Creature Yoga
We interview Tahl Rinsky from our favourite Byron Bay based yoga studio and teacher training Creature Yoga.
Tell us about your journey into starting Creature Yoga?
Seven years ago, I went through a separation and a divorce and with that I had to find a source of income. I had been a stay at home mum for six years. Through this process I started to look at what I really loved doing and I realised I really loved yoga. I had completed teacher training but never pursued it as a career, and instead had pursued other avenues like production, believing it would generate more money. I had all the yoga training, but didn’t think I could provide that way.
I started teaching ashtanga yoga with my teacher Dena Kingsberg. It quickly became apparent to me that I wanted to run my own business. Shortly after, I met Bess who had started yoga at The Farm Byron Bay. I worked with Bess for three to four months, before sharing with her my desire to run my own business. At the same time, Bess had realised how big a job having a yoga studio was. She wanted to have a business structure that allowed her to travel, so the idea of partnering together made sense. We got kicked out of The Farm at exactly the right time and through the joint effort of both of us, we rebranded as Creature.
How has your friendship influenced the business?
We are really good friends. We like doing things together. That energy probably permeates through the business. It creates the community. A lot of the stuff we like to do together is part of what Creature is.
How has the shift to online changed Creature?
It’s been amazing. We never wanted to do online. We always felt like it was too big shoes to fill to make the transition. Covid forced us to pivot and it turned out to be amazing for us and the business. It gave us freedom and sustained us through the lockdown so we could stay open. It created a whole other business model which allows us both to travel. We can tap in and do the live calls for Creature Teacher Training from Italy.
Yoga has changed through Covid. There has been huge transition to online, and I’m guessing post lockdown about 20 to 30% of people are going to keep practicing online. That changes the landscape of the business. Studio numbers are smaller. We also now have a huge international reach with our teacher training. People who have never been to Byron or Australia, are now practicing with us.
Tahl, your energy is incredible and always brings a crowd to the studio. What do you believe has contributed the most to your personal power?
I don’t know. Maybe a sense of conviction. I believe in what I do. I love seeing change. I’m quite comfortable being who I am. A lot of what people like about me is that I give them permission to be themselves. I also help people drop into a state of flow. I do the same myself while teaching. The biggest thing I get out of yoga is focus. I value it. That is what I want to deliver to people.
What advice do you have to other aspiring business owners out there?
Follow your dreams. Believe in yourself. Make a good business plan and strategy. Make mistakes. The only way you will learn is if you make mistakes. Make mistakes in all areas. With money, with people. When you look at successful businesses, they don’t tell you about their mistakes.
What can we expect to see next?
I think we are going to keep that as a surprise.
