Yoga venture stretches into second studio

A Shropshire wellness business is expanding into a second site after growing from a pandemic-era side hustle into a thriving community hub.

Jenna Blair Yoga Wellbeing Centre, based in Shrewsbury, is set to open a second studio and wellbeing space, building on strong demand for its classes and services.

Founder Jenna Blair discovered yoga in 2017 following a period of personal bereavement, before turning her passion into a business. 

By 2019, she had begun running her own sessions alongside her role as an estate agent, gradually building a regular programme of classes.

Launched during the pandemic, the business now offers yoga sessions, workshops, teacher training and retreats for people of all ages and abilities, from babies to those in their nineties.

Growth has also been supported by a not-for-profit arm established in 2022, delivering accessible sessions for groups including refugees, NHS workers, parents and children, and those with additional needs, alongside fully funded classes for people affected by cancer.

Jenna said: “During Covid, I wasn’t entitled to any financial support as I had just gone self-employed. 

“I managed to survive the lockdowns, and the business thrived, teaching in the local park and spaces outside at reduced numbers and online.

“At the end of 2020, I was on a lockdown walk, and I found this dilapidated building which I believed could be brought to life and made useful – and I have!

“I was fortunate to have a brother-in-law to help renovate the premises from a disused shell in lockdown 2021 through to a yoga studio we have used ever since.”

Backed by additional funding from Start Up Loans, the expansion will see a neighbouring property renovated to more than double the centre’s space. 

The new site will include an extra yoga studio and rooms for holistic therapies.

Jenna added: “I am currently in the process of evolving to charity status and seeking trustees as this project has grown substantially, including gaining £70,000 of grants to offer free and subsidised sessions.

“We have recently created a new full-time role for centre manager, helping us support lots more wellbeing services.

“Our not-for-profit arm is progressing to charity status and receiving increased funding to help even more people access free/subsidised sessions, and is something I’m really proud of and excited to expand.

“I’m also introducing my two young children to yoga and hope it to be as beneficial to their lives as it has been to mine.”

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