chips and gravy

A few months ago, Penrith Regional Gallery approached Nin Yoga asking if we would feature in a documentary showcasing the stories behind Queen Street.

Queen Street is a totes wild card back in the day Annika. I grew up in the area (and still live down the road) and used to spend my days jigging high school to roam on these streets and eat copious amounts of sloppy gravy on chips from Red Lea chicken (education and health were obviously a huge priority for me in year 11 and 12).

I went to a decent school. They were not the problem. I just had trouble focusing, and the teaching style there was not right for me.

Plus, the bits and bobs that were Queen Street and the surrounds are just so much more interesting a 16 year old 

Fast forward a large handful of years later, and I have signed a commercial lease on the corner.

I especially remember asking the property manager, who had a striking resemblance to Gru from Despicable Me, if I needed council approval, permits, DAs, or just any other secret permission I didn't know about yet, and he told me to simply "beg for forgiveness, not permission."

That was my first official advice as a studio owner. I think about it nearly every day because, believe it or not, every small business owner is 9/10 times winging it.

So Queen Street, I thank you for your ridiculously cheap commercial rent, no rules, do as you please sort of vibe back in 2017 because heck, without that to give me a head start as I figured everything else out, Nin Yoga may never have had the chance to conceive.

So here we are, sharing some stories from Queen Street along side some landmark businesses on the strip, on the month of our seventh birthday as a Nin Yoga.

Let's continue to wing it.

Annika xx

P.S We are in our second week into Nin Yoga Castle Hill. We shared one of those lame but cute insta reels for our first week, which you can view here.

P.P.S If actual business business is more your vibe, one of the senior teachers on our yoga teacher training, Katie Rose, will host the "Business of Yoga Summit" on the 19th & 20th of September. Its FREE and all you need to do is sign up here.