It is still hot in Tsukuba, but there is a subtle change in the air, making one sense of the approaching autumn. I sit at the bench in front of the YODA studio, watching students rushing around fresh and clean on the first school day after the summer break. The 1st of September is an important date for so many people around the globe. Want it or not, we all feel the magic of this date.
The beginning of the month is a good moment to recap the past and outline the plans for the future. The two months after the opening were inspiring: we had our first clients, touching on something we've been dreaming of for so long. Then, summer came. Scorching heat added to the cumulated fatigue and stress. Many clients left for summer, some to never come back. It was a disheartening period of countless mistakes and inevitable friction within the team. Now I feel so proud of us to have overcome this difficult times.
After the turbulent June and July, August was calmer. We got used to the mechanics of the business, how to solve problems, and how to respond to clients' demands.
Business is an endless experiment. We tried many things. Some of them work (like movie nights), some don't (like game parties). We updated our web page to make it faster and smoother and added the card payment option. We got approved by PayPay to expand further the payment options, which was very exciting. It is funny because I personally never used the service, but I was waiting for their decision like a child is waiting for a Christmas gift. Another fascinating thing was to get our T-shirts printed. We created a YouTube channel and, most recently, even a TikTok. And we are still figuring out what to do with all that. We keep learning.
In July, we unexpectedly participated in the Tsukuba Bon Odori Festival (世界のつくばで盆おどり). It was a last-minute call, and we didn't know what to expect. Zhenya and Shivani performed on the bare concrete at 36°C. Hats off to the girls!.. Zhenya was appalled by the sizzling hot surface of the floor during her contemporary performance. Shivani had to dance in thick socks because Kathak is a sacred dance that cannot be danced in shoes.
Lesson learnt: next year, I will do my best to secure a spot later in the afternoon and, who knows, maybe even a stage.
We organised two workshops: a perimenopause workshop to support women in the challenging hormonal battle and an Indian dance workshop.
The latter one was more than just a master class. It was the event where we got to know Shivani, who is now joining our small team with regular Kathak and Bollywood classes. It is thrilling to see YODA growing, even though it comes with extra responsibilities.
On September 10, we are planning two more events. Both are related to well-being but from different angles. In the Dance Intensive, Zhenya will showcase her three main dancing styles: contemporary improvisation and high heels. I signed up and am looking forward to dancing for 2.5 hours. (I have never danced as much as in the last few months). The interactive seminar on healthy eating habits will follow. I fear my family will start to forget my face, but they will be rewarded with the dessert plate I bring home after the workshop.
We are also building bridges with the local breakdancer community! It is not something I expected, but the guys are amiable, and we have all the grounds for a fruitful collaboration. How about break dance lessons at YODA?!
We have another new class to start in October, but I will keep it secret for now. Zhenya M. is working hard to get a new diploma to help people make their bodies great again—no sarcasm (almost).
The wind is changing. Some friends left, and some will go soon. It is one of the cones of living in the international city of Tsukuba. But there will be new beautiful people from all over the world. So far, we have welcomed people from over 20 countries*! I hope that YODA will become the place where one can feel safe and welcome regardless of nationality. It is my primary motivation and, ultimately, the only reason YODA exists.
* Our geography so far: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Taiwan, Tajikistan, UK, Ukraine, USA, Vietnam. Let me know in the comments if I am missing your country in the list!
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