Brittany and Jamie of Hamsa Power Yoga
Photos by Trystan Carrington
It’s no secret that running a business requires support. Co-owners of Hamsa Power Yoga, Brittany Mckay and Jamie Tarasuk, lean on each other, their yoga practice, and the loyalty of their students. Both they and their business are stronger thanks to the added support. Their infrared, heated studio is often packed full of yogis and they have a full schedule of classes varying from three to six per day. It’s a studio where everyone is welcome, and Brittany and Jamie are happy doing what they love.
We asked them to answer a few questions to help us celebrate Women’s History Month by highlighting women who own businesses and serve as a reminder that we are capable of great things.
Atlantic Current: What does being a female entrepreneur mean to you?
Brittany McKay: Being a female entrepreneur to me means discovering balance between the hard and the soft. I’m a naturally sensitive person who sometimes has trouble speaking up or asking for help, but I’ve learned that balance is necessary in order to lead. Being an entrepreneur in my opinion means leading with confidence without losing humility.
Jamie Tarasuk: Wow, it’s hard to answer this question, because I don’t feel like an entrepreneur. I am extremely fortunate to be able to work every day doing something that I love. That it has become a business has been a natural growth from this path of following my passion. I guess I can say that I am so grateful to share in something that has been so life changing and healing for me in a platform where others can share in this path.
AC: How do you overcome obstacles in your business?
BM: I’m lucky enough to co-own Hamsa Power Yoga with Jamie Tarasuk. We overcome obstacles by putting our heads together. We’ve learned through the years to actively listen to each other, and also to take advice from one another. Combined experience can’t be beat.
JT: Being a business owner is a constant game of learning. No one teaches you all the things that you need to know. Thankfully I co-own Hamsa Power Yoga with Brittay Mckay. Having a partner is truly helpful because we can lean on each other and we are always learning together from trying, making mistakes, and continuing on.
AC: What would you tell your younger self?
BM: I wish that I could go back and hold little Brittany’s hand. I would tell her not to shrink in order to make anyone else feel comfortable. I would tell her that she’s going to go through hard times, loss, and change, but not to be afraid along the rocky journey. There is always light to be found.
JT: To follow my passion and enjoy my life.
AC: What advice would you give other women looking to start businesses?
BM: I would tell them to lean on other women with experience. When we compete with one another, no one wins. Ask for guidance, accept help, and persevere together.
JT: If you are looking to start a business, make sure you love what you do. I couldn’t imagine working this hard and dedicating so much of myself to something I didn’t love. I have always worked, since I was a teenager, but owning a business is different, it’s yours. You work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so make sure it’s something you truly are passionate about.
AC: What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your industry?
BM: I would have to say that the greatest challenge we have faced so far was lockdown in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic. Jamie and I had to figure out how to keep our business alive even with locked doors. It turns out that yoga can be taken anywhere in the great outdoors; we taught yoga outside, and our community never strayed. Our studio teachers and students kept us alive. I will be forever grateful for that show of support.
JT: Yoga is something that is a lifelong study. I think it’s really important to continue learning and educating myself. That way I can keep growing as a teacher and offering students new and different paths of study and growth.
AC: What have been some of your proudest moments as a business owner?
BM: I always struggled with self-confidence. Some of my proudest moments as a business owner have been co-hosting yoga retreats and teacher trainings alongside Jamie. I had to step out of my comfort zone to guide others. With practice, I now take pride in my own knowledge & abilities as a yoga teacher who confidently teaches others about the practice of yoga.
JT: When our clients tell us that they feel safe, nurtured and seen in our studio. When Brittany and I opened the studio, our intention was for everyone to feel comfortable being who they are and exploring at their own pace in an environment that allows that for them. So, when I hear that from a client, that is one of my happiest moments.
5430 Military Trail Unit 76, Jupiter
@hamsapoweryoga
hamsapoweryoga.com
