Movement, Mindfulness, and Meditation

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Suzanne Leitner-Wise, Founder of 532YOGA, located in Alexandria, VA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

We support our community by offering wellness within our studio, which is a sanctuary for many people and has become a landmark in Alexandria. We are invested in our clients and work to shape a better future and create positive and lasting change by helping others stay healthy through movement, mindfulness, and meditation. We are committed to the advancement of education, community, and non-discrimination.

How can we make the world more wonderful for ourselves, for others, and for those that are yet to come? This is our mission. This is our business.

Tell us about yourself

My story started over 25 years ago when I was 8 months pregnant and took my first yoga class. The very next day, I signed up for a 2-year teacher training program. I knew it was something I wanted to share with others. I worked for many yoga studios, private clients (i.e., Senator Mark Warner), and corporations like the NIH, Dept. of Health, etc., and started teaching others how to teach (with two little boys in tow a lot of the time). I spent a lot of time traveling to various places.

My ability to change people's lives (not my words, but theirs) through training and classes, helping clients become more aware and more present, physically, mentally, and spiritually, was, and is, my passion. I had amassed a following of hundreds of clients and decided it was time to open my own yoga studio. It was the best thing I'd ever done (except for producing, with the help of my husband, our beautiful sons!).

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I love to help others. I love it when people tell me their back pain has vanished. I love it when people tell me their relationships are better, especially with themselves. We (the amazing teachers here and I) have built an amazing community, which we are very proud to serve.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

This is a client-based business, so without clients coming to take classes or workshops, we have no business. Clients have started to return, and I am confident that others will soon feel confident enough to return, but the last two years, during the pandemic, have been extremely hard.

The whole situation has been devastating for everyone, and a number of yoga studios (too many) have had to close their doors. I have been lucky to be able to stay open with the help of our community, but it's not over. Two years is an awfully long time to play catch up with.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Follow your passion.
Never give up.
You can do it!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.532yoga.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/532Yoga
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/532Yoga/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/532Yoga
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzanne-leitner-wise-a171797/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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