Yoga Studio Owner Pens Letter To Community Before Closing Doors

Patchogue,NY — The owner of Cocomotion yoga studio in Patchogue has penned an open letter to the surrounding community as he decides whether or not to keep the location open. Coco Teodoro, of Wading River, owns Cocomotion which also has locations in Setauket and Miller Place. Teodoro tells Patch that after being open for three years, he wanted to know if there was a way to serve local needs better before he decides to renew or not sign his storefront lease at 78 Terry Street.

"I noticed that with small businesses, they may be doing well or not well and then all of a sudden you see a sign on the door saying they are closed," Teodoro explained. "Why not put a sign saying we aren't doing well, tell us what's wrong with our pizza? We don't want to leave Patchogue."

Teodoro wrote the following letter to the larger community:

"Change is interesting because some people are afraid of it and some people embrace it.

Our studio in Patchogue has embraced so many changes throughout the years to difficult ones as well as good ones. I’m writing this letter because I see everyone in our community as partners in our studio. And as you know with partners, there’s always ups and downs. As partners, we’re trying to come up with a way to serve you and all of us efficiently to keep the doors open to our studio. Writing this letter is a very vulnerable task because admitting things are tough is never easy.

I believe in working with the community first. Being a community-based studio I see you all, as partners. I want to stay open and honest with you all and work through this change TOGETHER.
I’ve grown very attached to our Patchogue studio and community. I’ve had so many beautiful and vulnerable moments, even tears. More than anywhere else I’ve ever taught. Just by writing this letter to you and admitting that the studio is not doing as well as it could — is one of the hardest things to do as a business owner.

But the fact is, I LOVE you guys so much, so in order to keep flowing forward, we have to make some changes as a community.

We would love to do this in a fashion that serves you best. The sheer magnitude of writing this letter is to be vulnerable and true to the fact that we are a local small business, trying to survive to keep the community BREATHING. That is why I am writing this to you and asking for your help.
We would love for you to respond or reach out to us so we can make effective changes with your input. If you trust us to do what is right with no response then we just need for you to show up and show us that you are committed to our community, so we can keep doing this beautiful flow together!

Please know that myself and the entire Cocomotion family are committed to you. We’ve just spent a lot of time and energy refreshing our space, and hosting events we believe will bring us all closer together and making sure when you do come into take a class, your experience is always more than just a yoga class. We really want you to know, you’re one of us which makes us the beautiful family we are!

Here are some suggestions on how you can help us continue in this refreshing and flowing forward process: For our existing members, please share your thoughts on what days and times serve you best. Also, give us specific times and days so we can adjust and serve you better.Share the Love of our family, movement and community through all social media platforms or just bring a friend or family member to class, to share the experience firsthand.

For the people who have come and gone: what can we do to have you back? As far as the schedule, classes, pricing, do you have any other suggestions to entice you to return? we would really love to hear from you to serve you better!

A yoga studio is one of the hardest businesses to own. Society has set us up for failure. Taking ownership of your health and wellness is a task most don’t do until it’s at risk or in danger. Your health and wellness is our bread and butter, our pizza, the drink at the local bar — it’s our product that we offer to the community and we take it very seriously to keep you healthy and well beyond just when you’re at risk.

This is truly the foundation of our flow and family, and why we ask everyone to show up no matter if it’s easy or hard. This is why YOU the COMMUNITY and the people you see in classes, at our events and those who have become your friends and flow family are as strong and open as they are.

We believe in our product of strong people and strong community. WE believe in you! As always across the entire community, if money is the issue or challenge, please reach out to us. We totally get it and understand the struggles of life and we’re here for you. We’ve learned the hardest thing to do is just ask, so please don’t hold back with asking and sharing your suggestions and input.

'We exist to MOVE people and we are one'

Love always,

Coco"

Have you been to this business, and if so, do you have any suggestions for the owner about how to serve your needs better? Tell us in the comments below.