The Hand to Mat Connection

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Rose Pelosi, Founder of The Yoga Rocks, located in Belleville, IL, USA.

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

Hi! I'm Rose, and my business is body love! My business is body awareness! My business is one girl's vision gone active mission! Created with optimal strength in mind, Yoga Rocks are for anyone that hits the mat! We stand for support structure and the ability to experience the maximum benefits of your movement.

What the heck is Yoga Rocks?? Completely unique, made from 100% silicone, this new tool provides consistent activation throughout the muscles of the hands to support strong hand, wrist, and forearm stability. With this, Yoga Rocks provide the opportunity to lighten the heels of hands, removing unnecessary pressure and strain. You will feel the opportunity to connect fully to your mat and your upper body as you heighten your awareness of how you move, place body weight, and activate. Yoga Rocks are designed for both beginners and advanced practitioners with a variety of offerings, from meticulous hand placement to enhanced strength building and balance. Beginner or advanced, wrist surgeries to hand-standers, Yoga Rocks have something to offer!

Tell us about yourself

I first had this idea when I was teaching yoga on Venice Beach, watching people dig the heels of their hands into the sand to stay up in down dog. My my! Then my students were always talking about their wrists, lifelong yogis still missing out on strength, beginners slipping, the list went on! What's up with this hand issue!? And how can I easily give access to both a supportive and progressive practice while minimizing pain? It turns out this issue goes so much further as I began to research the insane impact of HOW we articulate our hands as a foundational position in yoga. It isn't just where we put them; it's how we are using them that affects our entire upper body and how both myself and my students build strength… Or not.

I started cutting bouncy balls in half! Gluing them to my mats. I began the patent process with a small-time lawyer. Now being where I am today, the opportunity to spread body awareness as a female entrepreneur continuously inspires me. The opportunity to both create and share. It's energizing to play a role in helping others find a greater connection to their bodies as well as a greater understanding of how they move. I feel good knowing that I am helping people preserve their bodies and progress their practice!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

One of my biggest accomplishments was definitely patenting my product and becoming a true inventor! It was a big step and a major win for me personally. It was a long journey that felt both rewarding and relieving to complete. I felt validated in some way.

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

One of the hardest things about being a business owner, especially a small one, is that you must motivate yourself! You must keep believing despite obstacles, setbacks, and judgment. You have to get up and get to work each day, whether anyone knows it or not. You are your own driving force, and although full control is awesome, every decision, every dollar, every legal issue, and every customer is your responsibility. It can be hard to maintain hope in moments when you feel you are new to the game, confused, slow to grow, or just plain tired. In many ways, it becomes a journey of getting to know yourself. Enjoy that!

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

Start Now. It's not about preparation; it's about learning as you go.
Believe it to see it. Don't wait to see it to believe it.
You'll figure out anything you don't already understand, don't worry.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://theyogarocks.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theyogarocks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theyogarocks/

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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