Going from the highly detailed profession of law to a second act of yoga instruction may seem like a leap across complete opposites. For Susan Rubin, such a change of career proves that one profession, no matter how different on the surface, can bring something to the other.

by Mike Kravinsky

Susan Rubin started her professional life in 1983 as a district attorney for New York City. She enjoyed practicing law. Then she started a family and wanted to spend more time with her children; so she opened a practice in real estate law with a partner. "It's just as demanding in the same way, (but) you have more control over your schedule," she says, noting that she didn't have to be in court anymore, "I practiced happily for many years."

Meanwhile, Rubin, always a physically active person, ran five miles per day. It was an easy way to relieve the stress in her life of raising three young children and managing a law practice. She originally took up yoga because her running was taking a toll on her body.  She thought yoga would help her stretch to keep her running going.

What she found instead was that yoga is more than just another form of exercise; it is a lifestyle. Rubin felt drawn to the philosophy of yoga, which became her hobby. After a short period of time taking classes, Rubin thought she would like to teach yoga part time. She took yoga training courses, and within two to three years started to teach classes part time. "I was teaching a few classes here and there while I was practicing law," she explains. She developed a following of regular customers.

Being an entrepreneurial person, she knew almost from the beginning that she would like to form a business embracing her new passion.  It took Rubin another four years from the time she started teaching yoga to leave her law practice altogether.  In 2001 she opened her studio, Sage Yoga. "The day I opened my doors, I was able to make it self sustaining - at least pay the rent and all that," she says. Rubin knew that a yoga studio is not really a big money maker, especially as a small locally run operation; but that didn’t deter her.

Sage Yoga now has been open for ten years, with a staff of twelve teachers who teach thirty-five classes a week.  Rubin is working more than she used to, but that's fine with her. "My children are in college now. I have less family requirements," she says. Does she miss practicing law? No. "I didn't hate (law), I liked it very much, but I don't miss it,” she says, "I don't ever think about going back."

Her advice to entrepreneurs is to be prepared financially. Have at least six months’ pad to cover expenses like the mortgage. It is also necessary to downsize your financial life.  "In a service business that's health oriented, the last thing you need to do is burn yourself to the ground," she says, "It's not good not to be in a yogic place when you’re doing a health business. …If you can remove the fear about not having a certain amount of income by saving up for it, then you can transfer without too much anxiety."

"There's an enormous amount of skill in becoming a lawyer that's transferable," Rubin says. One skill, paying close attention to detail, has helped Rubin in the business world. "Even though I'm not reviewing people’s contracts and doing transactional work, obviously; signing my leases, preparing contracts with clients, knowing how to discuss scheduling - having that law background was very helpful," she notes, "I have real faith that the things that you learn you'll bring with you, the things that are useful, you'll bring with you into the next stage."