Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lenore Foster, Founder of Yoga with Lenore, located in Mississauga, ON, Canada.

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

My business is Yoga with Lenore. It started as simply teaching yoga out of my home and has expanded beyond that. I help adults reduce stiffness and pain by teaching them to move better and more mindfully so they can do the activities they love and live life with joy!

Tell us about yourself

I've been teaching yoga for 10 years, and my aim is to help people move better, so they feel better. I teach in a mindful way that helps people tune in and move in harmony with their bodies. A lot of my students have stiffness and pain, so about 4 years ago, I got certified as a Somatic Educator. Somatics is an approach that addresses chronic pain or tightness from the perspective of whole-body movement patterns. It does this through retraining the brain - via the nervous system - to regain control of the muscles, so the body moves in a more balanced and functional way. Somatics empowers people to take control of their own health and wellness, so they rely less on other professionals to reduce their pain and help them rely on their own body, which I believe has the wisdom to heal itself. My customers' results and referrals are what keep me going.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment has been pivoting to add an online program to my offerings called The Myth of Aging, which helps reduce the accumulated stiffness and pain that's usually associated with getting older. Doing it online allows me to reach and help more people. The work of Somatics is powerful, and I love helping people help themselves feel better in their own bodies.

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

One of the hardest things with being a business owner is not doing everything yourself! I've been doing this solo for 8 years - there's a lot of work involved, and I've been wearing all the hats. I'm just now starting to outsource some of the work so that I can focus on the more important aspects. Owning your own business also means you need to be very self-motivated! However, there's great joy in creating a business and vision without having to answer other people!

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

  1. Don't be a martyr and do everything yourself! You are the CEO of your business and you want to act like one. DON'T be doing ALL the jobs - focus on doing the revenue-generating activities, and outsource the small tasks that are so time-consuming.
  2. Examine your mindset and beliefs. You might not think this has anything to do with business, but it does. For example, if you have some limiting beliefs, such as I'm not good enough, who am I to be doing this, or the market is too saturated, etc., then this will hold you back. Even in a saturated market, you have something unique to offer that's a reflection of YOU that no one else can do quite the same way. One way to work on this is to keep asking questions: "Why do I think I'm not good enough?" "Well, this is what my parents told me when I was growing up," "And is it true?" etc. Getting to the core of your limiting, unconscious beliefs is the only way to change them!
  3. Know your WHY. Running a business is challenging but can also be very rewarding if you're doing it for the right reasons. You want to wake up each day excited you get to work at a job you love... because there's something you want to share with the world. People don't buy your product or service; they buy your energy, passion, and way of delivering... they buy your WHY, not your WHAT. Don't be afraid to be very specific with what you offer and how it helps people solve a problem they have. For me, there are LOTS of people who teach yoga... but I teach in a way that's authentic to ME, and that comes off. So I'm attracting the people who resonate with me. I want to be ME, not try to emulate "that other person." Be a creator, not a copycat!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://yogawithlenore.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YogaWithLenore
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yogawithlenore/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenorefoster/

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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