MORE DOOM LESS GLOOM! HELP SAVE DOOMYOGA

Kamellia Mckayed is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

DOOMYOGA SOUND TEMPLE :

Most of you who know me personally, know that i've been teaching Yoga for almost 10 years now. After 6 years of dreaming and running Doomyoga residencies in various spaces, I took a blind leap of faith about 6 months ago and I got the keys to my own studio space and Yogashala (Home) for Doomyoga. It has been a dream come true to finally have a sanctuary for people to come to that radiates its own vibration.

The response has been overwhelming and I couldn't be happier. It's such a peaceful, beautiful space with great energy. Seeing old faces return, lots of new ones becoming regulars as the community keeps blooming week on week as well as people subscribing and becoming members dedicated to regular practice has been amazing ! I'm finally beginning to feel the dust settle physically and ready to go full throttle on bringing more life and more energy into the studio that goes beyond my own work.

I know lots of incredible people who do incredible things that resonate with the space : From massage to vocal workshops, live electronic sound meditations, exhibitions, talks, readings, book launches, curated markets and more and more. A dear friend from India is even running a hand block printing workshop in May ! My vision was never to open a ‘western’ yoga studio, but a sanctuary, I see this space becoming a true little cultural, art, music and expanded consciousness community.

WHY I AM LOOKING TO RAISE FUNDS :

Despite the unwavering belief I held in my plans and the courage it took to take this monumental leap, I find myself facing an unexpected and heart-wrenching reality. Every single financial resource I relied on to support the launch and growth of my studio has fallen through, leaving me in imminent danger of losing everything just as I'm super energised, ready to expand and the party is getting started. The revenue I am generating is what I expected at this stage, but nowhere near covering my expenses as I believed I would have the buffer of some investment, start-up grant and loan in addition to my own initial investment to carry me through the hardest part of setting up.

I'm a one woman band, I do everything from the admin to the graphic design, web design, web backend, merch design, manage production, marketing and of course teach yoga . Despite working tirelessly 16 hour days as well as teaching all my classes every week, I have not been able to pay myself a single penny to date since I opened the doors at the end of September. This is just not sustainable. The final blow came when some much needed freelance work that was in the pipeline to continue carrying myself and Doomyoga over these continued tricky next few months fell through leaving me with no lifeline in sight imminently and March hit hard.

I've finally hit the brick wall I hoped wouldn’t come but was inevitable given the course of events and my little legs can’t get over it alone. I am out of time and I desperately need help.

The practical aspects of running a business in a city like London, compounded by the unforgiving nature of the patriarchal, capitalist system, have left me scrambling to keep this dream alive. I refuse to give up—not when the community is growing , the vision is clear , and my mission is at stake. Meditation is true activism. If we are to bring balance to the world we have to find balance within ourselves and having a space people can come to reset, relax, restore, gain perspective, tap into personal power and unleash potential is so important.

If you've ever found solace and peace within the walls of a Doomyoga experience, the walls of my space since opening, you resonate with my work or if you simply want to support a friend in need, your contribution to keeping this going will mean the world to me.

DOOMYOGA :

Doomyoga began as a fun thing to do, creating curated playlists with a couple of good friends for yogasana and meditation practice. But it has evolved into something far greater— my ultimate creative outlet, my deepest expression, and my unwavering mission. It's my heart and soul.

Music has been my constant companion through every chapter of my life as i'm sure it has for all of us . It's been a source of comfort in times of sorrow, joy in celebration, and a mirror reflecting back my soul. From the bands and anthems that fuelled my teenage rebellion to where I have landed now harnessing its true power. Music is meditation ,music is medicine. Music has the power to evoke emotions, It's more than just sound; it's the universal language of the heart, the link between us all. It is true eternity and the very core of our being, all of humanity is music in solid form.

Meditation is not just the practice of presence ; it's a journey inward, a revelation of self-discovery and growth. It is not something you gain but something you are. Pure awareness. Through moments of stillness and reflection, I found clarity amidst chaos, peace amidst pain, and strength amidst vulnerability, a release of the past, embracing everything as it is and trust to welcome the unknown with open arms. Yoga and Meditation revealed my true authenticity, unleashed my creative capabilities and transformed me, for that, I am forever grateful.

Music, Meditation and Yoga. Their transformative power is undeniable. Discovering a way to merge these passions in a meaningful way, sharing and reaching others in ways I never thought possible, has been nothing short of life-changing. It has grown and evolved from a traditional yoga practice to curated playlists into dynamic collaborations with both renowned and emerging artists, the commissioning of original music, the creation of my own music, immersive sonic experiences for festivals .I've had the privilege of being flown across the globe to lead large-scale meditations and sound ceremonies, all in pursuit of nurturing self-awareness through the transformative power of music and sound. This is called NADA YOGA using music as the most powerful path to freedom, liberation and connection.

