Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Blaithin Sweeney, Ph.D., Owner of Your Wellbeing Warrior, located in Sligo, Ireland.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am a Yoga teacher, a Reiki Master, and a scientist with a Ph.D. in chemistry. My first passion, however, is nature, adventure, and the outdoors. I provide wellbeing events and activities to people of all ages and abilities.
Tell us about yourself
I grew up in Sligo and spent my childhood exploring the lakes, mountains, and beaches. I didn't call it my passion; it was just what I did. I left the house on my bike and went exploring. I wasn't trying to achieve anything as a kid, obviously, but in hindsight, I can see that growing up in that way has laid a foundation for how I wish to live my life. I've been teaching yoga for 10 years, and for 2 years, there was a cross-over between working in pharmaceuticals and teaching yoga until I eventually made the full transition. It was very early on in my teaching that I realised teaching indoors was only bringing half the benefits to the group. Having done a few outdoor beach yoga sessions as fundraisers, I could see benefits in the outdoor sessions that just weren't happening with the same frequency as the indoor sessions.
I now teach the majority of my classes outdoors, and it's not just yoga; depending on the excursion or experience, it can be breathwork or meditation. For straightforward yoga classes, I love teaching on the beach or in the forest. I also take my teaching up the mountains and across the water on the lake…I run a variety of Adventure Yoga Experiences. Working with some of the best adventure providers there are here in the Northwest; the aim is to introduce wellbeing activities to the adventurous type and introduce adventure to those more holistic souls.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
As I started a Mental Health charity at the same time as starting my own business, my biggest accomplishment has been maintaining and developing both simultaneously whilst also keeping balance in my personal life. In addition, in more recent years, I have been thrilled at being able to bring skills in science and research into my teachings, sharing with my customers the real benefits of the practice. Giving people insights into why they practice while they practice.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The biggest challenge with being a business owner in the business that I have chosen is that there were very few doing what I was doing when I started, taking yoga and wellbeing practices outdoors. Not in Ireland, in any case. The only way forward was to stay consistent and reliable so people would come to trust that classes were going ahead. I have built a steady following over the years; we have discovered together that the weather on the west coast is much better and more consistent that you would be led to believe.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Seek all the help and advice there is available.
- When trying something different, especially if it's a passion you know you won't let go of, ensure you have a steady earner to sustain you as you explore how to make your passion work.
- Always prioritise your own wellbeing; people buy from people. If you are in good health, feeling positive, and clearly loving what you are doing, you will naturally attract more business.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.yourwellbeingwarrior.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourwellbeingwarrior/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/your_wellbeing_warrior/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blaithin-sweeney-37a27475/
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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