
Words by Em Armstrong
You’d be surprised how many people said to me “You’re mad, opening a physical studio in a small bush town”, when I first announced my purchase of an 1870s building on the main street of outback town Hay, NSW.
Embarking on the journey of opening a physical yoga and Pilates studio in a small bush town has been a WILD adventure, marking it the best and most challenging chapter of my life. Since creating Saltbush Stretch in 2017, my mission has always been to encourage movement in any capacity in the bush. My mission hasn’t changed…but it has evolved into something so much bigger than I ever imagined in my wildest dreams!
The amazing women in my online community The Saltbush Squad allowed me the confidence to open this space, as I have seen women connect, inspire and support each other in an online setting, and I wanted to bring them and the Hay community more connection and a place where everyone felt welcome in a central place.
My crazy (and sometimes terrifying), attitude to always DO MORE…my love of bush communities, connection, combined with my endeavor to promote physical and mental well-being, has landed me with a beautiful little studio AKA, the Saltbush Stretch HQ. In this blog post, I share the rollercoaster ride of financial hurdles, the delicate balance with family life, and the juggling act of balancing The Studio and The Saltbush Squad, my online community alongside the physical studio.
Financial Hurdles
Undoubtedly, one of the steepest peaks in this venture has been the financial challenge. And I’m putting my hand up very honestly, admitting that the numbers isn’t my favourite part of the business, but a part of the business that requires a lot of time spent on it, to ensure that I don’t go belly up (something I am terrified about)…but remaining positive with a big plan in place to ensure that never happens.
Purchasing the studio firstly was one hurdle (to actually get the cash)…because apparently banks don’t like entrepreneurs, but I managed to get my finances in order (with no $1 left to do anything else), as everything went into the deposit…(at this point my husband is having a heart attack)…
Renovating the studio, purchasing equipment, ensuring my staff were always paid and sustaining day-to-day operations, posed continuous financial strains. Yet, it’s in these moments something inside of me just had to dig deep, constantly adaptation and just find a way to make it work, because I was too passionate and in too far deep financially to give up when things got tough)…before I’d even open the studio – LOL!
And now that the studio is open, it’s honestly amazing the support we’ve received from the community and The Squad, who are also loving having their new Saltbush HQ online 🙂 But there is always the nerves and angst of the “what if’s”. But I love the saying “control what you can control and don’t worry about the rest”…is what I keep telling myself.
Balance of Family Life
WOW, what a big one, balancing the demands of my growing business along with my beautiful and growing family. Trying to be the best at everything (which isn’t possible)…so it was a challenging time, in the lead up to the studio opening (which was actually a 9 month journey)…in which still the juggle is hard.
The life of an entrepreneur was/still is often accompanied by late nights, tight deadlines, and countless stress, ensuring the success of the Saltbush Stretch business as a whole. The challenge of being present as a mother, wife, friend, sister and the list goes on along with my own personal health and wellbeing – it was an interesting stage in which I don’t think there will ever be a perfect formula to getting it right.
It took conscious effort to establish boundaries between work hours from family time. Communication with loved ones became pivotal in navigating the emotional rollercoaster. Involving my hubby in the studio’s journey, from decision-making, processes, to financial updates as although he isn’t a “yogi or pilates babe”, we are still a team and need to ensure we can support each other as a team, as I do for him on the farm too.
The Saltbush Squad and The Studio Balance
This might seem like something to be stressed over, but this was one of the biggest and most challenging struggles. As soon as I announced that I had purchased The Studio, my DM’s on social media were flooded with messages about the online community, if it would still exist and if everything would still be the same…
And it’s funny, because for myself personally, I never actually get to attend “physical classes” in the studio, so The Saltbush Squad is actually where I get my “me time” and when I’m in the studio I get to connect with my amazing community and students, but it’s not me ever really attending classes.
So, The Squad isn’t going anywhere, and is here to stay! And I have some AMAZING things installed for us in The Studio and The Squad in 2024 which I can’t wait for us to dive into!! And I hope that 2024 is the year that more bush babes can be connected in The Studio and a far via The Squad.

So, hold on for the wild Saltbush ride, which I know so many of you are already on. Because really, life is just one big old crazy ride and I’m so glad we can be on it together.
See you on the mat.
Big love. Em xx