Daily Inspiration: Meet Chanda Woodall

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chanda Woodall

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My journey to becoming a yoga teacher and studio owner is very unique, I played college Lacrosse at Hiram College my freshmen and sophomore year. Towards the beginning of my sophomore year I tore my ACL and Meniscus on my right knee. This was the first time in my life going through two major surgery’s, they both where successful and I had a long road to recovery after. I had to sit out majority of my sophomore year to complete physical therapy. After the 6 months of PT I still didn’t feel 100% like my athletic self, after consulting with my doctor about the pain levels I was told the best thing was to give of sports, so thats what I did. I left Hiram College and transferred to Kent State University where I shortly signed up for the Army National Guard. I missed being apart of a TEAM, doing something beyond myself and giving back to my community. I left in 2018 and joined the Charlie 237th Medical Battalion in Akron Ohio where I have served for 6 years to date. When I returned home it was the end of 2019 and the start of Covid- 19 shortly after where I was activated to work in the local prison, nursing homes, and food banks with my fellow soldiers. Throughout this time I was still suffering a knee injury from my training in Texas, my right knee was never the same after the surgery and the military training made it worse, I was continually injuring it while on army orders. This is where I started to look deeper into my yoga practice, I had been going to Yoga Squared in Akron Ohio for years, I looked into learning the recovery and prevention aspects of the yoga practice and signed up for yoga teacher training in 2020. I served on active orders during covid while going to teacher training on the weekends to graduate with my 200 hour yoga teacher training. Yoga teacher training started as a way for me to heal my knee in a different way, something other than traditional medicine and try something holistic like yoga. It turned into a new way of life for me, yoga transformed me completely, the way i think, life my life and the way I view the outside world around me. Shortly after I started my business In Time Studio LLC, a yoga and aromatherapy studio. The focus was to have a safe space for people that look like me to practice yoga, with a focus in injury prevention, recovery and sound therapy. I hand pour my candles and room and mat spray that is crafted locally by myself and a small team. I was offered the amazing opportunity to open a physical studio in Fairlawn, and sell my products in the local Mustard Seed Market and yoga studios in the surrounding areas. I then grew my business and gained a partnership with my Army Unit and I perform yoga to active and veteran soldiers, I gained professional clients from our local NFL Browns players and even put together my own Wellness Festival at our local Akron Art Museum this past summer. It has been a huge blessing for me, I am born and raised in Akron Ohio, first in my family to graduate high school, college , join the service and start there own business. I want to lead and aspire from the work that I do, to help heal and give back to my community.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Throughout this journey I have faced many struggles, when I went through my first yoga teacher training I had a death in the family and I was constantly in a space of going from solider mentality from being on active orders to civilian mentality during the weekends while at my yoga teacher training and start of my business.

My second year of teaching yoga, I had to stop because of a non compete action another yoga studio in the same plaza as me had in there lease that i was unaware of. Due to this the landlord told me I could not practice yoga until that studio was out of the plaza, I was not aware that these things could happen, so i learned a lot during my second year about the business end of things and what questions to ask. The studio left a year later and I was able to start promoting and practicing again but I was starting from the ground up again for the second time.

My third year of business I lost my older brother due to murder, this has been the biggest challenge for me, I am still going through the aftermath of loosing a sibling. This affected me mentally and my business, I didn’t feel like I could show up fully for my clients or myself, I was taking on too much the first year and experiences burn out. Due to this I closed my studio in Fairlawn, I lost employees and drive and it made the most sense to close. I am now renovating a new space Yoga in Hinckley Ohio that I am excited about. A fresh start!

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a creator, I create products, workshops, community events, trainings and so much more. I am an artist, I love to paint and design, these are things I use for my business and personal life. I specialize in Yoga Teaching, Owning and managing a Yoga and Aromatherapy Studio and serving my community through my work in the Army National Guard and Citizen.

I am most proud of my Business In Time Studio LLC, overcoming adversity, being the first Black, women, Veteran Owned Studio In Akron Ohio.

What sets me apart is my ability to relate, my personality and mindset, my drive and passion. I pride myself on being able to hold space for those around me, being sociable and adding value to any space I operate in. I truly want the best for my community and clients, seeing those around me happy and winning makes me feel accomplished.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
My advice would be finding someone that is doing what you aspire to be, then reach out to them, try to follow the path they took and do it in your own unique way with guidance.

What has worked for me is taking advantage of every space I’ve been offered to work in, keeping good relationships and connections along the way and not being afraid to stand out by doing something on your own even if its already been done. You can still do it in your own unique way, there is enough room in this world for everyone to exist.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.intimestu.com
• Instagram: @allthingschanda and @intimestudio_
• Facebook: @intimeyogaandwellnessstudio