Today we’d like to introduce you to Chad Underwood.
Hi Chad, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I took my first yoga class in January 2013. At that time, I was overweight, eating horribly, sitting behind a desk 8 hours a day and commuting 3 hours round trip for work. I had chronic back issues and was just overall not in a good place. I was never able to get over running as punishment, and I didn’t like being sore for 3 days after lifting weights. My partner at the time suggested I join her at a class at Modo Yoga Cincinnati (now Embra Studios) because she thought it would be good for me.
I walked in wearing a baggy t-shirt, basketball shorts, and was one of 3 or 4 men in a class of 60. I felt like a fish out of water, I was so out of my comfort zone. I walked out, swearing I’d never return, but the next day, I felt better than I had in years. I ended up doing 180 classes that first year!
There was an overwhelming sensation that there were tons of other people like me, but the perception of hot yoga being something that a regular guy in their 20s or 30s (or older) would do just wasn’t out there like it is today. So, I set out to bring Modo Yoga to Columbus. I went to teacher training in the summer of 2014, and we opened in the summer of 2015. Nine years later, we’re stronger than ever!
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Owning a small business is always going to have struggles. We’ve had a ton, and I could spend hours talking about them. Our copper plumbing piping was cut out and stolen during construction. We ran into concerns with parking availability. COVID presented a laundry list of issues. Stay at something long enough, and there will always be highs and lows.
But most importantly, you can’t forget the early days. We thought we’d open and the students would start flooding in, but that just wasn’t the case. I remember having classes where no one would show up. I had to make emergency runs to the bank to deposit personal funds into the business account to cover payroll. We had to take on outside investment. As much as I may have questioned things, I never wavered in the fact that I was certain our core mission would be successful – to provide a safe and welcoming space for any individual of any ability to practice hot yoga. We stuck to that goal, and to this day, I strive to have every student walk out our door feeling better than when they walked in.
We’ve been impressed with Modo Yoga Columbus, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Modo Yoga is a worldwide community of independently owned and operated hot yoga studios, united in our dedication to creating a more beautiful and sustainable world. Our focus is to bring an accessible yoga practice to our Columbus community. We welcome beginners and experienced students and offer a number of different types of classes and programming.
Our studio has garnered a reputation for a few things within the Columbus yoga community. First and foremost, the quality of instruction our teachers provide is one of our primary focuses. All of our teachers a minimum of 200 hours of training, and almost all of our Modo certified teachers have 500-hour teaching certifications. You may have a lot of worries when you step on your mat, but the quality and consistency of our classes will not be one of them!
Modo Yoga Columbus has a reputation for providing a clean and welcoming space. Our team of Energy Exchangers help clean the studio in exchange for complimentary memberships. We place an emphasis on getting to know our students, providing exciting and unique yoga and social experiences for our students, and considering ourselves more of a community center that happens to provide the best yoga classes in town.
We place make our studio as eco-conscious as possible – all the wood used in our studios is recycled from barns in Northern Ohio that I tore down and refinished myself. The benches are made from abandoned wood at a construction site. We used non-VOC paint, sustainably grown cork flooring, use bamboo toilet paper, and environmentally friendly cleaning products.
Of all the things I’m proud of, and there are many, I’m most proud of our Modo For Good program. We believe that each and every time we step on our mat, we are making the world a better place. And our Modo For Good classes, which are just $10, donate 100% of the proceeds to local and regional organizations making a difference in our community. We’ve raised over $70K in the past 8 years, and we’re just getting started!
What do you think about happiness?
That’s a loaded question because there are so many things that make me happy.
As a studio owner, I love watching the community. You can see smiles appear on students’ faces when they walk in the door because they know they’re in a place where they can be who they are. Our students have the freedom and ability to move, breathe, and feel amongst a group of individuals is something we don’t have a lot of in modern society. You see the connection between friends or family who practice together who want to share our space with their loved ones.
As a teacher, it brings so much joy to see a student have something “click.” You cue an adjustment, and a body moves accordingly, or you see the progress in a student’s practice over time.
As a student, the feeling of the hot room on a cold day is the absolute best. The peace and quiet of the room, where there’s no cell phones or laptops or phones ringing, is a beautiful respite from the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life.
Pricing:
- $49 Intro Offer – 30 Days Unlimited
- Drop Ins – $25, $15, or $10 depending on the class
- Class Cards – $110 for 5 Classes, $200 for $10
- Memberships – $125 for Monthly Unlimited, $155 includes Mat & Towel Rentals
Contact Info:
- Website: https://modoyoga.com/columbus/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modoyogacbus/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/modoyogacolumbus/
Image Credits
Katie Ricardella
Devon Albiet
