Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jenny Miller, Co-Founder of The Body Electric Yoga and Athletic Companies, located in St. Petersburg, FL, USA.

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

We are The Body Electric Yoga and Athletic Companies. Physically, we operate a yoga studio and also a group fitness facility here in St. Pete. We're really in the business of providing the spaces and tools for people to manifest the best versions of themselves. So, we have this incredible stable of coaches and teachers whose passion is to facilitate your growth, on your own terms, at your own pace.

We start with the studio and gym themselves: they were designed to be beautiful, chill environments so that when you walk in the door, you can just take and breathe and downshift. The space is made to get you into a headspace where you can work hard and feel safe doing so. As a company, we strive to be inclusive and outward-looking. Philosophically and in practice, we reject dogma, we're always learning, we're open-minded, and we don't want people to feel intimidated or bossed around. From the start, we've been committed to providing high-quality instruction drawing from many modes and lineages. We really believe in the personal and cultural benefits of yoga practices and mindful physical fitness, so our big goal is to uplift the entire region by improving the well-being of every individual we reach and to reach as many individuals as possible. We strongly believe that people should be empowered to become their own best coaches and teachers, and so we strive to provide customizable models of fitness. We believe in giving people the agency and the means to create a sustainably healthy lifestyle for themselves.

Tell us about yourself

I was nearing the end of my career in IT, and I needed something different to do. My body was feeling the effects of a decade plus sitting at the computer all day. I was recently heartbroken and wasn't taking good care of myself. I started going to hot yoga classes, and they were so hard. They were so hard that for that small amount of time, I forgot about my problems. My only problem was holding this pose in an absurdly hot room. And, yoga just kind of accepted me as I was. I didn't have to be a "yoga person," I could be my messed-up self. That's what we keep delivering to the people. That's my motivation. Yoga is for you, and it meets you wherever you are.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

We made it through COVID, miraculously, barely. So much went south all at once, and that just continued for 2 years that felt like 10 years. And when we came out of the fire, we were all changed. We learned and grew so much. We implemented many important changes to how we ran the businesses. I came out of that a lot more open...to new ideas, people, everything. It was like, all the worst things that I ever feared might happen happened, and we survived. Now it feels like anything is possible.

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

Not everyone is going to like you. Not you as an owner, not your business. Learning to not live in fear and remembering what your mission is will get you through. When you look in the mirror and like what you see when you know you're authentic, it helps takes the slings and arrows.

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

  1. Be ready to grow from the start. Even if you're a one-person business, put rudimentary systems in place so you're prepared to scale up as soon as you need to.
  2. Take the mindset that doesn't have competition. I really believe this. Narrow in on YOUR specialty, what you're really good at, and what you love to make or deliver. Don't worry about what anyone else is doing. There's enough for everyone, and every business provides something a little different. Folks will find their home and tribe.
  3. When you're just getting started, listen. But not too much. Everyone's got advice; some might be great, but stick to your vision. Decisions are easier when you have a very clear and focused mission.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

St. Pete is a wonderful place to start and grow a business. There is so much support and help out there, and just a supportive community of folks who care about local and independent businesses. Reach out. Don't be insular. Make real connections with aligned individuals, businesses and organizations. Keep it fun! For yourself, your staff, and your family. When you're scared and worried, it's no fun. Katelyn and I always say, if we lost it all, that would just put us back where we started. No big deal. We could do it again. That takes some pressure off.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://thebodyelectricyoga.com/
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3ow1tjj
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3BkiSTQ
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheBEYogaCo

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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