Behind every review and photo is a story that shapes them, and today I wanted to share one of those stories from 2023 to celebrate Connect’s 7th birthday and my 7th year anniversary as a Local Guide. 
Google Maps encourages me to get out and explore new places that I normally wouldn’t have gone to. This year, I decided to visit a relatively newer small business yoga spot- Blue Buddha Collective in Scottsdale, Arizona.
I had visited my massage therapist in February griping about feeling back aches and migraines. He sternly said “tsk tsk” and reminded me to do more stretching. I nodded, only to get back to my old habits of mindlessly scrolling through my phone the next few evenings, as work got more hectic and stressful. I did eventually relent one day and thought I’d check out that yoga spot I saw on Google Maps after work.
The first time I drove there, I kept missing the turn as the lot was small and there was no large sign. I had to drive forward and then circle back. I did this 2 times, each time missing the spot from turning too early. My hand nervously gripped the steering wheel as I navigated through the busy sea of rush hour traffic. I almost thought of turning back home, but the 3nd time was a charm as I was able to correctly find the spot.
I ended up parking on the street, and so I made a note of that in my review so others could have a more accessible and easier way to park instead of worrying about squeezing into the tiny lot. Also, mentioning the street in the review would help others to find it.
From there, I made the silly mistake of walking into the bar next to the studio. I did read online that the studio has a cafe in front, so I thought the wooden picnic tables belonged to the cafe. I ventured in and asked where to check in for class. The server gave me a bemused look and then smiled when he saw my yoga mat. He pointed and said “the next door down.”
Since there were no existing clear photos of the studio’s front, I made sure to take some photos of that and upload them to Maps. This can aid future students in getting to the correct entrance door.
Lastly, as the studio had a discount for a two-week pass, I was able to sample all their classes. Curiosity spurred me to come back to try classes of weird and interesting names that I hadn’t heard before just to see what they were about- such as “myofascial release” and “blacklight flow.” After trying them, I was able to highlight my favorite classes in my review to allow new students to decide what to try first.
Not only was my curiosity satiated and I got to help build out content for a local yoga spot, I also felt myself starting to feel relief from my physical stresses. It was a win-win all around. The cherry on top was an email sent by Google Maps showing the traction of likes and views that my reviews and photo got. It always puts a smile on my face to see when our contributions can be helpful to others.
Happy 7 years to my fellow amazing Local Guides! 
Kudos for trying out that yoga spot on Google Maps! Though it seems the universe had other plans for you, playing hide-and-seek with the entrance, and the bar almost stealing your zen moment! 
