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Behind every yoga business is a founder with a vision. Explore their journeys, lessons, and strategies to build, grow, and make an impact.
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Movement helped Juri Ko navigate grief, personal transitions, and the process of reconnecting with herself. After discovering a deeper side of yoga in Hawaiʻi, she completed her teacher training and began building communities around movement
Yoga TechWhile yoga has been a lifelong companion since my early 20s, becoming a yoga teacher or studio owner wasn’t part of my original, well-thought-out path—or so I thought. In a previous life, I had a career as a marine biologist and commercial diver for the best part of 15 years. It brought me immense joy and a deep connection to nature and the animals within it. Working with various species of marine life, both large and small, gave me fascinating insight into how we are all interconnected. I started with a local yoga class in a community hall in 2005. I had always felt drawn to yoga, but wasn’t sure where to begin. The flyer said it was Hatha yoga and suitable for all levels, so I went along. A few years later, a friend introduced me to Hot Yoga, and that completely changed the direction of my practice...
Yoga TechMy name is Lauren Elassad, originally from Sydney and now living on the sunny Gold Coast. For a long time, I felt like I was living a life that wasn’t truly mine. I was in a long-term relationship, on track to buy a home in my hometown, and working full-time as a personal assistant. But everything felt like a struggle—as if I were just going through the motions. Though I dabbled in yoga, it was more for how my body felt than any deeper understanding. It wasn’t until I moved to London for a year on a working holiday visa, partly to escape the life I had built, that things shifted. As they say, you can run from your life, but you can’t run from yourself. Eventually, everything caught up with me...
Yoga TechLeslie Herr’s introduction to yoga didn’t come from a desire to become more flexible or to find a new hobby. It came from necessity. At the time, she was deep in the world of emergency services—a career filled with high-stakes medical calls, disasters, and the constant weight of unpredictability. That life demanded clarity, resilience, and recovery. Yoga became the place where she could catch her breath, center her emotions, and find relief from the intensity of her work...
Wellness FounderOver a decade ago, a friend invited me to my first yoga class. I didn’t know it then, but that moment would change everything. Each return to the mat felt like a homecoming—a place where I could shed ego, move with intention, and rediscover myself from the inside out. As my practice deepened, so did my desire to learn more. I became fascinated with the roots of yoga—the meaning behind the poses, the philosophy, the energy. Eventually, I knew with certainty: I was meant to teach. To share this sacred practice with others the way it was first shared with me...
Teacher TrainingGiulia Scodanibbio was born in a quiet, traditional town in central Italy, where conformity often overshadowed individuality. From an early age, she felt like a misfit in a world that valued rules over self-expression. Yet, moments spent immersed in nature, art, or movement offered her vital glimpses of freedom and selfhood. At eighteen, she left home — not just to study, but to reclaim her voice and carve out her own path...
Yoga Business CoachAmy Fraser grew up with a foot in two worlds—analytical and artistic. Her academic days were filled with maths and computer science, yet she balanced that logic with gymnastics and film photography. “I was a nerd and a wild card,” she recalls. But everything changed in Grade 12 when her father was diagnosed with brain cancer. That pivotal moment disrupted her world, pulling her away from her passions...
Yoga TechCarly Isleib’s path into the yoga world was paved by a deep desire for growth, creativity, and connection. Born in the fall of 1988, Carly’s early career was rooted in the food industry—a space that shaped her work ethic, resilience, and also introduced her to the burnout that would eventually guide her toward healing...
Yoga TechBefore yoga became a calling, Joy Nagle lived a life shaped by both hardship and a profound connection to nature. As a child, she found comfort in the wilderness and tuned in to an unseen world long before she had the language to describe it. A dreamer, a seeker, and a believer in magic, Joy’s journey into yoga began not in a studio—but on a towel on the floor beside her sleeping baby in 1991, guided only by a worn copy of Richard Hittleman’s 28-Day Yoga Exercise Plan...
Teacher TrainingKaitlin Cruise’s journey began in a quiet suburb of North Texas. Raised in the same bedroom until she left for college, Kaitlin lived a life governed by achievement and the constant drive to meet—and exceed—expectations. From being a top student to striving for the best performance in dance, her world revolved around proving her worth through perfection. Even her leisure turned into competition, a pattern that carried into her academic success—graduating with a flawless 4.0 GPA in Special Education...
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