THE DOOM MERCH :

My merchandise isn't just about fashion—it's a platform to provoke evolution. Designed with the intention to inspire and spread positive messages. From simple reminders like "watch your breath" to bold statements that challenge the status quo. It's incredible to see how many individuals have supported this with approximately 300 pieces in circulation, it’s a ripple effect I enjoy knowing is out there in the world . Designing these pieces brings me immense joy, as I draw inspiration from the music subcultures of the '90s—thrash, punk, metal, grunge and more. A nod to my roots and a celebration of the diverse influences that have shaped me. Collaborations with friends and artists are in the works here too, promising even more creativity and innovation. Creation is meditation, meditation is creation the potential is endless…..

WHY I NEED YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT :

The simple act of gathering as a community in a dedicated space to engage in authentic, traditional yoga and meditation is what serves as the grounding force for all my other pursuits. There are some very exciting and positive prospects on the horizon for Doomyoga and the space but I have no bridge to reach them without help over the next couple of months.

It's a miracle I've gotten this far thanks to some family and friends that have been true angels and their trust brings me to tears. I’ve had to scramble, beg and borrow every month to make up the deficit . At this stage I am willing to steal but I practice ASTEYA which is the third yama in Ashtanga yoga philosophy meaning ‘no stealing’ hahaha so that's out .

For full visibility…..

I invested all of my savings into Doomyoga and setting up the space. In addition to this my hopes were pinned on a government-backed startup loan for businesses giving a buffer to depend on while I stabilised. Despite meeting all the advertised necessary criteria, it turned out that in fact, it was a personal loan intended for business use and was declined. I am not in a position to take a personal loan as all my savings are invested into Doomyoga and the space.

There is zero other finance for start ups out there. To secure any sort of business loan you must be trading for at least a year or turning 10K a month before they will even look at you with any finance as it's too high risk. Following a meeting with a business advisor and expert it was a big relief to know i have left no stone unturned, it is that difficult, it is total egg and chicken and impossible for start ups to get any finance at all other than family and friends to begin with.

This setback was compounded by the failure to secure an anticipated grant funding i was sure was in the bag. Anyone who has written or applied for funding knows the time as well as blood, sweat and tears that goes into this process.

That’s a total of £25,000 I was expecting and intended to fund and sustain the crucial initial phase of this journey. It's during this time that significant investment is needed to build, raise awareness, and stabilise, despite the existing following I've already got.

This is the amount i’ve had to find, beg and borrow on top of personal invest these past 6 months.

RAISING 11K IS CRUCIAL TO SURVIVAL :

Asking for help in this manner is such an emotionally vulnerable place to be. It's not been easy letting my guard down and asking for support, but it takes a village !

Every single donation no matter how small will make a difference.

HITTING MY GOAL TO KEEP GOING

I'm in urgent need of raising £11,000 within the next two weeks to cover the outstanding arrears from March and to meet the looming rent and utilities due by April 7th and secure May. Achieving this target will not only help me catch up on these pressing expenses. With your support, I hope to see a positive turnaround in May, enabling more stable ground for Doomyoga. More Doom less Gloom

EXCEEDING MY GOAL WILL BRING :

POTENTIAL, GROWTH , EXPANSION

If I manage to surpass my initial fundraising goal and ideally hit in the region closer to £22,000, it will further ensure my survival and enable me to carry out my work as a yoga teacher more effectively as it will alleviate the pressure that financial instability brings. I've never tried to build a career, I've only ever tried to build a community. My duty as a teacher is to make time for continued dedicated study that I can nurture my students with. Raising more than just covering rent and bills will provide some much-needed working capital. It will actually facilitate the growth and expansion of Doomyoga to the next level and finally get me over the hump, allowing it to stabilise more, reach a wider audience, more of the local community and the studio full- fill its potential for gathering good energy. Moreover, it will allow me to employ someone to help relieve the time consuming tasks that take my focus away from the fundamentals of Doomyoga being teaching, creating events, music and designing as well as support me in areas like marketing and admin.

WHAT I CAN GIVE BACK TO YOU FOR YOUR LOVE :

No matter how small, every single donation will make a difference. Please spread the word, please share with anyone you think would like to help.

YOGA NIDRA - I will send to everyone who donates anything at all a deep guided relaxation meditation recording for you to enjoy at home.

IN PERSON YOGA PRACTICE - I would love anyone who donates anything at all to come enjoy and experience a practice in person in the studio.

ZOOM ONLINE YOGA PRACTICE - If you don't live in London join me for a session on zoom online.

DOOMYOGA OVERSIZED TOTE - For anyone who has the means and kindly donates £100 or more i will send you the super cool tote bag and collaboration with Ripitlickitstick that is about to be released. "BUDDHA BOOGIE BOMB BAG"

THE ONGOING MISSION - PEACE THROUGH YOGA:

I firmly attest to the transformative power of meditation. By delving inward, we shatter the illusions that cloud our perception. Imagine a world where every individual cultivates self-awareness and, in turn, self-love. In such a world, barriers dissolve, and unity prevails. There would be no room for separation, greed, competition, or power struggles. The revolution commences with introspection—a moment of self-reflection that unveils the inherent miracle within. As we recognise and embrace our own divinity, we see it reflected in all beings and all things. The boundaries of "my" and "I" blur, giving way to a profound sense of interconnectedness—we are, truly, one.

All my love and gratitude,

Kamellia xxx