Save Half Moon Temple

Hi, my name is Azriel and I am the founder of Half Moon Temple, Yoga and Wellness Centre, Richmond Victoria.

I started this project two years ago, undertook a renovation and fit out period of 8-9 months, working 7 days a week to set up the business, and then launched in Feb 2023. I have a team now of 11. The studio has been open one and a half years now and we have served thousands of people already! We have also provided clean drinking water to hundreds of families in Africa

We made it through the first year! The business has started off really strong, it has done really well so far and we are already providing high value to the community in the space of mental health and wellbeing.

Now I am facing having to close because of unexpected circumstances beyond my control, unforseen costs and rent increases. Not long after opening the business I was a victim of a very serious crime. The post-traumatic stress and fallout of this slowed everything down and was quite destructive towards the progress. The investigations carried out by Detectives from the Yarra Criminal Investigation Unit went for over six months. Even though the business is up and running there is a backlog of work. Continual increases in rent and other unexpected costs have also added further demand and pressure.

I'm at a turning point where I have to either close up shop or outreach to my community for support.

Instead of collapsing from the enormous magnitude of the stress I have decided to put myself out here and seek out help from my community who can back me as a bridge to keep the doors of Half Moon open.

With your contribution I can move my business forward and if you are in the neighbourhood you're welcome to take advantage of memberships or wellbeing, mindfulness and yoga sessions.

I truly have poured my soul, my blood sweat and everything into this project that I started from scratch on my own.

It's still surreal that I made this beautiful dream come true and created such a wholesome business. I have taught over a thousand classes and worked two years full time without a wage. I made many sacrifices. But the fulfillment in this healing sanctuary is the thousands of lives we have touched. The mental health that is being nurtured and improved daily. The community we are building and strengthening. The safe space & healing we are providing for so many. The lives that are being changed. Meeting new people daily, welcoming them to our amazing wellness center and making a positive impact in their lives continually fuels my fire.

What I need funding for:

• Marketing, expenses, and outgoings

• Employ an assistant studio manager to relieve some of my workload so I am not so constantly overwhelmed with the to do list. Only one day a week is required for this role to begin with; to make a huge difference in running the business.

• Completing signage & branding and some further works on the building such as interior to help the studio function more seamlessly

• Some fresh yoga apparatus and props

• New wholesale stock for the Half Moon Temple wellness shop

Why there is so much promise for success:

• There has been steady continual growth since opening, it is set to break even early next year. Feb - April this year saw huge growth, attendance and sales were up 200%. This will happen again early next year. And this period now, spring time, it is growing a lot. People love this place. It would be heartbreaking to have to close in the midst of so much growth

• Community organisations and companies such as Richmond Police, The Melbourne Clinic and MITS have all expressed interest in different partnerships and collaborations and accessing our wellbeing services.

• There are already well-partnerships established with some local companies that will only grow

What you get:

• Private or group mindfulness meditation coaching/sessions

• Unlimited yoga breathwork & functional fitness/training memberships to the studio for family and friends etc. To the similar value of your donation. For example a 1month, 3month, 6month or 12month unlimited membership.

• Opportunity to support a beautiful project centerd around community, inclusivity, mental health, a trauma informed approach and wellbeing.

• If you have any ideas, I'm open to hearing them

If you feel you have something to give to aid this wonderful wellness brand & inclusive community centre in stay open, growing and sustaining, I would be so deeply grateful.

If you know anyone who is an Investor, philanthropist, business person etc. and you think they may be interested in helping my project I ask you to please share this with them. If you wish to give yourself, please feel free to reach out and let me know if your company/name/brand would like acknowledgement and exposure as one of Half Moon Temple's sponsors.

Please have a look at our Instagram to see more of what we are about and have a look at our five star google reviews to see what people have to say. I truly believe that Half Moon Temple is supposed to be here; making such a positive impact in the world. Thank you so much for reading my story.

With love and kindness xx Azriel ♡