As a Way of Life - Soul Garden Yoga

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Heather Berg, Founder of Soul Garden Yoga, located in Boca Raton, FL, USA.

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

I have been practicing yoga and meditation since 1990 and began teaching full-time in 2012. I am a certified Yoga Teacher, Sri Vidya & the Himalayan Tantric tradition meditation teacher, and Buteyko Breathing Method instructor. I also created Practice to Pause, a corporate wellness program. It's all about engaging employees with evidence-based mindfulness tools to feel more present, enhance creativity & performance, and improve overall well-being in and out of work.

Presently, I lead Hatha, Yin, Yoga Nidra, mindfulness and meditation sessions and workshops, as well as Stand-Up Paddleboard (SUP) yoga/meditation. Seeking to teach at a deeper level beyond the postures, I am most interested in enlightening others to be discerning practitioners who can then integrate information for themselves. This way, my students will truly learn to practice yoga as a way of life that breathes differently in everybody. I am based in south Florida and teach via Zoom and lead retreats around the globe! My core audience, both men and women, ranging in age from 30's to late 80's!

Tell us about yourself

Someone once asked me at a dinner party, "What do you like to do that brings you joy?" It wasn't, "What do you do for a living?" How refreshing!!! I think this is an important question as I find the things that bring me joy have slowly been weaved into my profession, which is why I love what I do! For as long as I can remember, I have loved being outdoors, in nature, whether it is at the beach, hiking in the mountains, or gardening. Also, I have always moved my body in some fashion. As a child, I rode my bike everywhere, took dance classes, and played tennis and softball. Some of my fondest memories are from summer camp; the sound of cicadas brings me right back to my childhood. I knew intuitively that the outdoors was a place to regulate my nervous system. In 1990 as a sophomore in college, I took my first "Intro to Sun Salutations" at NYU. Laying on the mat in Shavasana was a magic I had never experienced in a structured class before, yet I felt as if I had come home. I coveted more of this feeling, so I practiced and studied many different yoga traditions over the next few years. It never crossed my mind to teach yoga. To me, it was an activity that I loved and that brought me peace. After I graduated college with a degree in Art History from NYU, I quickly realized I wanted something different to support myself, but I had no idea what it was. I applied for a program where I could feed my wanderlust.

I lived in Japan for two years (traveling all over Asia), teaching English to junior high school students in a small farming village. I rode my bike daily through the rice paddy fields, visited monasteries, and dove deeper into meditation. I also fell in love with teaching. I returned to NYC in 1994 and went to grad school for early childhood education with a focus on Montessori education. I taught at a Montessori school in NYC and then moved to south Florida in late 1996, where I continued teaching at a Montessori school. Although I always incorporated yoga and meditation for the children, I also practiced for myself, seeking out different styles of yoga and meditation. My love of movement led me to become a certified Mad Dogg Spinning instructor creating meditative rides using eclectic world music from my travels. It wasn't until 2012 that I decided to partake in yoga teacher training. It was at this point that I found my true calling. Due to my Montessori teaching and Spinning classes, the teaching aspect came easily. My longtime yoga practice (and active movement from childhood) also allowed me to truly understand how it felt in my body. I believe one of my strongest qualities is my precisely cued classes.

I focus on cultivating breath and body awareness. I can intuitively guide people to relax both the body and mind taking practitioners to a deeper level of sensitivity and stillness, both inside and out. The look on my student's faces and the shift in energy from the start of a session to the end are what motivate me. You cannot deny the shift that happens physically, mentally, and even spiritually.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment is taking what I love and sharing it with people who normally wouldn't go to a yoga studio. My reach goes well beyond a studio/gym space. I honestly believe yoga is for EVERY body.

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

One of the most challenging parts of being a business owner is marketing. Social media is fast-paced: constantly changing, and filled with confusing algorithms. I find that collaborating with other teachers, therapists, and doctors have been the most rewarding way to reach more people. For me, it's about intimacy and connection.

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

The three tips I'd give to someone to start, run and grow a business today are:

1. Enjoy what you do/offer.
2. Believe what you have to offer is valuable to others.
3. Never underestimate the power of rest.
4. Take time to meditate every day... you'll often hear the answers to your questions.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://soulgardenyoga.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathermberg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heatherbergyoga/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-berg-74858559/

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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