Aura Awakening: How The Aura House Found a Home with WellnessLiving
When Lisa Alexandra transitioned from dancing competitively to embracing yoga, it wasn’t just a change – it was a revelation, a transformative experience she lovingly refers to as “my big kaboom.” In yoga, she found what dance couldn’t offer: the profound lessons of self-honoring, self-love, and limitless movement.
This sparked Lisa’s fervent yoga journey, propelling her from yoga student to a passionate yoga teacher and eventually to a visionary business owner. In 2020, her dream unfolded into reality with the founding of The Aura House, a sanctuary nestled in Brampton, Ontario. It stands as more than a studio; it’s a vibrant home where yoga, dance, Pilates, meditation, mindfulness, energy healing, and crystal practices coalesce to foster a deeply interconnected community.
“When you step inside, it’s an immediate embrace, more like a sanctuary than a business. It’s not just a place; it’s a genuine home that we’ve molded into a warm, inviting space,” Lisa affirms.
In sync with Lisa’s transformative yoga odyssey, encountering WellnessLiving felt serendipitous, almost like fate. The holistic prowess of WellnessLiving’s comprehensive platform opened new doors at The Aura House. They harnessed the potential to shape a fresh future, fostering an exclusive app, fortified client communication, and an enhanced user journey.
During his journey on the CEO Tour, Len Fridman, the CEO and co-founder of WellnessLiving, immersed himself in a rejuvenating restful and restorative yoga session at The Aura House. Engaging with Lisa, he delved into the remarkable narrative of her yoga voyage and the instrumental role WellnessLiving played in illuminating the studio’s trajectory.
Explore the captivating story of how WellnessLiving has acted as a catalyst for The Aura House. We’ve revolutionized their operations by saving time, delivering peace of mind, and empowering them with robust tools for streamlined booking, scheduling, insightful reporting, and elevated client interactions .
CLICK HERE to experience firsthand how our innovative solutions grow studios, enhance client experiences, and contribute to the overall well-being of yoga/fitness enthusiasts everywhere.
The Aura House at a Glance
đź“ŤLocation: Brampton, Ontario
đź“ŤBusiness Name: The Aura House
đź“ŤBusiness Owner: Lisa Alexandra, Founder and Creative Director
đź“ŤWebsite: https://www.theaurahouse.ca/
đź“ŤBusiness Size: Large
đź“ŤJoined WellnessLiving Date: January 4, 2021
đź“ŤSwitched From: Mindbody
📍Active Subscriptions : Professional Plan ; Message Center ; FitLIVE ; White Label Achieve Client App
Meet Lisa Alexandra, Founder and Creative Director
After the curtain fell on her competitive dancing career, Lisa encountered a distressing notion: her body had an impending expiration date, forcing her to abandon what she cherished most. The aftermath was overwhelming—about six months later, she found herself experiencing a debilitating nervous breakdown.
Lisa’s journey was intertwined with the shadows of mental illness, battling the demons of depression and anxiety since her early years. Remarkably, she discovered that dance was her solace, a form of therapy that sustained her.
However, following the abrupt halt of her dance career, she was presented with a new path towards healing— a pathway leading her to yoga. This powerful practice unveiled to her a different kind of therapy, teaching her to embrace self-love and body acceptance, fostering a newfound freedom through movement.
In 2014, Lisa accomplished her inaugural teacher training and promptly began instructing at Hot Yoga Wellness in Brampton. Subsequently, she ventured into her maiden business, La La Wellness, embarking on a five-year journey of delivering yoga to schools and early childcare centers.
Despite her thriving venture, a sense of incompleteness lingered—Lisa yearned for a central sanctuary. Then, the sudden onslaught of the pandemic dealt a devastating blow to her business model, leaving her questioning the very future of her ability to impart yoga in school and early childcare center settings.
