Help Rebuild SHAKTIBARRE from COVID-19!
Save the barre and yoga organization offering effective, compassionate, and affordable classes to all types of people.
Take a deep breath in and imagine a space where fitness and compassion coexist. That organization exists, and it is SHAKTIBARRE. To rebuild, we need $59,000 before July 15th. As you exhale, consider this: Since 2016, SHAKTIBARRE’S mission has always been to rise above exclusive fitness industry standards by way of barre and yoga classes for all types of people. We merge quality boutique exercise with humanitarianism by:
Why does SHAKTIBARRE risk closing because of COVID-19?
With the $69,000 we fundraised four years ago, we opened two studios, we've hosted thousands of students and their classes, employ an average of 30 individuals at a time, maintain a 4.89 star rating across 40,000 reviews, were awarded "The Top 9 Women Nationwide Making an Impact in Fitness" by Self Magazine and received 51 additional acknowledgement like features in The New York Times, VOGUE, Wanderlust Journal, etc, and were about to grow globally with an integrative and easy-to-use app when...
...COVID-19 happened and we’re at risk of losing it all. To be clear, we may never open our doors again or be able to keep up with the fitness industry’s necessary technology pivot unless funding is secured. In the last 2 months, we’ve lost over $28,000, endured a 70% reduction in classes offered resulting in 1/3 of our teaching opportunities no longer available, and 40% percent loss in student attendance. As we'll continue to suffer losses over several more months at least - you may know gyms are in Phase 4 of New York City's reopening plan and the city itself hasn't even met the requirements to begin Phase 1 - we’ll need to fundraise to have a chance of safely and sustainably rebuilding.
Who will benefit from SHAKTIBARRE rebuilding?
Take a moment to experience your own generosity in this moment. Think on our mission, accolades, and the tragic facts of this global pandemic to remember why SHAKTIBARRE matters to so many in the long run. Students and teachers rely on SHAKTIBARRE to be anything from a unique and immunity-boosting workout modality to a sanctuary for their bodies, minds, and communities. Here are some of the faces of SHAKTIBARRE:
Further, here is a sample from the collection of reviews we've received since Livestreaming began
How will the $59,000 be utilized?
The $59,000 we need to rebuild accounts for the last 2 months of losses plus 3 more months based on New York City's phased reopening plans. $48,000 of it is for rent, teacher and management payroll (excluding both co-founders who are not taking a salary at this time), existing business loans that have always been in good standing, and the cost of running Zoom in it's current format. With $11,000 additional dollars, we'll also have enough capital to begin filming for our app. Luckily, we already mapped out our collaboration and content with Vimeo because pre-pandemic we'd planned to launch app with them! Initially, we thought raising enough money to simply make a brick-and-mortar comeback was enough. However, when gyms reopen their capacity will be limited indefinitely and there could be multiple quarantine periods over time. Plus, many of our members have lost jobs or moved and so the app's $17.99/month subscription fee makes SHAKTIBARRE accessible to anyone around the world, regardless of location or job status. We know the safest, smartest, and most reliable way to supplement studio income is to accelerate our digital impact.
Is there any other way to rebuild? (Short answer = no)
And no, Livestreaming on Zoom will not work forever. Due to it's platform failures and serious security issues, our client retention has already decreased. In fact, here are just a few other things we've tried in the name of rebuilding SHAKTIBARRE that have had zero lasting success so far:
• A smaller team and class schedule
• Requesting full or partial rent relief
• Owners not taking a salary
• Business savings
• Disaster Relief Aid
• Payroll Protection Program
• Red Backpack Relief
• Facebook Small Business Grants
• Bumble Small Business Grants
• Etc...
What does the SHAKTIBARRE future hold?
Should we reach our $59,000 goal, 2 positive situations that can happen. Both of them far exceed SHAKTIBARRE ending completely:
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We raise enough launch an app, re-open one or both studios, and cover possible closing costs for the other studio ($55,001-59,000)
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We raise enough to launch an app and cover closing costs for both studios ($48,000-55,000)
What are more reasons to donate?
In our 4 year history, we have never had to ask for additional funding. Until COVID-19, SHAKTIBARRE was both self-sustaining and growing. We feel honored to distinguish ourselves from typical fitness classes and a responsibility to continue a unified legacy toward compassionate exercise (which is a conversation so needed that it will resume research at The New School for Social Research this fall).
By fundraising to reopen one or both SHAKTIBARRE studios and finally launch the SHAKTIBARRE app, our impact as one of the only barre and yoga organizations measurably focused on affordability and inclusive body-kindness will be a healing force in our neighborhoods and beyond! If you're an advocate for women-owned, do-gooding businesses with significant, meaningful reach...if something about SHAKTIBARRE has supported your life or the life of someone you know and love...if you'd like to say you did something today for a hopeful outcome tomorrow...please give with all your heart. Thank you so incredibly much.
♫ Song credits in our fundraiser video: "My Little Light" by Beautiful Chorus ♫
