Greenberg and Damaskos taking a break from negotiations with a hike in Sedona.
Yoga is about growth and change and recently when one yogi bought out another they found a third way to make things work.
Yoga Life Style, a leading source for yoga posters and prints, quality yoga books and reasonably priced gear based in Highland, NY has purchased Bhakti-Bheka, one of the oldest continuously running yoga supply houses, specializing in high quality props, mats and blankets. According to Yoga Life Style owner Ray Greenberg "Keeping with yoga tradition and good business practices, this purchase is a win, win, win proposition. I'm happy, Bheka former owner Gary Damaskos is happy and we both are working to ensure that all our customers will benefit."
Some of the things that mark the special nature of this deal are the high levels of trust and comradery between the principals and the speed with which it was accomplished. From first discussions to closing took a little over 2 months.
According to Greenberg, "Gary was looking for a kindred spirit to continue what is best about Bheka and when I showed up, he immediately sensed he had the right candidate. For my part I loved the Bheka frog logo from the days when he was a constant presence in Yoga International (now Yoga Plus). And when I saw the beautiful selection of quality products Gary was offering, I knew they would compliment what we are doing already. Plus, working with Bheka customers will allow me to expose my existing line to many new yogis who can use the decorative and educational yoga items we offer."
Continuing, Greenberg shared something else unique, "No one is going to believe this but I spent 2 weeks crashing in Gary and Marn's (his partner's) living room, while doing due diligence and working out the final details on the deal. We took meals together, walked, talked and even did a little yoga together. Anyone who has done this kind of thing knows that there can be a lot of tension and charge around issues that come up. and by being together constantly, we were able to stay committed to positive resolutions and get a huge amount of work done. At the end of the process I felt like I had not only gained a business but two good friends as well."
At a time when yoga is threatened by increasing corporatization and more people are marketing to the yoga crowd who do not have the first clue about what yoga is or means, it is refreshing to see two yogis creating a new paradigm for peaceful negotiations and what it means to have business success.
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Yoga Life Style is the leading supplier of yoga posters and prints in the world. Books from Yoga Life Style are used in teacher trainings throughout the US and the world. Gear from Yoga Life Style can be found in studios and ashrams everywhere.
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
