Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Karen Russell, Founder of Yoga NoHo Center, located in North Hollywood, CA, USA.

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

The Yoga NoHo Center is your neighborhood Wellness Center offering modern yoga with deep yogic study, far infrared hot and non-heated amazing in-person classes, on-demand, and zoom to get back to a healthy lifestyle. Chiropractic, Massage, and Spiritual Healing. The Center first opened its doors in 2014 and is excited to be fully re-opened. The belief is that now more than ever, people need to be healthy, happy, and strong to navigate through life. We are here every step of the way. The Yoga NoHo Center offers both Far Infrared Heated and Non-Heated Traditional yoga classes such as Gentle, Power, Vinyasa Flow, Yin, Restorative, and Kundalini yoga. Want to go deeper into your practice? Then sign up for our renowned certified teacher trainings (we have over 20 years of experience with partner studios in India), workshops, sound baths, and exciting retreats. We also offer On Demand Yoga, Live Streaming Yoga, and Semi-Private / Private Yoga classes.

Have a question? We are here to answer all of your questions. We have curated a team of knowledgable, thoughtful, inspiring teachers, doctors, and healers to answer your questions. To contact us quickly, email us at info@yoganoho.com. We will reply within the same day. Be well; many blessings to you and your family. Namaste!

Tell us about yourself

I started my movement career at the age of six in Erie, Pennsylvania. By the time I was in my early twenties, I had performed professionally on stage, in feature films, and on television. I have worked with legends such as Michael Jackson, Madonna, Bette Midler, Kenny Chesney, and Alice Cooper. My passion for yoga started in 1997 while studying Iyengar in NYC, but it was a dance injury in 2000 that guided me to a professional yoga career. I enhanced my knowledge of yoga while studying with top yoga professionals. Since 2005, I have been an active teacher, producer, community outreach representative, ambassador for Lululemon, and CEO and owner of the Yoga Groove Studio. I contributed my business, management, and creative skills to several successful companies (Corepower Yoga, Naam Yoga La, Tantris Yoga, and Retail Center, Mandala Center, and Industry Venice) and am excited to be the owner of the Yoga NoHo Center. Enjoy my 200-hour Teacher Training course, Restorative Immersions course, Yoga Groove DVD, Yoga Groove Meditation CD, Yoga Groove Conscious Tone, and Fit Barre method, and soon available the Masters of India (which was shot in southern India during her guided retreat) collection.

I am super excited to partner with Shashi Kumar from India as they expand the yoga teacher training offerings in India and abroad. I look forward to many adventures with the Yoga NoHo Center as I continue to collaborate with like-minded individuals to enhance their lives.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment was making it through the COVID huge shutdown. As everyone knows, LA was the most impossible place to stay alive as a small business during this time. No other state other than NYC was this hard. Now I am experiencing so many people with deep depression due to the lockdowns and what I believe over masked as humans need oxygen. But to date, I think my biggest accomplishment was a certain student who walked into my studio almost 15 years ago (I used to own another studio in the North Hollywood area). She was a bit crazy, looked homeless, and said she didn't know what else to do. At that moment, I wasn't sure what her situation was. She then told me that her daughter was killed in a car accident on her way home from college. She said that the doctors prescribed a lot of medication, but it didn't seem to help; she said, "Well, perhaps yoga could help me." I told her as I was fighting back the tears, thinking what the heck can I do for her, "I am so sorry, I can't bring your daughter back, but I will give you free yoga and the space to come every day until you feel better, as I am sure your daughter would want you to be happy." For three months, Rosie came every day, she would just lay down on her mat and do absolutely nothing (I had a box of tissues for her), and some days she would complete a very intense yoga class. After three months, she was off all her medications and said she started to feel alive again. She said I saved her life, but all I did was give her space, time, and love... That is still my greatest accomplishment as being a business owner.

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

The everyday management of over 15 teachers and last-minute things that may come up, such as maintenance and perhaps customer service issues, is very important to take seriously as to run an amazing studio.

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

  1. Love the business that you start because it will take a lot of time to build
  2. Location is important, and parking so that it is easy and safe (right now, LAis so unsafe that you need to think about this as the city seems not to care about supporting small businesses).
  3. Make sure you have a long-term lease option because it takes at least three years to grow, and for resale, you want to have a great lease in place.
  4. Hire a great team that has your back...

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I absolutely love this business. This type of business isn't about making millions; it is about wealth that is priceless. As a performer, I would appreciate the compliments when I would dance, sing or act well, but I never had anyone say I saved their life in that business, so for me, the relationships are profound in the yoga world. Now more than ever, we need to come together (not divided over stupid politics), be healthy and happy, and know our true potential as a community.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.yoganoho.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YOGANoHo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoga_noho/

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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