Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in yoga but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jacquelyn Nash, founder of Hudson Valley Wedding Yoga, located in Kingston, NY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We offer yoga to brides, grooms, and their wedding parties and/or guests on a wedding day or on a weekend to celebrate the bride or groom, such as a weekend getaway bachelorette party. Hudson Valley Wedding Yoga will orchestrate a yoga class that is tailored to the needs and abilities of those attending the class. Our services include coordinating all details of the class, finding the perfect instructor for your group, and working out a schedule with the site location to make adding this to a wedding event seamless and stress-free. A wedding is one of life's most blissful moments. It is the celebration of a union, a linking of two souls. During the wedding preparation, a yoga class can be the perfect addition to any bride or groom's wedding weekend, planning time or bachelorette festivities to help center, breathe and add an element of calm to an event that is rightfully energetic and full of excitement. Taking time to connect with one's self and each other can help keep us in the present and remain aware and grounded during the momentous and celebratory occasion.
Tell us about yourself
On the morning of my wedding in 2012, I remember feeling the importance of centering and getting a yoga practice in before the day began. So, alone in my hotel room, I moved furniture, rolled my mat out on the floor, and found the union of breath and movement to ease some nerves and to find some calm before a day of constant motion but continuous joy and celebration. As a yoga practitioner, I knew that if I hadn't done at least a little centering on this celebratory day, I might get caught up in constant busyness and forget to stay present in the excitement of each new moment. Reflecting back, I wish it had occurred to me how enjoyable it would have been to have started out the day practicing yoga with my bridesmaids and mom. I realized that, as a yoga instructor, I could provide this service to brides and grooms in our beautiful Hudson Valley so they can feel present and centered on their big day or weekend.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I think the biggest accomplishment, or rather reward, of having this business is truly making a difference for couples or brides during these important weekends. I've had maids of honor come up to me after a class and tell me that she noticed a marked change in the bride after the class because there was a lot of stress and drama happening before the class that was affecting the bride. It's also beautiful to see the sisterhood of friendship at the bachelorette weekends and also something simple such as the bride and groom holding hands during final relaxation in the class. So, in terms of accomplishment, it might sound cheesy, but knowing that I'm making a positive difference for these people is probably the biggest for me.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Self-promotion is something that has never felt natural for me. Since social media is a must in this day for a business, it has been a struggle for me.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Three tips I would offer are first, to definitely love the field that you're starting a business in. The company becomes your baby and doesn't turn off, so you have to be prepared to give it all. Second, don't be afraid to self-promote. It's a must! And if you love what you do, it will feel natural to share and promote what you do. And last, owning a business requires a lot of your attention, but don't forget to strike a balance between your business and your personal life. It's a tricky balancing act for business owners that takes time to master, but the balance must be made, so you don't end up disliking your own business.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.hudsonvalleyweddingyoga.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hvweddingyoga/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HVWeddingYoga
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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