The Aura House’s 7 Pillars
This pivotal moment set Lisa on a journey of introspection, prompting her to delve into extensive reading and meditative practices as she contemplated the path ahead. In a profound moment of inspiration, Lisa commenced jotting down on a cue card what eventually evolved into The Aura House’s foundation of 7 transformative pillars:
- #1—Unfold: Through movement practices, we will allow ourselves to unfold.
- #2—Untold: Through storytelling, we will allow ourselves to express ourselves in ways that until now, have been unspoken.
- #3—Unwind: Through meditation and mindfulness practices we will find quiet and unwind.
- #4—Unassuming: Through community, we will in our hearts, thoughts, and actions be unassuming of our neighbors who walk through our doors.
- #5—Unashamed: Through connection, we will live unashamed of the spectrum of emotions and sensational experiences that come with our humanness.
- #6—Untethered: Through healing modalities, we will work to become untethered from the patterning that no longer serves us.
- #7—Unbound: Our practices will extend beyond our walls, unbound—simple, yet profound.
Lisa envisioned the profound impact of cultivating a community built upon these seven foundational pillars. She pondered, “How remarkable would it be to foster a community that thrives based on these fundamental guiding principles?”
When did The Aura House open?
Upon establishing her intention, the stars seemed to align. Lisa found the ideal space and launched her dream on July 1, 2020, introducing a virtual studio. Despite challenges imposed by pandemic closures, the physical space didn’t fully flourish until 2022.
Reflecting on this journey, Lisa remarks, “It’s been a long and winding road. What started as words, led to a space, and now, entering year 3, here we stand as a thriving community welcome to all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.”
What does The Aura House offer?
At The Aura House, the array of offerings ranges from group to semi-private classes, including a diverse schedule featuring yoga, mat and reformer Pilates, meditation, energy-based practices, and various movement options, catering to all levels of experience. Beyond just classes, The Aura House provides an assortment of class passes and membership options that cater to different budgets, schedules, and class preferences. Additionally, the studio hosts two free weekly community classes, open for all to attend.
For those seeking more personalized attention, The Aura House offers 1:1 appointments, featuring a spectrum of private sessions covering yoga, Pilates, Thai yoga massage, empowerment coaching, Oracle card readings, Akashic record readings, and crystal reiki. What’s more, in partnership with Divine Luna Healing, The Aura House also extends yoga teacher training and reiki certifications to those passionate about these disciplines.
Furthermore, The Hidden Gem, the studio’s crystal store and retail space, invites visitors to explore and indulge in a collection of raw stones, tumbled stones, crystal jewelry, ethically sourced palo santo , and a range of other products from local artisans and small businesses.
Why did The Aura House switch to WellnessLiving?
Initially, The Aura House opted for Mindbody, drawn in by its established reputation. However, the experience didn’t align with Lisa’s expectations, leaving her searching for a more effective solution.
Lisa reflects on the day she stumbled upon WellnessLiving, recalling it as a defining moment. “It felt like a sign,” she emphasizes. The previous platform lacked the user-friendly interface she sought. When WellnessLiving entered the picture, it presented a significantly cleaner interface, a more seamless user experience, and a distinctive feature in the form of their own White Label app. This characteristic alone set WellnessLiving apart from the competition.
“It gave us a sense of hope, particularly during the uncertainties brought on by the pandemic.” Lisa confides. Discovering a platform that could potentially pave the way for their future became an inspiring revelation. The value, distinctive features, and user-friendly approach of WellnessLiving seemed like the beacon of stability and promise they had been seeking.
How was the transition to the new software?
The transition to WellnessLiving, from the initial demo call to the subsequent onboarding and data migration, was an exceptionally smooth journey for Lisa. She recalls feeling extremely supported throughout the entire process.
“It was beyond just a typical business interaction; it felt like talking to a friend,” Lisa explains. She appreciated the sincerity conveyed when her support representative assured her, she could “call anytime.”
Not being particularly tech-savvy, she anticipated a learning curve. Nevertheless, she was pleasantly surprised by when WellnessLiving offered her multiple training sessions conducted by a dedicated specialist. These sessions were instrumental in helping her set up and become proficient with the new platform. Furthermore, the recording of these calls offered her the convenience of revisiting the content whenever she had questions, further enhancing her learning experience.
