Single mom from Alabama started yoga classes but only one person showed up: ‘Every person that has ever said they support me: you’re a liar’
She needs better friends.
Every ambitious person knows that starting a business is a lonely road. For one Alabama-based yoga instructor, that road had exactly one set of footprints on it besides her own. And she’s not happy about it.
TikTok creator Hannah (@hanzcakess) is a single mother known for her candid personality. Recently, she has gone viral after sharing her “uno” student experience. With nearly 50,000 views, her video is a hilariously blunt message to her “supportive” friends and family.
According to Hannah, all her so-called friends failed to show up when the mats of her new yoga class were rolled out. Her frustration captures the thin line between professional optimism and the sudden urge to disown everyone you’ve ever met.
Her first yoga class ended up being a ‘private lesson’
Hannah started her recap by emphasizing the exact number of people who attended her class: one. Although disappointed, she initially tried to spin the situation into a positive “one-on-one” private lesson. But the frustration of the empty studio quickly took over.
Despite the lack of a crowd, she remained professional for her lone student. She even taught the one attendee a complex “Warrior” pose variation involving arm stretches and a deep 90-degree bend.
She called out her circle for being ‘liars’
The highlight of the video is Hannah’s scorched-earth message to her personal network. She addressed anyone who has ever claimed to support her or called themselves a family member. Without flinching, she labeled them “liars” for their absence.
“Not only do I hate it here, I also hate you,” she joked. Her harsh words perfectly capture the sting of realizing that your inner circle might be the last ones to actually buy a ticket to your dreams.
Why do strangers often support you more than friends?
It is a common phenomenon in entrepreneurship. Strangers are often the first to buy your product while friends are the last. This frequently happens because strangers judge you solely on the value of your service. On the other hand, people you know still see you as the “old you.”
Your personal circle may struggle to reconcile your new professional identity with your personal history. Or, they may simply take your success for granted, assuming they can “show up later.” Strangers don’t have that baggage; they just want a good yoga class.
How to support a business without being there physically
Support isn’t always about a physical body in a room. If you want to help a friend’s new venture from afar, you can still do it without much of a stretch. To begin with, you can engage with their business digitally. Like, comment, and save their posts. This signals to the algorithm that the content is valuable.
Even if you personally cannot sign up for their services, you cam still advertise it to your circle. Word-of-mouth is powerful. And a single share can reach a potential customer who the owner doesn’t know. Positive Google or Facebook reviews also build the “social proof” needed to attract strangers.
Ways to grow your yoga class attendance
If your local turnout is slow, it might be time to expand your horizons beyond the physical studio walls. That means, go virtual. The most common feedback in Hannah’s comment section was a plea for virtual classes. By offering a Zoom or recorded option, you remove the geographic barrier for your “liar” friends and your true fans alike.
Apart from expanding your business online, you can also use some tricks to attract more people. For example, you can offer ‘First-Timer’ bundles. Lower the barrier to entry with a “bring a friend” discount or a free first class to get people through the door.
One last tip, don’t forget to leverage short-form video online. Hannah’s “Warrior” demonstration in the video is exactly the kind of “educational teaser” that proves her expertise to potential students online.
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