We sat down with Jules, one of the owners of Hotpod Newcastle to talk about her experience of running two studios while raising 4 children. Read our interview below to find out how Jules and Alex balance owning two studios with family life, while finding freedom in their day-to-day lives.
What were you doing before opening Hotpod Yoga Newcastle?
Before opening the studio, I was working as a Physiotherapist and teaching yoga part time. Alex was working as civilian medical personnel for the Military away from home. We were juggling family life with 2 year old twins and a house renovation.
Yoga had been a passion of mine for years – it always seems to fit in with every life stage. Alex was into fitness and kept dipping into yoga every now and again. It wasn’t something we imagined would ever become a full-time focus, until I accidentally discovered Hotpod at their pop-up event in early 2016, without even knowing it was a franchise. As I was leaving I heard Nick mention the open event later that day and that was a light bulb moment!
What does a “typical day” look like for you, balancing the studio with raising children?
Mornings usually start early for me – after a coffee I make a plan; check emails, schedule updates and outstanding tasks and and following school drop off we’ll either be teaching, doing admin, or catching up on studio life.
After school is entirely family-focused with playdates, clubs, homework and dinner time. Alex puts a few hours of admin in most evenings but this can be done whilst the kids are in their clubs, or after bedtime.
How do you share the load between you at home and in the studio?
It’s very much a team effort. We’ve learnt to play to our strengths. One of us is always keeping an eye on the operations and behind-the-scenes work. At home, it’s the same – we share what needs doing and lean on each other when things get busy. The work is never ending so it’s essential to block time for specific tasks, prioritise effectively and always communicate. We’ve certainly learned to be more patient with one another and accept we have our own ways of working.
What do your children think about mum and dad running a yoga studio?
I asked them – they think its “cool” and that we work hard!
It’s nice for them to see us doing something we genuinely love and to understand that work can be enjoyable and meaningful, whilst also being high-pressure sometimes. Hopefully they see what a strong and supportive partnership looks like.
They all have great work ethic and are understanding and adaptable, for example when we suddenly need to change plans to cover a class at the last minute or we might need to rush off to fix something, or take a phone call in the middle of dinner.
During the school holidays and weekends its not uncommon for them to be in the studio helping out for some pocket money.
Looking back, how do you think life as parents would feel different if you weren’t running your own business?
We’d have less flexibility and less time together as a family. With 4 kids and both of us available most mornings and evenings definitely makes life smoother.
It comes with pressures and daily input wherever we are, but also means we can generally shape our weeks around the family. I don’t think we’d have the same freedom if we were both working traditional jobs. I briefly returned to full time physiotherapy work in 2020/21 and whilst I enjoy the work, I love working for myself – setting my own goals and seeing a direct result from our efforts.
How has having your own yoga practice helped you handle the challenges of parenthood and business ownership?
Yoga keeps us grounded, gives perspective, and is a reminder to breathe when life gets hectic. Parenthood and business can feel overwhelming at times, but yoga helps to tune into that sense of calm and control, and the more you practice, the easier it gets.
What advice would you give to other parents thinking about starting their own Hotpod studio?
The perfect time doesn’t exist! Our twins were just 2 when we opened our first studio, our 3rd arrived in 2018, about a year before opening our 2nd studio, and now our youngest (and last!) came along in 2023. Its definitely a juggle at times but if you’re passionate about yoga and the idea of building a business that works around your family, it’s worth exploring. It will be challenging, but you’ll never regret creating something that supports your lifestyle as well as your values.
Hotpod HQ has all the tools to guide you through each step and its only getting better. You’ll be surrounded by a like-minded community both within the franchise network and your own studio family.
Curious about owning a Hotpod Yoga studio? Read more about becoming a franchisee here.