosed with cancer and a number of other things. And just even the mental aspect alone, I remember vividly him crying and saying, you know, I worked so hard throughout my entire life to be able to enjoy these years of my life, and now I can't enjoy them.

Krista Shirley (00:15:06) - I'm in so much pain and my life is consumed by my medical care. The only thing I was able to give him was a little perspective. I couldn't fix his cancer, but I was able to give him just a little bit of perspective. And I will tell you that once you're removed a year or even two years from closing your business, I hope that perspective that you can have and how you look at the business you ran before and potentially running again, is is gratifying to you, because I do think it's incredibly hard to run a business. I don't know the statistics, but I do know that many small businesses closed very quickly after they open. And, I, I just encourage everyone watching the podcast today to know that if you have a passion for something, please try again, because this time is even better than the first. And I always remember when I was younger, I remember hearing, you know, oh, these millionaires who, you know, made tons of money and lost it all, but they could rebuild it because they knew how to.

Krista Shirley (00:15:55) - And I thought, well, that's a really novel idea. it's not so novel. We can all do it. If you've created your business, even to some level of success in the beginning, you can do it again even better in the second time around. And I am I literally had my grand opening last Saturday, and I. I won't say I'm scared by any means, but I mean, I am literally starting over and, you know, I have I have taken out a lot of personal funds to try to make this business successful. And while it could fail in my mind, I know it's going to succeed. And in my mind, I just think six month market targets and 12 month targets and just really be patient and continue pushing forth with my passion. So yeah.

Lee Murray (00:16:33) - I love that. I think that's a great message because especially back to someone who's not just starting a business to make money. You know, I don't think that's really who you're speaking to. You're speaking to someone who has a passion that wants to express it through a business.

Lee Murray (00:16:47) - I think starting over allows you to reenter that passion with a new vigor, you know, new energy, but also with that new, clear perspective which allows you to help your if you're if you're, you know, having a service which a lot of people do, it allows you to help those customers and clients and patients maybe, in a, in a wholly new way where you're now more connected with the end result. and I think that is, that's what makes people so much more, ultimately successful in their business because they're attached to it in a different way.

Krista Shirley (00:17:26) - So that.

Lee Murray (00:17:28) - And what's cool about it from a from a for profit standpoint, if you just start looking at the, the numbers, you know, thinking back to what you were saying earlier, you were saying that you went to, occupational therapist and, physical therapy and they have boxes, right, that they can put you in. And those boxes work by and large, for what people are dealing with. But when you don't fall in one of those boxes, well, it gets kind of difficult.

Lee Murray (00:17:57) - You now have to kind of navigate that solely on your own or, you know, find that part of yourself. And what's so interesting about your business, now that you're reconnected in a new way, you can exist to serve those people that are in that gray area. and so, I don't know, the my mind starts to go to, you know, ways to make money. and I start to think, well, you know, insurances would probably pay for somebody who falls in the gray area. They just have to be educated on how it works. you know, because there's probably more than just you out there that needs these type of services.

Krista Shirley (00:18:29) - Oh, no. And that's that has been another very eye opening experience for me. I went to Miami in May of last year to see my yoga teacher who lives in India. I've not been back to India since 2018 because of my nerve damage, but I met two, advanced yoga students like myself who both had different nerve issues that they were dealing with now.

Krista Shirley (00:18:49) - Thank goodness for them. Their injuries were were quickly healed. They weren't long term injuries, but it was just eye opening to me to see even in my small yoga world, because Ashtanga yoga, the type of yoga I practice particularly, is a very small type of yoga and really opened my eyes to how many people are struggling with neurological conditions. Forget musculoskeletal conditions. But going to your point, I love the word that you use boxes because that's exactly how I describe it to people. So many people don't fit into the boxes of this traditional therapy route that we have currently in our country, and I do I actually, again, a very vigorous, exciting from me. I've created a class called Rehabilitative Body Mechanics. I taught the first one today at 915, actually. Nice. And I designed it really specifically for people with chronic musculoskeletal and neurological issues. I am not a doctor, but what we do in that class is basically I'm helping students learn how to proprioceptive retrain their body, how to work with small movements to eventually increase their mobility and address certain issues.