24/7 Customer Support & Continuous Growth
Ensuring that the support journey extends beyond the yoga mat, our Customer Solutions Team at WellnessLiving stands ready to assist through various channels, be it email, phone, or our vibrant community-focused platforms.
Lisa, at The Aura House, attests to the versatility of these resources. When seeking quick solutions, she calls us for personalized assistance. For those resourceful moments, the Knowledge Base offers in-depth articles, complemented by insightful training videos. Notably, whether it’s sharing positivity or constructive insights, Lisa actively engages in our Community Forum, fostering a space to provide feedback, seek answers, and champion feature requests.
Widgets for Booking
Lisa revels in the seamless experience offered to both new and existing clients when making a purchase or booking a class through her website or the app. The Lead Capture Widget, a true game-changer, effortlessly gathers essential lead information such as names and emails, automatically storing it in a new client profile. Complemented by schedule and appointment widgets, this ensures a frictionless booking experience.
“The impact of the website widgets has been remarkable. They’ve significantly boosted our 1:1 appointments, member bookings, and leads, attracting more drop-ins. This streamlined process has been a time-saving blessing, sparing us from manual registrations and bookings,” expresses Lisa.
White Label Achieve Client App
In the age where everyone is inseparable from their phones, a business app is indispensable for client interaction. Lisa recognizes the power of having her own custom branded Achieve Client App as the ultimate strategy to elevate her brand, cultivating trust and loyalty among her audience.
“Having our own app is not just a statement; it’s a cool factor for our business. The ability to showcase our logo, colors, and images on a personalized app adds legitimacy and sets us apart from other studios. Once clients download the app, it becomes a seamless experience for them to explore our schedule and make bookings for classes, appointments, and special events. It’s a vital discovery tool that significantly boosts awareness of our services,” attests Lisa.
Increased Engagement & Message Center
The Aura House considers WellnessLiving’s two-way SMS feature, Message Center, a game-changer. This innovative tool enables them to engage in complete end-to-end conversations, fostering robust relationships with their clients.
Lisa, expressing her enthusiasm, shares, “Message Center is my absolute favorite feature of the platform. Not everyone checks their email, and I wouldn’t want a client to miss a crucial note about their class just because it got lost in their inbox. Moreover, the ability to reach out to clients via text without picking up the phone to call saves me an incredible amount of time. People are far more likely to see, read, and respond to a text. I can effortlessly confirm bookings, provide membership expiry and renewal reminders, and send updates to our class attendance list, minimizing no-shows and keeping our clients well-informed. It even allows for that personal touch, like texting a client when they forget their mat.”
Membership Renewal Reminders
At The Aura House, maintaining transparency and ensuring members are informed about renewals is a top priority. Lisa emphasizes, “Integrity is crucial to me, so having the system automatically remind clients about their upcoming membership renewals or expirations through SMS, email, or push notifications is a game-changer. It not only simplifies the process but also takes a significant weight off my shoulders.”
Automated Marketing Suite & Email Reports
When it comes to client communication, Lisa takes full advantage of the comprehensive automated marketing suite. From monitoring open rates to crafting personalized messages, she seamlessly employs SMS, email, and push notifications tailored to specific client groups.
Lisa shares her strategy , saying, “I kick off with an email for an upcoming event. Afterward, I analyze the Email Campaign Report to identify those who opened the first email, signaling genuine interest. In a subsequent email, I precisely target those who engaged with the initial email. It’s incredible how each tool seamlessly dovetails into the next.”
Furthermore, The Aura House’s introductory offer emerges as a potent lead generator, breaking down barriers for potential clients to experience a class. Once they take the plunge and create a client profile, Lisa gains the opportunity to connect with them and further promote her offerings.
