Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Greenman.
Hi Michael, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I didn’t start out in the fitness and wellness world…far from it. For the first 25 years of my life there was no exercise or fitness and plenty of fast food. After gaining excessive weight in college, my health was not great and I felt very slow and sluggish all the time. Following a wake-up call in the form of a health scare, I changed my habits completely to include more exercise and eating better for the past 20+ years.
I haven’t always practiced yoga either…that was a wonderful discovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and also a major life change in the form of divorce after 18 years of marriage. At that time (2020), I was seeking community and there was not much balance in my life at all, between all the life changes, societal changes and my overall personal well-being. So, I found myself looking for something to help me focus, slow down, clear my head, and reconnect with myself in a more grounded way. Almost as an answer to an unspoken prayer, I found YogaSix – a brand new studio that had just opened during the pandemic…which was really bad timing for the original owners.
What started as a place to go for wellness and community and an outlet for stress, quickly became something much deeper. Yoga (through YogaSix) helped me discover my true center – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Showing up and being present gave me the safe space to reflect and realign with what truly mattered in my life and started to build key relationships that eased my path to eventual ownership. Over the course of time, yoga stopped being just an activity I did before or after work; it became part of my identity.
I recall being in the YogaSix practice studio taking classes in 2021 and thinking about how much I wished I had been the one to build and own this studio and that maybe I could own a YogaSix studio of my own someday. Through a sequence of events that can only be characterized as serendipitous, I was abruptly and unexpectedly presented with the opportunity to own my beloved YogaSix studio…and I remember thinking that I did not want anyone else to have it.
When the opportunity came to take ownership of YogaSix New Tampa in 2023, it felt like everything I’d learned — both professionally and personally — had prepared me to take this leap into a brand new world of business ownership, but I knew I was doing it for the right reasons. I wanted to bring the same love, respect, and values from my own experience at the studio into the realm of ownership so that I could recreate that experience for everyone else. Based on the results over the past 2 years I have owned YogaSix New Tampa, I think the message is being heard loud and clear.
What keeps me motivated is the people that show up to practice. Every time someone tells me, “I didn’t think yoga was for me, but now I can’t imagine my week without it,” that’s all the validation I need to know that I’ve help to make a positive impact to people who may have never found that level of peace and calm.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Deciding to buy a business was one of the scariest decisions I’ve ever made. The uncertainty was real but the passion to amplify the greatness of this very special place outweighed any perceived risks. I had to shift from being a customer and member to running the business and being responsible for budgets, personnel, payroll, compliance, advertising, and most of all – safety! Every decision was now very personal, every relationship mattered, and every challenge was my responsibility to solve.
Financially, it was certainly a risk – I banked all of my retirement savings to complete the deal. Emotionally, it was a test of resilience. And practically, it meant learning how to run a business on the fly – from staffing and scheduling to community engagement and customer experience.
Another big challenge was changing perceptions. Many people still think yoga is only for the super flexible or the spiritually enlightened. I am the posterboard example that yoga is truly for everyone and anyone: all levels of experience, young or old, every body type, every lifestyle. That’s been one of the most rewarding parts of this journey: seeing people walk in nervous or skeptical and leave feeling stronger, calmer, and more connected to this special place.
I also had to redefine what success looked like for me. In my corporate experience, success is usually about results, achievements and product communications and launches. In the world of yoga, it’s measured in repeat visits, smiles, and the fulfilling breath you finally take after a long day or a stressful week. This is the moment when people feel present, and welcome and supported by a community that is happy to have you there. This new mindset shifted changed everything I had previously known about how to lead.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Every day at YogaSix New Tampa feels new and different and that’s what I love about it. Some mornings, I’m greeting fellow members and new customers, just chatting about life in general while we de-stress and flow together. Other days, I’m planning events, managing operational details of the studio, or handling other strategic initiatives like our Flow for a Cause fundraising events for non-profit organizations. What sets this special place apart from any other traditional yoga studio is our community-first approach. YogaSix New Tampa is not just a business, it’s a space where people connect with themselves and each other. Every class is led by instructors who care about people and prioritize the value that we provide.
Classes at YogaSix New Tampa are designed to meet people where they are, whether they’re stepping on the mat for the first time or have been practicing for years. The biggest hesitation that we hear from first-time customers is that they think yoga is for super flexible people that chant and meditate afterward. That’s not what we do at YogaSix…in fact it’s the opposite. We cater to first-timers and our teachers specialize in making it comfortable and welcoming to those looking to experience all the great benefits of yoga. To reach new people and send this message, we engage with local businesses to bring awareness of yoga and attract new people with creative specialty classes such as Kitten Yoga, Puppy Yoga, and even Chicken Yoga!
What I’m the most proud of is the community we’ve built together. I was not the first or even the second owner of the YogaSix New Tampa location…I am, however, the first to be a member and part of the community from the beginning at my studio, so I have a true working knowledge of what members, customers and guests want out of their experience. I’m also very blessed to have an amazing team and a strong general manager, Rikki Donovan, that I rely on to run the day-to-day operations and maintain the vibe that I know makes YogaSix New Tampa very special.
For me, this isn’t just a business. It’s a passion and love of yoga and community. I believe yoga should be modern, inclusive, and approachable to anyone and something that you can try once and immediately feel welcome.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Presence and empathy. Yoga has taught me that real success isn’t about control, it’s about connection. When you’re fully present and genuinely care about the people around you, everything else falls into place. Whether I’m taking a class or running the business, I try to bring that same awareness and compassion for others by checking in with my team and the customers I have not met yet. It’s about creating space for growth, for balance, and for each person to feel seen, heard and supported. In this type of wellness-focused business, you cannot be focused on anything other than providing a world-class customer experience.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.yogasix.com/new-tampa
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yogasix_newtampa
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YogaSixNewTampa/