Krista Shirley (00:19:53) - And it will evolve over time. But it's it is a true passion of mine. You know, when I was prior to my nerve damage, in the Ashtanga world, I'm called an authorized level two authorized teacher. There's a couple hundred of us in the world. And I had a very, very advanced yoga practice. and so I tended to have a lot of students travel in to Orlando from all over the country, in the world to study with me. That doesn't really happen anymore. but that's okay with me. Again, things have shifted. You know, I can still teach advanced students yoga, but I want to really help people who are struggling with physical issues. So my passion, I'm still passionate about Ashtanga. But my passion around health and wellness has really changed in terms of what I want to share and give and do for people in the world. And I feel very honored because I know that it is a gaping hole. There is nothing out there. So yeah, and I you know, again, I'm going to preface that I'm not a business person, but, I my motto used to be when I first opened my studio, years and years ago, I was pregnant with my son when the doors opened.

Krista Shirley (00:20:52) - I don't know if anybody out there listening has ever seen the movie Field of Dreams with Kevin Costner. my mom loved it. I used to watch a lot when I was little, and so I would stand in an empty yoga room day after day, maybe one student, maybe two students for months. And I would just in my mind, if they build it, they will come. If you build it, they will come. That's right. I, I swear to you, within six months I had a flourishing studio and I don't know how I got there. I just every day, one foot in front of the other and I. I am trying a little bit more of a marketing strategy this time, but I'll be honest, I it's still kind of that way. And I and I think the more passionate you are about your business, maybe the more you can live that way. for sure. I'm really, really grateful and honored to be able to learn from this experience and then help other people in my practice and my teachings with that as well.

Lee Murray (00:21:40) - That's awesome. Let's let's dig into your business just a little bit and talk about, okay, you have this new set of clientele that you're going to be serving. What would keep someone engaged for the long term like for the long term? You know, we look at retention, right? as a business owner. So, why would they continue to come back?

Krista Shirley (00:22:00) - I will say a couple with my type of business is a very service based business. We are a small business, a smaller studio. It's about nurturing clients and building community. I mean, those are the two key markers for my success in my business. And I also say I've spent tons of money on advertising through the years. The greatest form of of new clients is word of mouth. So when people really love us, they rave about us and they bring their clients in. And the grand opening was a great example of that. For me personally, I do a lot of giving back to clients. I offer a lot of discounts for existing clients.

Krista Shirley (00:22:32) - I make sure to acknowledge their birthdays and special anniversaries. I try very hard with any clients that kind of my classes personally, to get to know them and understand their life a little bit so that every time I see them, I can ask them something that you know will make them feel good. How's your mom doing? She's been in the hospital or whatever. And then one thing that one of my students, actually many of my students have now told me it was always a habit of mine. I teach a yoga program Monday through Friday, and at the end of every day somebody leaves and I say, have a great day, I'll see you tomorrow. And I've been told now over and over again that that just made them feel so good. And so what's the word I'm looking for? Not obligated to come back tomorrow, but like a accountability. Sure. So I also and I don't not just through that in other ways I create accountability for clients and not enough pushy way, but trying to always hold them accountable.

Krista Shirley (00:23:23) - One of my mission statements my previous studio. I've changed my mission statement a little bit, but it was to help students help people in Central Florida take accountability of their own health and wellness. And I used to say through the vehicle of Ashtanga yoga, that's changed a little bit now, but my mission hasn't changed at all. I mean, even my my own case, you know, there were moments through my medical journey that I felt like a victim, which is a horrible feeling to have. But every time I would feel that way, I would try to pull myself out of it and say, no, you picked that doctor. You said yes to the surgery, or you did this or you did that, and now nobody's here to help you, so you have to help yourself. And so I try really hard to, in a loving way, create accountability for the client. And then it's up to them. I'm like, you just have to show up. Like once you get here, the hard part is over.