Customer Reviews
Harnessing the power of feedback is key to continuous growth. However, without prompting, clients may not proactively share their experiences. WellnessLiving’s automated marketing transforms the customer reviews process for Lisa, seamlessly reaching out via email, push notification, or SMS directly to clients’ mobile devices. This streamlined approach empowers The Aura House to effortlessly gather valuable reviews, contributing to the establishment and enhancement of their glowing reputation.
Rewards & Leaderboards
The Aura House maximizes our integrated rewards system, contributing to a thriving studio culture. Statistics show that 74% of businesses leveraging our rewards program experience enhanced retention, coupled with an impressive 86% surge in revenue. The yoga studio employs a dynamic approach, encouraging clients to earn more reward points by undertaking various actions—such as referring new members, leaving reviews, making purchases, or exploring new services, classes, or instructors.
Lisa enthusiastically shares, “Our rewards program injects a sense of fun into our culture, introducing an engaging gamification aspect and tracking clients’ positions on our leaderboard. It fosters friendly competition among our members, who can then redeem their points for trying new services or snagging merchandise from our store. It’s a fantastic incentive that encourages our members to explore more offerings and maintain their commitment to our studio.”
The Elevate Staff App
Empowering efficiency at The Aura House, Lisa and her dedicated team harness the potential of the Elevate Staff App right at their fingertips. With this intuitive mobile solution, they effortlessly register new clients and seamlessly check them into classes, ensuring a streamlined and dynamic front desk experience.
Dashboards & Reports
Unleashing the potential of robust business data, Lisa navigates her studio’s growth with finesse, courtesy of our advanced reporting system.
The Sales Details by Revenue Report serves as her strategic compass, offering insights into revenue streams from classes, services, and The Hidden Gem store. Armed with this information, Lisa strategically plans, conducts cost-benefit analyses, and focuses efforts where her business needs them the most.
Additionally, the Email Campaign Report is a valuable asset, allowing Lisa to pinpoint the effectiveness of her outreach efforts, identify engaged clients, and tailor communications for enhanced client interactions and increased sales.
FitLIVE & FitVID on Demand
Navigating the challenges of the pandemic and lockdowns, Lisa harnessed the power of WellnessLiving’s FitLIVE feature (formerly known as Zoom integration) to seamlessly livestream classes and conduct video appointments. This not only saved valuable time on administrative tasks but also streamlined the process of creating and distributing Zoom links to clients.
While The Aura House now fully embraces in-person experiences, the reassurance of having FitLIVE and the video library feature, FitVID on Demand, at their fingertips serves as a vital component of Lisa’s contingency plan.
What does receiving the #StandwithStudios Grant mean to you?
In October 2022, Lisa immersed herself in the #StandwithStudios LIVE Tour in Toronto. Lisa was later honored as a recipient of the #StandwithStudio Grant Program, an acknowledgment of her inspiring story and the profound value The Aura House community holds for her.
Expressing her gratitude, Lisa states, “The grant program, aptly named #StandwithStudios, embodies WellnessLiving’s unwavering support for studios, offering the assistance we need precisely when we need it. Winning this grant holds incredible significance for us, and we were able to grow rather than simply survive. It was a huge break for us and we’re incredibly grateful!”
Securing victory in the #StandwithStudios Grant Program not only empowered The Aura House to elevate staff compensation but also granted them a year of invaluable software services. This, in turn, provided Lisa with the means to alleviate the financial burdens caused by the pandemic.
Ready to find your software home with WellnessLiving?
Discover your studio’s perfect home with WellnessLiving, just like The Aura House did.
According to Lisa, “Managing client profiles, registrations, and daily operations would be impossible without WellnessLiving. My studio couldn’t function without them. From your custom branded app to seamless payment processing, WellnessLiving is the ultimate solution. If you’re another studio facing challenges with your current software provider, WellnessLiving is the game-changer. For a company dedicated to seeing your business grow and supporting your journey, WellnessLiving is the place to be. Make the switch today—it’s a no-brainer!”
Ready to elevate your studio experience? Book a demo now to explore how WellnessLiving’s all-in-one system can streamline your yoga business operations and potentially boost revenue by up to 57%!
