He explained that he got acquainted with yoga when he arrived one day to fix the heater at a local yoga studio not far from where his North Bay Heating and Air Conditioning shop is in Petaluma.
At first he was skeptical. But when invited to just take a free class, he took up the offer and it changed his life.
“I am a jock, he said. “I played baseball in high school and college. I bleed orange and black as I am a Giants fan.”
Located at 721 West Napa Street in Sonoma, Bikram Yoga has been a place for health, fitness and energetic living.
But when a pitching injury benched him, his dreams of playing major leagues was put off. As time went on, he found himself immersed in the heating/air-conditioning business and its set of demands.
Little did he know that his life would take an unexpected turn.
“My approach to yoga is that it can save your life,” he said. Fisherbaugh who has owned his heating and air conditioning business in town for more than 30 years is eager to step in as new owner of Bikram Yoga on West Napa Street.
This past December he purchased the business from Nada Rothbart. “It’s funny, he said it was my heating and air-conditioning business that brought me to yoga.”
Things changed when he unexpectedly encountered Yoga for the very first time. “I took my free class, that first class, and fell in love with yoga that day,” Fisherbaugh said. “For me, yoga is the only exercise and activity that gives me energy. Everything else, even baseball wears me out.”
That is not to say, the practice of yoga does not take work. Both he and former owner Rothbart testify that practicing yoga takes consistency and dedication. “It is very common for people to sign up and them not come back after two or three classes,” Fisherbaugh said. “Yoga as a physical practice he said stretches every muscle and reaches every part and cell of the body.”
Dan Fishbaugh of North Bay Heating and Air Conditioning is a regular at the local Peet’s Coffee in town. Seen here with fellow heating & A/C repairman Koby Gabriel, he believes that yoga is for just about anyone who really wants to benefit from it.
He mentioned the body-mind and mind-body connection. “Yoga helps build that bridge and from that healing occurs,” he said. The debate as to yoga’s spiritual elements for some is ongoing. Yet as Fishbaugh sees it, the natural health benefits make yoga a valuable practice.
When asked if he would become stressed out by managing two businesses, Fisherbaugh replied, “No! I have owned my heating and air-conditioning business for over three decades and I am at a point right now, where (in terms of the heating and A/C business) I just do the scheduling and the estimates of cost for potential customers. I have a team that does the labor.”
As far as taking charge of Bikram Yoga, Fisherbaugh noted, “I am a certified teacher for Bikram Yoga and will teach some classes. I am laid-back, I will manage it, well-aware of the Bikram model/standards, he said. But my teachers will be in charge. I believe (in regards to this endeavor) it is best to leave room for some spontaneity and let people simply be.”
Soon as Fisherbaugh took over, he implemented changes to the locale which is next to the Sonoma County Library. “A bit of remodeling to the studio is happening (as we speak),” said Fisherbaugh. “I have taken out the carpeting and am putting in all hardwood floors. I am also having it painted.”
Whether Fisherbaugh realizes it or not, he takes ownership of a growing business venture. According to USA Today and The Huffington Post, yoga continues to be a growth industry in the United States estimated by some at $27 billion – this includes merchandize, clothing, etc. Yet apart from those figures, it seems that yoga offers something that for many is priceless.
When asked if he envisioned the Bikram Yoga franchise growing in Sonoma by him opening up another locale, Fishbaugh said. “That’s possible. But for now Sonoma must support the current yoga studio we have.
Bikram Yoga in Sonoma is located at 721 West Napa Street. For more information, visit the Bikram Yoga, Sonoma web site. Or see Daniel Fisherbaugh’s page on Facebook. Or call (707) 935-5862.
