Meet Nancy Nomellini, the owner of Mother Yoga in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District.Nancy opened her community-based yoga studio in 2021 to make yoga accessible, affordable, and adaptable for all people. Alongside her team of skilled yoga instructors, Nancy offers a class for everyone from beginners to yoga experts.
Get to know more about Nancy and Mother Yoga in this Business Spotlight Q&A.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What’s your favorite part about the community your business is in & why?
The best part about our business is our community. I would say they are the heart and soul of Mother Yoga. Everyone here is so unique. No two students are alike yet we find our commonality in so many areas of our lives through yoga. We specifically chose the ID Chinatown because it is the only neighborhood in Seattle that “feels” like a city: not speckled with lululemons, Starbucks, and baby strollers on every block. The ID feels like it could be in any major city across the U.S. The people who live here are artists, creatives, dreamers, and activists. Inspiration is alive here.
As a business owner, what’s the strangest or craziest idea you’ve ever tried?
Our entire business model is completely out of the norm. We offer sliding scale [prices], $10-25 in an age when studios and gyms are charging $20 and up for a single class. 100% of the student payments goes directly to their teacher because we believe in affordable wages for our instructors. Students are able to access affordable Yoga. Teachers are able to do what they love and sustain themselves living in the city. We believe in the power of community supporting one another, that’s been our motto since day one.
What’s something your customers may not know about you or your business?
So many prayers and rituals occurred at the studio before, during, and after we built it. The names of all the students who have supported us since day one are under the walls. A special Ganesh Yantra is under the floorboards blessing our new beginning. And a puja, [a] tantric ritual, was placed before our opening to ensure positive energy for all students who enter and practice here. So much love was used creating this studio, from every piece of tile in the bathroom to the paint on the windows. Every inch was built by friends, family, and our community.