I met Belinda at the first-ever Modo Yoga teacher training abroad. It was in Thailand. It was amazing! And, there were a few things that were not mentioned to us beforehand about the training location—some of which included: the beauty (inexplicable with words), and… no way to exit the large, wavy boat traversing massive waves aside from swimming with a suitcase; toilets in the floor (hard for many first time travelers); no screens on the windows, which led to unimaginable amounts of wildlife in the rooms (including MASSIVE spiders, scorpions and snakes); a practice room on the top of a mountain (I’m talking nearly rock climbing-steep); and water that led to most of us getting some form of gastro. Belinda stood out to me—alongside many of the graduates of that training who also went on to become studio owners—as someone of deep and great character.
It made sense that Belinda’s loving partner, whom I would meet not much later, was Linda—another salt-of-the-earth human just like her partner. Linda has given talks and shared thoughts at our annual general meeting over the years that owners still, 10 years later, remember in their hearts. She grew up in New York and worked on the New York Stock Exchange. When she speaks, even after so many years in Canada, she still carries a strong New Yorker lilt. Linda took the brave and massive life change to health and wellness by becoming a massage therapist, and later a yoga teacher.
Belinda and Linda have been Modo Yoga studio owners for 15 years, and a loving couple for even longer! They own 2 studios in the rolling hills of Aurora and Newmarket, close to Toronto in Canada.
They are both leaders in their own right. I interviewed them together, because they lead together and they do it so well.
Jess: What do you think is most important in a leader?
Honesty – with oneself and others. If you can’t be honest then you will never be at peace.
Lead by example – if you are true to yourself and lead with the qualities you desire from others, then you will attract people of like mind.
Clear communication – be open to different styles of communication. People hear differently.
Healthy boundaries – boundaries are not to be mistaken as protective walls. Healthy boundaries allow space for personal growth for those involved.
Active listening – it is important for people to feel heard even if you disagree with what is being said. Not everything needs to be said. You can learn more from listening than speaking. Don’t speak for the sake of speaking.
Clear Vision – know your why.
Being a good business person does not always mean you are a good leader.
Jess: How has your vision of leadership changed over the years?
Linda: I don’t feel my vision of leadership has changed much over the years. When I think about the qualities that I looked up to in a leader when I was younger, I see that they are pretty much the same qualities I envision now. One thing that has changed is that I don’t have to do everything and work so hard. I now empower others to lead in certain aspects of the business, and in life in general.
Belinda: My vision of leadership over the years has changed in how I see the business and my role in it. I recognize the importance of not being a doer, and instead taking the seat of a visionary while maintaining clear boundaries and trusting others to lead. Having Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) in place has been a game changer—creating systems to allow others to lead in ways I no longer need to. Changing roles, adapting to the growth in the business and the teams, has made a huge difference in how I show up.
Jess: How do you celebrate Pride Month personally and/or in your community?
Linda: When I was younger and living in NYC, I would march in the pride parade and go to all of the festivities. At that time it was about supporting the community in an outward expression of who I am. I now feel that my expression of who I am is more subtle. Now every month is pride month.
Belinda: I celebrate who I am by living my life with my partner without needing to explain it to anyone. This allows others to see that I am not different from them based on who I am in a relationship with. Sometimes I forget that I am in a same sex relationship. Who I am in a relationship with, does not define me. It is a peaceful place to come to. I am grateful for the voices of those that march. I have been there, and I choose to do it differently now. I feel we celebrate pride in the studio the same way we do outside the studio—we live our truth. Also, as a studio we actively promote equality and support in our community.
Jess: How many years have you been working together? What advice do you have for couples that work together?
We have been working together for over 20 years. Fifteen of those years have been with Moksha/Modo, when we were first approved to open a studio. What we have found is that what works for us is to have clear boundaries and to respect each other’s boundaries. For example – we don’t talk about business after 6PM, or when we are out socially. We schedule meetings to discuss and review the businesses so that it is not an ongoing conversation throughout the day. We do our best to not bring personal issues into the business.
We would add that it’s important to create clear roles and seats based on your individual strengths. And, devote time to nurturing your personal relationship if you work with your partner.
Jess: How can we as a Modo community be better allies in and out of the studio for the LGBTQIA2+ community?
This question has us stumped. We feel Modo is a great ally for the LGBTQIA2+ community. We acknowledge pride month, offer scholarships to teacher training for members of the LGBTQIA2+ community, and you do your best to have people of the LGBTQIA2+ community apply for open positions within Modo International.
If this conversation has left you feeling inspired, and you would like to join Linda or Belinda for a class, check out their studios at Modo Yoga Aurora and Modo Yoga Newmarket.
Jess Robertson is Modo Yoga’s Co Founder, Senior Advisor, and Community Documentarian. She is also a writer, musician, yoga teacher and Co Founder of the New Leaf Foundation. She lives in Montreal, Canada with her 2 kids.