Closing a 16 Year Old Studio To Thriving Online with Sandra Vanatko

Send Jackie A Message!Sandra Vanatko opened the first yoga studio in Parker County, Texas 16 years ago and built something real from scratch. After COVID changed the landscape, Sandra did something most studio owners are afraid to even consider and then she actually acted on it.In this episode, Jackie and Sandra walk through the full arc, from pioneering yoga in a skeptical market, raising private rates that were too low, grieving the loss of a 16-year business, and launching an online membership that hit 100 founding members in 36 hours.If you've been running your studio for years and something feels off, this one is for you.Timestamped Outline:[01:56] Sandra's background[11:23] How Sandra moves through resistance in business using somatic awareness[19:36] How Sandra's offerings evolved from classical yoga to somatic and trauma-informed work[27:47] Building the online business while still running the studio[33:21] The founding membership launch[35:51] Grieving a 16-year business[38:38] Sandra's top piece of advice for studio owners navigating big transitionsKey Takeaways:✔️ Meeting your market where they are isn't selling out—it's smart marketing. The door has to open before the deeper work can begin.✔️ Make the love list. Write down everything you love doing and everything you don't. The decision often becomes obvious.✔️ Grief is part of the pivot. Sandra spent six months in the process before she got excited about what came next. Skipping it stalls you later.✔️ Your community will follow you. 100 founding members in 36 hours, built on 16 years of real trust, not a fancy funnel.Quotes:"I wrote down everything I love doing, and I wrote down everything I didn't enjoy doing anymore. When I saw the list, it became clear." — Sandra"Grieving informed the new chapter. If you skip over it, you're skipping an essential piece." — Sandra Vanatko"Get paid support in place, because your friends are holding your heart—and you don't want to burn them out." — SandraFAQ Section:How do I know when it's time to close my studio or make a major pivot? If you're dreading the space you built or the math no longer makes sense. Sandra's sign was driving an hour to teach four people in person while eight joined online. The data often knows before you do.Is it too late to hire a business coach if I've been open for 10+ years? Not at all. Sandra was 14 years in before working with Jackie. The work wasn't starting over—it was raising rates, cleaning up operations, and building structure around what was already working.How do I raise my private rates without losing clients? Get clear on what you're actually offering. Sandra wasn't teaching yoga privates—she was offering somatic body work and trauma-informed coaching. Naming that value made raising rates a natural next step.How do I handle the grief of closing a long-running studio? Let yourself feel it fully. Sandra spent April through September in the process before she got excited about what came next. Skipping the grief doesn't speed things up—it just stalls the breakthrough.Work with Jackie MurphySay Hi on Instagram @studioceoofficial3 Marketing Mistakes Yoga & Pilates Business Owners Make: https://www.jackiegmurphy.com/evergreen-3mm-organicJoin The Studio CEO Program: https://www.jackiegmurphy.com/studioceo