Devoted to small businesses and those who run them

With the fitness industry bringing in millions, if not billions, of dollars in the U.S. alone, it seems to make sense that fitness franchises would be successful opportunities for entrepreneurs who want to invest in both a business and a lifestyle.  Plenty of gyms market to men (Gold's Gym) and women (Curves) entrepreneurs, but I recently came across a franchise program that may appeal to both, while also piqueing the interest of folks who are not only fitness-minded but spiritually and ecologically inclined.

What on earth could that concept entail?  In a word: yoga.

Yes, yoga.

Now, before you body-building buffs start laughing and you cardio-addicts fall off your steps, you need to understand that there are multiple types of yoga and some of the warm-up and cool down stretches you do are actually yoga poses.  (GASP!)  While there are plenty of people out there who think that "yoga isn't really a workout" (they say the same about walking, in my experience), yoga and Pilates are both programs that are attracting more and more beginning gym-goers and diet flunk-outs than ever before.  (I should know...I am one of both!)

That's why the full page ad in the August 2006 issue of Yoga Journal caught my eye.  Sunstone Yoga is apparently both a franchise operation and a teacher training program.  So whether you want to become certified as a yoga teacher (allowing you to be an independent contractor for several gyms or offering personal "house call" lessons to the rich and famous), or you're an entrepreneur who has been waiting for something you passionately enjoy (and you're slowly but surely becoming a Vinyasa addict), this could be worth investigating!

Get this: there's even a niche for business coaches who are into yoga.  Another ad jumped out at me a few pages prior for Alon Sagee, the Yoga Business Coach.  Talk about a guy who's created his own market!  Here's the way to talk business and challenges on that daggum Camel Pose.