jonathan's story

Cigarettes + coffee

In 1985, I was a senior partner in my own west end law practice. One of my partners who always thought I was a little'left of centre' suggested I try a yoga class. In my first class, I I lay there with my eyes closed. I could see in my mind a wall of mirrors and I was running away, not wanting to look at myself in the mirror. For some reason I knew it was time to stop + take a good look. Within a few months of practising yoga +, as corny as it may sound, it completely changed my life. I gave up smoking (40 cigarettes a day) + coffee (14 mugs a day with at least 2 sugars) + a few other health tweaks along the way. It wasn't that I suddenly gave up practising law, shaved my head + wore orange robes (never been my colour), but yoga, combined with meeting my teacher, Gurumayi Chidvilasananda, were catalysts for change.

Sharpened instinct

Practising yoga (on the mat) and in a broader way, increased my awareness + instincts across my life; from the way it improved my football (without losing any of my highly competitive streak) to the way I now practiced law with a difference - trusting my instinct as much as knowledge + experience.

Changing lanes

In 1996, after many years of being certain that law wasn't my future, I decided to stop practicing law, without knowing what I would do next. Flakey? Maybe. Scary? Yes, but somehow I knew that it would be okay (easy to say that now). What came next? I started looking at what it was I wanted to do. In the meantime, I was involved in the set up of Yo! Sushi + Protocol Multimedia Talent Agency. Eventually, I came up with a concept for the health + leisure industry of a holistic health club called ‘tribeca'.

teddy started networking

I was walking on Primrose Hill with my golden retriever, Teddy, + met a lovely Hungarian Vischler called Scout. Teddy + Scout became best friends. Through this, I met and became friends with Ford Ennals + his wife, Tina Gaudoin. Ford helped with the tribeca business plan. This project never quite got off the ground, however, + took a new turn.

tribeca became triyoga

I was talking to some friends in Los Angeles, who said ‘why don't you do what you love? Yoga'. Suddenly there was a different impetus. ‘tribeca' became ‘triyoga'. These friends, Bridget Kramer, who was a teacher at YogaWorks, and her husband Lee were originally going to help set up triyoga, but decided not to.

People who mattered

Once the building was found, Ford helped with the new business plan + marketing. On the back of this, I was able to raise the funds from a group of investors to create triyoga. David Svendsen, who was then Chairman of Microsoft ,was a supporter from early on + became one of our key investors, as well as the Chairman of triyoga. Simon Low joined to be our Director of Yoga; a role he kept until 2002. Tina, Ford's wife, brought great ideas for the design, look and feel, working with the architects, Wells Mackereth. Tina also brought in her friend, Matthew Williamson, to advise on colour. When we opened triyoga soho in 2005 and made changes in Primrose Hill later, Jane Kersel was brilliant with the colours, design + a lot more.

Guidance + gratitude

We opened triyoga Primrose Hill on 19th February, 2000. There were many trials and tribulations between when we found the building, the day we opened, where we are now + where we're going forward. Whatever obstacles came up, a way through emerged. I felt there was always the hand of grace guiding us.

I am grateful for everyone who was involved in the early days + those who continue to keep triyoga shining today.