Krista Shirley (00:24:09) - But I will again, the community. So for example, and something that we're going to start adding again is monthly potluck. So once a month we'll hold a potluck where people will bring in a dish and we just hang out like that.

Krista Shirley (00:24:19) - Yeah, we do.

Krista Shirley (00:24:20) - Things called movies on the mat. so anything and everything that I can do to create community, support community, build relationships, support those relationships, and ultimately make them feel like they're part of the studio. And more than just being a client or a member, but truly part of this beautiful community. So I would say from my business, those are the things that I do to help people stay engaged and stay connected. And I will just also add that if students disappear for a little while, I do reach out as well. I'm I try to make sure always feel.

Krista Shirley (00:24:52) - Connected, like, hey.

Lee Murray (00:24:53) - Where have you been? Yes, we missed you at the last potluck.

Krista Shirley (00:24:58) - Yes.

Lee Murray (00:24:59) - Yeah. No, I like that approach because it's very, it's very, you know, human, it's very relationship oriented, keeps people connected.

Lee Murray (00:25:06) - I think the specificity of what you're doing now, in the nature of the type of yoga that you're doing is, is really key to, stickiness in your business, because I think it's also key to growing your clientele as well, because people who have acute type of injuries or medical conditions, they will love to. Someone else who has something similar so that they have that connection and that that bond. And so I think that the bond really that you're playing into is, is a great approach because they're there, they're going to find other people out there and talking friends, family, colleagues, and they're going to invite them in. And then when they're there, you know, they're all bonding over this healing kind of experience. It's it's such a great place. It's sort of like a great platform for everyone to come together.

Krista Shirley (00:25:56) - Exactly.

Lee Murray (00:25:57) - Yes, sir. Yeah, I like that a lot. So now you know the exciting part. You're what are your future plans for?

Krista Shirley (00:26:04) - For growth. Well, we.

Krista Shirley (00:26:06) - Officially opened on Saturday of this past week. So I will say my first year goals are really just to support that. So let me back up. I have other teachers on staff and as I said, I teach Ashtanga yoga, but we do it in what's called a Mysore program. So it's very specialized. And then I've added new classes as well personally. But I've got a bunch of teachers on staff. And so my first biggest goal is to really support that staff and assist them in growing their classes and their programs. also rebuilding the community that we had in our previous space, because it's been several years since the studio was open. So the first year is trying to really establish and rebuild community, establish and rebuild, a process, if you will, that's flowing. So for even just for new students, for example, it's something new that I'm doing. First class is free for new students, and I'm trying to create a little bit of a funnel system for the teachers to help once they finish their first class.

Krista Shirley (00:27:02) - What next steps? Again, these are all new things. We have a brand new website, brand new software, all the things. So the first year is kind of rebuilding, figuring out what works, what doesn't, and then get it to turn into a fine tuned machine. Yes. and second year goals. So I before my nerve damage, I did own my studio in Central Florida, but I also taught workshops all over the world in the country. and I taught a lot of retreats every year internationally. And, for 2025, it may be overzealous. In the beginning, I would still very much be at my studio, but I want to try to bring back some more national workshops. I do teach a few of them more national workshops, more travel for me, if the studio can kind of sustain itself to some degree, which will require training of certain teachers for the type of stuff that I teach. And so there's a lot of different things in place, which isn't necessarily growth for a on the dollar amount level at the at this point, but plans to create more revenue streams, and a little bit more freedom for me to move around the country and the world, but also building more programs.

Krista Shirley (00:28:07) - we're starting right now. We've got a good number of classes on the schedule, but I would really like by the end of this year to pretty much max out the opportunities for classes on the group schedule. I am usually very full with private clients, but also getting the staff to have opportunities and clients to work with privately and get the staff to do more workshops. Because I am offering workshops in my studio, and I've been offering workshops in Central Florida since I started teaching again, I kind of really give the teachers that are on staff the opportunity to start shining and taking on more, more projects, if you will.

Krista Shirley (00:28:40) - Yeah, I love that.

