Sweet Healing Space - Ananda Meditation
Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health & wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sydney Cutler Abich, Founder of Ananda Meditation, located in Los Angeles, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Ananda Meditation offers a sweet healing space to discover and embody Rest, Freedom, Joy, and Balance through Yoga Nidra meditation.
Tell us about yourself
I found the practice of Yoga Nidra ("yogic sleep" guided meditation) 11 years ago as an exhausted person navigating new parenthood, a full-time career, and a chronic illness. Practicing Yoga Nidra was so accessible and transformative on so many levels that a few years later, I received my first Yoga Nidra teaching certificate, during which I felt I had finally found my calling. I have been teaching Yoga Nidra since 2016, in studios and with individuals, community groups, and businesses.
Being of service is my purpose in this life. Every day I am motivated by the desire to help people rediscover how to rest, release stress and emotional blocks, tune into their intuition, and remember their divine nature. Being a meditation guide is incredibly rewarding, and sharing this practice with the world is a privilege.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Making the jump to a total career change. I came from a healthcare background and had no idea how to start or grow a small business, so I had a LOT to learn, not just in my area of expertise. I'm proud of what I have learned and grateful for the wayshowers who have helped me.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Passion and expertise are not enough as a small-business owner: you need to learn about marketing, copyrighting, social media content creation, accounting, and other functions outside of what you want to be doing all the time. I would be teaching and not worrying about the other stuff in a perfect world!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Get clear on your "why" and "how." Why do you want to start a business? What are your mission and vision? How will your idea, product, or service nourish your community? What are your ethics and values?
Find a community of genuinely conscious entrepreneurs—your peers are a wellspring of information and support. Use your powers of discernment to connect with people that genuinely wish to support you vs. predatory people who see you as a commodity to be mined.
When you're feeling burnt out or directionless, take some time to rest. Take a Yoga Nidra "nap," an actual nap; close your eyes for ten minutes; or take a walk in nature or a warm bath—whatever feels nourishing for you, you are worthy of rest!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://anandameditation.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anandameditation/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anandameditation/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydney-cutler-abich-240633194/
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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