How a mumprenuer faces the stress of Covid-19 to keep her studio going
To say that Covid-19 has upended many livelihoods and businesses would be an understatement. Among the worst affected are our friends in the yoga community who were unable to open their studios. Even with Phase 2, new rules around safe distancing have made their business more challenging as they’re unable to take in the same number of students.
For Vernessa Chuah, who is the owner and founder of a parent-child wellness space Mindful Space, the impact of Covid-19 has forced her to pivot repeatedly to stay afloat. Early plans for Chalk and Chakras to work with A Mindful Space to offer a kids’ yoga workshop in February and an Easter egg hunt in April were thwarted; Vernessa’s calendar of exciting events and parent-child workshops were similarly sidelined or forced to go online.
As we enter Phase 2, we catch up with Vernessa to find out how a brick-and-mortar business like hers is coping; and this mama’s personal determination to stay resilient in the midst of it all.
Parent- child platform Mindful Space had to stay shut for the months of April and May, but business was already starting to be affected as early as February due to the outbreak.
Hi Vernessa, how are you feeling about Phase 2 of Covid-19 where businesses are allowed to resume?
Relieved, glad, but also a tinge of bittersweetness. Yesterday, we made the announcement on the website that we will no longer run our regular yoga classes. It was hard but I know this: It wasn’t a goodbye note. Our yoga members will remain part of the Mindful Space family.
During challenging times like these for all SMEs especially, it feels even more crucial that we remember why we started and who we want to help. Resuming our business also means pivoting our strategies to decide how to go from here.
What Mindful Space aims to be is actually an emotional and psychological space, an intellectual and mental space, a space to be supported to learn, grow and heal together. I seek to curate a wide pool of experts worldwide to help enrich as many parenting journeys as we can.
I still firmly believe that In order to support the child, we must first support the parent by equipping them with self-care tools and different parenting tips to apply in different scenarios. When parents can educate their children well with love and security, their children will do the same for their next generation.
This will remain the core of what we do at Mindful Space. But we’ve also pivoted to provide these lessons online while our space has become open to rental by others to conduct events and classes.
How exactly did Covid-19 affect your business?
We started seeing the fallout from Covid-19 in February where we had to cancel our events after events. By March, it was radio silence even before the Circuit Breaker. With revenue affected, rental has been the most challenging for us. The 2 months rental waiver (with help from both the government and our landlord) helped partially but was still insufficient. I appreciated that our landlord had been very helpful, communicative and transparent and understand that everyone has been doing what they can to support each other. It is hard for every single person and business out there.
Mindful Space pivoted to conduct classes and workshops online. Vernessa also learnt video editing skills and moderating expert chats during this time while she shifted her business model to the virtual world.
It must be hard personally too.
It is indeed an art to master the skills of how to be grounded in the ‘discomfort zone’ and yet be fluid in times of uncertainty. I have to credit the circuit breaker for my newfound video editing skills. I’ve also gained so much experience facilitating online sessions, learning something new from every expert I have featured in our initiative – #ExpertChat. This was actually something I had planned 6 months ago for future implementation. With the temporary closure of the physical studio space, this ‘to-do item’ on the list turned into a ‘Do Now!’ priority.
How I’ve coped emotionally is through journalling, voicing out my beliefs and listening mindfully, which have brought many newfound perspectives or solutions to various problems.
I am also thankful to have a nurturing business coach who helps me stay focused with her wise questions, insightful reminders and supportive advice. As a creative person with an overflow of ideas, I can get side-tracked with too many things on my many plates. My coach is who I go to for a regular business-health checks.
What turned out to be a pleasant surprise is how much I enjoyed staying home so much during this time. I love the fact that I can eat almost all my meals at home with my family. I get to spend quality time reading, dancing and singing with my todller daughter, before heading back to the study room to work. My daughter loves the fact that I’m home full-time. I am grateful that my husband is so supportive. He works full time but has voluntarily taken on the larger part of the household chores and all the online grocery shopping.
What's your advice to fellow business owner mamas having a hard time?
I would advise my fellow mumpreneurs who are having a hard time - find or join a support group that you feel safe with, to share your deep concerns and to seek advice. Stress is inevitable right now all over the world and it is crucial we learn how to manage and release them. I’d recommend checking out Mumpreneurs of Singapore (Mums@Work). And my business coach is Khai Lin from Joyful Momentum who focuses on coaching women who operate their own business. She is very genuine, warm and respectful when she communicates. I wouldn't be where I am today without her. She has been with me since Day 1.
What are you looking forward to with Mindful Space’s reopening?
Later this year, we will be providing Relationship Coaching to as many parents as we can. We kick off in June 2020 with an #ExpertChat featuring Madeline Wade & Mark Mooney, internationally known somatic coaches, bodyworkers and teachers. Participants get to pick up tips on how to be aligned with their spouse, in-laws or their own parents with their parenting approach, how to have difficult conversations such as finance, household chores, spiritual beliefs, relationships etc.
The next project is close to my heart. I want to support women through pregnancy loss as I have experienced this unfortunate event myself, and not just once. I seek to transform my vulnerability to provide support, and share my strength with other women. There is still a cultural stigma that adds to the physical and emotional trauma, and I really hope for more awareness, acceptance and openness among families.
Just one last question: how can customers help small businesses like yours in these times?
It’s my wish that more people can reach out to help all the small businesses by spreading the news of their effort, whether with a review on social media or by word of mouth. Continue to support and contribute financially if possible, and help us carry on the good work for the community.
On Mindful Space’s own front, our well-equipped and versatile spaces are great for workshops and Zoom lessons. And I’ve tried to keep rentals as affordable as possible too for fellow freelancers.
Together, we will come out of this pandemic stronger and better.
Mindful Space continues to offer kids & family yoga, aerial, dancexercise, relationship coaching, family coaching, creative arts therapy, sensorial play, somatic coaching and #ExpertChat both online and in person. And for more information about Mindful Space’s affordable space offerings for rental, click here.