New Business Owner Stretching Deep in her Wallet
Clinton Bourgeois
Story Created:
Jan 9, 2013 at 6:51 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Jan 9, 2013 at 9:22 PM EDT
Dean Baker paced the floor of her yoga studio in downtown Macon. She's one of Macon's newest business owners.
"It's so exciting to own a studio."
The doors to "PureBalance" first opened in September and she knows even with the help of local business advocates, like Macon MainStreet, who held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the business Wednesday, history is against her.
"This was the third studio in Macon slated to close, so I purchased the studio and became a registered yoga instructor to keep yoga alive in Macon," said Baker.
Baker's studio now occupies the old Yoga Moga studio on Poplar and Second Street. She's re-branded and will use her background as a registered nurse and focus on wellness in the community.
"I've been marketing yoga for specific clients," said Baker. "Such as clients with lupus, clients with arthritis. I also want to become a certified prenatal yoga instructor, and for cancer survivors."
The full time nursing professor at Georgia College works part-time as a nurse at the Coliseum Medical Center to foot the bill.
"I did try to get a loan, and there are no small business loans available," said Baker. "So, basically I've have funded this myself."
Baker acknowledges the $20K business plan is a huge risk, but she just hopes to be part of downtown Macon's economic recovery.
"I'm a Maconite, I was born and raised in Macon and I remember Macon as a little girl when this was it," said Baker. "I would love to see that come back. It's very exciting to be part of the downtown business structure."
PureBalance Yoga and Wellness offers yoga classes daily. Anyone interested in yoga lessons can visit their website at http://purebalancemacon.com/
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