Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ashley Vasas, Founder of Nourish & Grow Yoga, located in Minneapolis, MN, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I'm Ashley Vasas (she/her/hers), yoga teacher and founder of Nourish & Grow Yoga, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I founded Nourish & Grow Yoga to bring accessible yoga to people online and in-person. I'm passionate about sharing the power of yoga movement and philosophy to help my students open themselves up to vibrant health, joy, and love beyond measure. I work with students one-on-one, in the studio, or online to help them discover their potential through yoga, meditation, and self-love. I pride myself on making yoga accessible to everyone and working with people of all ages, flexibility, and physical fitness levels.
Tell us about yourself
I was a yoga practitioner for years before feeling called to share this beautiful practice with others. I remember finding myself bloated, burnt out, and in chronic pain, knowing something had to change. After experiencing a traumatic car accident, I began to look for ways to bring physical activity back into my life in a gentle way. I reached for yoga as a low-impact exercise option and discovered a far more potent healing tool. When I started practicing, I was shocked at how stiff and inflexible I was! With consistent yoga practice, my body has become stronger and more limber. The truth is, I never feel better than when I've just finished a yoga class. And that feeling is what led me to become a teacher so I could share this fantastic vibrancy with others.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment has been reaching the students that need the work I do and reconnecting them to their bodies. My students are not the stereotypical yoga practitioners; they are often older or have health challenges that make attending the average yoga class a non-starter. With my teaching and care, they learn to appreciate their bodies for what they can do and celebrate their progress in every class. Hearing the feedback from my students inspires me every day to keep working to bring my unique approach to yoga to a wider audience.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things about being a business owner is that the yoga space is very crowded. Where I live, in Minneapolis, MN, you can throw a rock in any direction and hit a yoga studio or yoga teacher. However, by aligning with my audience, sharing my gifts, and being persistent, I'm starting to see some real success.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
It's hard to limit this to just three, but here goes.
- Be passionate about what you do. It will help you stay motivated and authentic. If you're not fully invested, your audience will sense it and will take their business elsewhere.
- Learn how to reach your audience. You can be the best in the world at what you do, but if no one knows who you are or how to find you, you'll never amount to anything.
- Be patient. Starting a successful business from the ground up takes time. You need to learn to walk before you can run, so take it one step at a time.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I think it's crucial to keep learning and honing your craft, whatever it is, so you can continue to evolve. Since becoming a yoga teacher, I've continued to learn different yoga styles and yoga-adjacent modalities, such as meditation and reiki, so I can bring a variety of healing tools to my students. I'm endlessly curious by nature and find that continuing to learn helps to deepen my appreciation for yoga as well as benefits those I serve.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.nourishandgrowyoga.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nourishandgrowyoga
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nourishandgrowyoga/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nourish-grow-yoga/
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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