Squarespace Template Showcase: Yoga With Cassidy
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Cassidy used the Leon Squarespace Template Kit for her new Yoga website. The design she created is stunning, her images and color combo give off such a chill and welcoming vibe, perfectly portraying yoga, wellness and mindfulness.
Learn all about Cassidy, her business and inspiration, and what she thought about the Squarespace Template process in our Q+A below.
Name: Cassidy Cooper
Website: yoga-withcassidy.com
What do you do/what is your business?: I'm a certified yoga instructor that helps busy people incorporate wellness, movement, and mindfulness into their everyday lives. I got certified to teach yoga in 2018, and have been teaching since in different studios, in corporate settings, to organizations, and now (as of, well... COVID), online! I offer digital courses, free yoga classes on my YouTube channel, and virtual private sessions.
A regular yoga practice has helped me so much, from managing stress and overwhelm to building confidence and acceptance of my body. I want my students to feel like they have practical tools they can take with them beyond the yoga mat, such as mindfulness techniques and even something as simple as taking a deep breath once in a while.
I also place a large emphasis on body positivity and accessibility within my yoga teachings. I strongly believe that all bodies are yoga bodies, and you do NOT have to fit into the "yogi" persona portrayed in the media to practice yoga. I strive to create a digital space where students who may not feel completely comfortable with yoga/going to a yoga studio can comfortably practice yoga in their homes in a safe, inclusive, and welcoming way.
What or who inspires you the most?: I try to surround myself with things/people/places that inspire me daily, but I'll name a few big ones. My path in yoga and everyday life is guided and inspired by all the ancient yoga wisdom and the lineages that have passed it down to our modern society over time. I'm inspired by other yoga educators, especially those that are working to create accessible and equitable spaces in yoga (the amazing folks involved in the Accessible Yoga organization come to mind). I'm also inspired by the strong females in my life that have instilled the confidence in me to start my own business. And, I'm very inspired by my yoga students, and the growth and transformation that I see occurring in them as they begin and sustain a regular yoga practice.
What template did you purchase?: Leon
Why did you choose that particular template?: It seriously spoke to me. When I started branding process, I used the words "funky fresh" to define what my brand might look like in the end. And Leon is absolutely funky fresh. It was one of the first templates I had looked into, and I kept it bookmarked on my computer for a long time. No matter how many templates I looked at, I kept coming back to it over and over again. I love the retro "funkiness" of it and the different bold shapes, yet it also gives off a clean and modern vibe
Why did you want a new website?: When I first brought my yoga business online, I started by developing courses on a course platform. Because I was already paying for the platform monthly, I wanted to keep everything in one place and design my whole website on the platform. So, I did. I invested a lot of time into trying to customize a platform that simply wasn't meant to host a full website. At first, I was very proud of the website and the work I put into it. I thought it looked pretty dang good for the limitations the platform posed. However, as I continued to grow and offer different resources, it was just not meeting my needs anymore. I found myself incredibly disconnected with my website, and my whole visual brand, to the point of not even wanting to send people to my website. So, I decided to undergo a whole "refresh" of my brand, including a new website. I knew I wanted to take my time, get lots of feedback, and create a little corner of the internet that I would be thrilled to send people to. The Leon template fit perfectly with this vision.
Why did you choose to purchase one of our templates, rather than a competitors?: I did a lot of research, and like I mentioned above, I just kept coming back to the Leon template. I didn't have a lot of money to spend on the website, so hiring someone to design/develop it was out of the question. Plus, I really like being able to have control over every aspect of my business (for now) and wanted to be sure I would have the knowledge to make changes and updates over time. The Big Cat Creative templates checked all the boxes. The cost, in my opinion, is very affordable for all the value you get. I really liked the idea of the guided creation process versus just a template. I knew that this process would allow me to make my website 100% my own. Also, everything seemed so organized and well-structured (and it was!), which I really appreciate.
How did you feel before you created your new website?: I felt stuck. I didn't want to direct people to my website and my offerings (which I knew had value) because I wasn't confident in the presentation. Visual branding is something that is very important to me (it's part of what I study in college), and I knew how big of a component my website was to my brand. I had very little coding and web design experience, but knew I was capable of creating something I was proud of. I just needed guidance and help along the way, as well as a process that could be efficient and save me the hours and hours of the trial and error I experienced with my prior website.
How do you feel now that you have launched your new site?: SO good! I've been sitting on it for a while, as I was waiting to get photos taken, get all my brand elements created, etc. and I am happy it's finally out in the world! I feel like I can show up confidently and authentically in my business, happily directing people to my amazing new website that I DIY-ed from the ground up. I feel like I finally have a little space on the internet that is 10000% me and represents my business so well.
How do you think your business is going to benefit from your new website?: I am way more likely to confidently send people to my website now! I don't feel like I have to hold back from talking about my offerings, and it can be a home base where students can find resources, services, and valuable information. I think that my business will benefit in many ways because this website (+ new brand) makes it so fun to show up authentically online, making me way more likely to talk about and promote my business. I also feel like the template allowed me to lay out my website in a very organized way, so I hope that students can easily find what they are looking for on my site and engage with all my services that would benefit them!
How did you find the whole Squarespace Template process from purchase to launch?: It was incredibly simple, and super organized. There is so much attention to detail in the guided process and the resources that Big Cat Creative provides. I never felt confused or overwhelmed, and knowing that I could reach out if I did was a huge relief. Actually, before I even purchased, I reached out with some questions about the template and the process, and Erica promptly relied with thorough answers to each of them. This made me feel confident before I even hit the 'purchase' button. I spent a little bit of time working on the website each day over a period of time between college classes and my part time job. I had some areas that I knew would be incomplete due to waiting on photos and things, and it was easy for me to just note those areas and simply return to them to incorporate my elements when the time came. The actual creation process really could not have been simpler, and the additional resources that are provided for website copy, stock photos, etc. are above and beyond (and so helpful). I really just felt completely supported and confident through the whole process!
What's your fav series on Netflix right now?: Headspace just partnered with Netflix to release 'Headspace Guide to Meditation,' which is pretty much the opposite of a mindless binge-watch show, but it is a great, informative resource and the animation is amazing! I'm also currently watching The Sopranos on HBO Max.
