Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Glidden.
Ryan, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My wife Melissa, our friend Ryan, and I started MOSAIC in 2010 in a 400 square foot studio apartment. We had little to no experience teaching yoga or running our own business, but we had a passion for helping people, and we all knew how powerful and meaningful the yoga practice is.
Within the first year, we were able to expand into an 800 square foot space. A couple of years after that we took an opportunity to grow into a 2,100 square foot space. We have then opened operated and eventually sold a second studio on the east coast, before returning to San Diego to put all of our focus on the MOSAIC studio here.
Recently my wife started The MOSAIC Foundation, a non-profit organization offering six-day retreats to active duty and veteran military to teach resiliency, restorative and healing practices, to train them how to come home, transitioning from a “war-time” mindset to a “peace” mindset.
It has been quite a learning journey. Each of us has studied, practiced and taught our craft for close to a decade now. We had all three written books and been given so many opportunities to continue to teach and help others, which is exactly why we started MOSAIC in the first place.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Ha! There’s no such thing as running your own business without obstacles. For starters, we opened up our yoga studio in a very small, upstairs, back apartment, almost in the heart of San Diego. The competition is fierce in this town. With so many studios around, we had to work very hard to differentiate ourselves and provide the absolute best classes possible.
When each of us left the security of steady jobs we had to face other people’s doubts, we didn’t have a big budget, we didn’t have any investors, and we didn’t have a whole lot of experience. We had to block out others doubts so we could focus on what we were striving to achieve.
We are relentlessly focused on MOSAIC’s mission to Awaken & Uplift. It has been challenging at times to not “sell out” to pop culture or lose focus on the mission. After all, we are running a business, and if you don’t recognize and consider the financials, you will never make it. We work hard to find the balance.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about MOSAIC Yoga – what should we know?
Our mission is to awaken and uplift the consciousness of human beings and thus, the world, one Soul at a time.
Often people that connect with MOSAIC’s mission are those that are looking for “something more” during this time in which so many feel lost or disconnected from a larger purpose and greater meaning. we have a great video that shows a little about us which you can view here: https://vimeo.com/95293135
We offer yoga classes seven days a week in vinyasa, restorative and yin styles. We also teach a lot of workshops on yoga as well as both a 200 and 300-hour yoga teacher training.
I would say that we are probably best known for being two things. One, integrating the physical practice of asana with the spiritual aspect of yoga in a meaningful way. Two, being a studio where yoga teachers come to train.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
MOSAIC would never have been without my wife, Melissa. It was her idea and inspiration in the first place that propelled MOSAIC into existence.
We have had lots of incredible support from our community through the years. I would say that most of the credit needs to go to them. Without the support of so many incredible yogis, we would never be what we are today.
Pricing:
- 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training – $1,900
- Unlimited Monthly Membership – $129
- 10 Classes – $165
- 5 Classes – $85
- 2 weeks of unlimited yoga – $25* (*new students)
- Single Class – $20
Contact Info:
- Address: 811 25th Street #102 San Diego CA. 92102
- Website: www.exploremosaic.com
- Phone: 6198045203
- Email: info@exploremosaic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mosaicyoga/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mosaicyoga/?ref=br_rs
- Other: www.lulu.com/spotlight/ryanglidden
Image Credit:
Cavagnaro Photography
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