Introduction

Atha Yoga 907 is a community yoga studio curated to assist its students on and off the mat in their personal journey of betterment, especially in cases of addiction and trauma recovery. Through the guidance of compassionate and knowledgeable certified yoga teachers who create effective class structures to openly discuss and practice the discovery journey and support yoga provides.

The Problem

Here’s the problem, Alaska is one of the top contributors to excessive alcohol and drug use in the country, ranking at 22 for excessive drinking and 12 for non-medical drug use in the country, according to America’s Health Rankings. A few points to consider about the effect and stigma around excessive alcohol and drug use are:

1. The violent crime rate and adverse childhood experiences resulting in trauma are two of the highest concerns in Alaska. According to the FBI Crime in the United States Report, the violent crime rate in Anchorage, Alaska is 1,194.6 per 100,000. Compared to 336.7 in 100,000 for the entire US, these numbers are staggering and quite frightening. Alcohol is a factor in about 40% of these violent crimes.
2. Without addressing the root cause of alcohol and substance abuse, which is most often trauma, the cycle of trauma and substance misuse continues. According to a report from the NIAA, 50% of individuals seeking help for alcohol and substance abuse were found to have PTSD with nearly 62% reporting childhood abuse and sexual trauma. 
3. In order to support long-term recovery and to help the ‘silent sufferers’ recover and seek advanced care if needed, trauma and substance abuse long-term recovery support needs to have a community platform built on safety, acceptance, and compassion without stigma.

The Solution

Now imagine if we were able to replace those unhealthy coping mechanisms of alcohol and drug misuse with the application of  yoga philosophy and principles focusing on connection to breath, awareness of our spatial relation to the world around us, and the practice of mindfulness in our thought processes to create a diversion from negative self-talk. Yoga can be an incredibly valuable addition to an individual's journey to recovery and prevention by addressing some of the root causes such as personal trauma, a poor sense of self-worth, and lack of healthy coping mechanisms. Atha Yoga 907 will create a platform which helps to remove the stigma around addiction and trauma recovery by:

1. Creating a safe space with certified, knowledgeable teachers offering effective and thoughtful class structures that inform and support current and future students in all aspects of yogic philosophy, application and principles.
2. Supporting treatment and care facilities in the community by offering workshops and weekly classes to work directly with individuals going through treatment and early and later Post Acute Withdrawal Symptoms (PAWS) in a safe and approachable way, creating a strong foundation incorporating yoga principles into their recovery journey.
3. Building a community of practitioners and teachers who value recovery and personal growth on all levels with compassion and empathy for others in the community, creating a ripple effect of community-level healing and support. 

Market Research

1. Atha Yoga 907’s Total Addressable Market (TAM)

$12,000,000  including crowd-funding, grants, community, and medical and treatment center partnerships.

2. Atha Yoga 907’s Serviceable Addressable Market (SAM)

If Atha Yoga 907 can capture 5% of this market, it’s Serviceable Addressable Market is $600,000.

Unique Qualifications

Atha Yoga 907’s founder, Mieha, is uniquely qualified for this venture. She has been practicing yoga for nearly 20 years and attributes her yoga practice to saving her life. During her own personal journey of alcohol and drug misuse as a coping mechanism from her own childhood and subsequent adult traumas which resulted in severe PTSD, it was not until she fully dedicated herself to the practice of the yoga sutras and principles, with the support of therapists and medical treatment,  that her life came into focus and she was able to make the healing adjustments needed to fall back in love with herself.  Through the self love, trust, and personal unity she discovered in her growing personal practice, Mieha was able to discover why she was meant to be a yoga teacher and had faith that she could sustain her recovery long-term, and thus Atha Yoga 907 was born with intent to assist others on their personal journey of sustainable recovery. 

“If we recover loudly, we can save someone from dying quietly.” -Unknown

Monetary Request

Atha Yoga 907 is raising $25,000 to fund the acquisition of a leased property for in-person private and group instruction to move out of an online-only format, continuing education towards Mieha’s 1000 hour Yoga Therapist Certification, and for start-up expenses for the studio space such as props, mirrors, and supplies.

If Atha Yoga is able to meet this full goal of $25,000 we will be able to focus on the addition of more yoga teachers and other mindful and holistic wellness specialists, to create an offering of services as multifaceted as the community itself.