Lee Murray (00:28:41) - You know, you're talking about, bringing on new people, bring building programs. It takes me back to the occupational therapist and the physical therapist. How much overlap or is there any overlap with people who are trained and degreed in those areas and that actually enjoy yoga?

Krista Shirley (00:29:02) - so I'm smiling when you say that because, one of my friends and yoga students, her name is Gabriella.

Krista Shirley (00:29:07) - She is a physical therapist. She has a PhD in physical therapy. She had done my apprenticeship or teacher training program in 2016 or 2017, and she taught for me at my old studio, and she's teaching for me again. She starts her first class tonight, so she works full time as a physical therapist. She's very passionate about yoga. how much of an overlap is there? I don't think there's that much of one, to be honest with you, but it does exist. And it's really, really, really cool to see when it happens. Almost every physical therapist that I've ever experienced has not had any background in yoga and works within very, very stringent perimeters of what they're willing to do or try with the client. And I think Gabriella, for example, I think even in her practice of physical therapy, is more willing to think outside the box, which I'm sure has a lot to do with all the things in her life. But I think the yoga helps a lot. and I, I don't ever wish to downplay any physical therapist.

Krista Shirley (00:30:06) - They work a wonderful they do a wonderful work for many people. I found with my particular condition they were not helpful for me very much. and because of that, it really makes me question, you know, how can there be a program created or a degree created that can work with us very small gray area people, and it is such a small number, I don't know if it's really worth it when you look at money and all those things, but I hope that one day I can try to help build some kind of a gap to see if the occupational therapy world or physical therapy world will expand what they're willing to do with people, or how they're willing to help people.

Lee Murray (00:30:46) - Yeah, I agree, I think there has to be space for that. I, you know, the future is bright for what you're doing. I think, because I look at the traditional medical world and I think everybody, you know, it's kind of in our face now and that these boxes that they've created, they break down, pretty quickly.

Lee Murray (00:31:04) - And that system is, is due for an overhaul. but in the in the meantime, I think people are looking for all kinds of alternative ways to get healthy and stay healthy and in whether that's nutrition or, you know, moving your body or, you know, workouts, whatever it may be. I see businesses popping up all over the place, both bespoke, you know, type of very hands on and very niche, niche market type of services, but also those that are scaling and growing and franchising. you know, it's just people are looking for something outside of traditional medicine because they're not getting all the answers that they need. so it's, it's it'll be interesting to see where your business goes. I think the future is bright.

Krista Shirley (00:31:51) - So thank you. Thank you very much.

Lee Murray (00:31:53) - Thanks again for being on. I appreciate you sharing your story. I know it has to encourage at least one person that's listening, because we all go through stuff and, you know, going through medical trials is probably the worst because you have this sort of thing in black cloud.

Lee Murray (00:32:08) - It's above you all the time when you're just trying to, you know, live out your, your work and, and, you know, serve people. So thanks for sharing that.

Krista Shirley (00:32:16) - Know I'm so grateful. I'm really, really grateful to be on the show. And I really hope for anybody out there. Please just never give up on yourself. I remember the crux of the hardest point of this time for me, I think. It was hard to think clearly because of my medical stuff, but I just kept thinking about my business and how I was failing and how I was letting so many people down. And I will tell you, I carried that burden with me for a couple of years and it didn't help me. So I just want to leave with one piece of advice, and that is if you have had to close your business or you will have to close your business just now, remember that there's always other doors that open as soon as one door closes. And if you are going through medical stuff, you have to focus on that.

Krista Shirley (00:32:58) - And once you're healthy again, the world is yours. You can do whatever you want. You could start over, you could do something completely different. And I, I just wish everybody the best.

Lee Murray (00:33:07) - That's awesome. Thanks so much. If I want to send people to you, where should we send them?

Krista Shirley (00:33:12) - Please check out the Yoga charlotte.com. That's t h e yoga shala.com. Or just go to do yoga org and it'll take you to our website.

Krista Shirley (00:33:23) - That's great.

Lee Murray (00:33:24) - Thanks so much Krista.

Krista Shirley (00:33:25) - Thank you.