Before yoga became her anchor, Paula Richardson’s life was a whirlwind of responsibilities, reinvention, and resilience. She’s a woman who met early menopause like a head-on collision, while juggling family life, creative ventures, and a string of “sensible” jobs. A massage therapist by training and a seeker by nature, Paula always felt pulled toward what truly helps us feel better as we age. Like many women, she spent years putting others first—until her own body’s signals became impossible to ignore.

Yoga didn’t arrive in Paula’s life with fanfare. It tiptoed in quietly, during a time when her body and mind felt like strangers. Her first class wasn’t in a studio—it was a creaky, self-conscious attempt in her living room, guided by an online video and a desperate hope for relief from stiff joints and mental fog. That first deep exhale became a revelation. She realized yoga didn’t require her to be “good” at it. She just had to show up.

A Midlife Awakening and a Bold Step Forward

What followed wasn’t just a personal transformation—it was a mission in the making. Menopause had brought hot flushes, sleepless nights, and a quiet sense of invisibility. Paula felt out of place in mainstream yoga classes surrounded by bendy twenty-somethings, and yearned for a space where women like her could feel seen and supported.

So she created it herself.

Paula travelled to Bali for yoga teacher training—a leap of faith that was equal parts terrifying and exhilarating. She came home with more than a certification; she returned with purpose. Her “Back to You Method” was born: short, accessible practices that honour stiff joints, tired minds, and the complexity of midlife. Through local classes, online offerings, and soulful retreats in places like Portugal and Ikaria, Paula began helping women rediscover their vibrancy.

To her, yoga isn’t about performing perfect poses. It’s about feeling at home in yourself—at any age.

Building Her Business From the Living Room Up

Paula’s business journey started modestly—teaching friends in her living room, buying a few mats, and building a website she jokes was “held together with duct tape and hope.” She invested in training not because it felt safe, but because it felt right.

Every decision she made was guided by one question: “Will this help another woman feel at home in her body?”

She embraced social media, learned email marketing with a dash of humour, and built a genuine sense of community that transcends physical space.

Lessons Learned on the Mat and in Business

For Paula, entrepreneurship has been as much an inner journey as a professional one. She’s learned to let go of perfectionism, trust progress, and accept that starting before you feel ready is sometimes the only way. She now sees women over 50 as an untapped powerhouse—resilient, creative, and more than capable of launching something meaningful.

She’s also learned to ask for help, celebrate small wins, and rest. And perhaps most importantly: that running a business is really about connection and impact.

After 50, she says, “pretending to be anyone other than yourself is far too exhausting.”

Message to Fellow Yoga Founders

“Don’t wait for permission—especially not from that voice in your head saying you’re too old, too late, or not enough. Start messy. Stay curious. And remember, you’re not just building a business—you’re creating a community. There will be hard days. Do it anyway. And if you can, find your people. They’ll remind you why you started.”

Business Takeaways from Yoga Founders Magazine

Start with what you have even if it’s just a yoga mat and a living room.

Don’t wait to feel “ready.”

Begin, then refine.

Build for your community not your ego.

Listen closely

The best business ideas often come from your students.

Share your story

Your authenticity builds trust.

Midlife isn’t the end of the story it might be your most powerful chapter yet.

Progress over perfection—always.

Retreats and online courses can scale your impact and income.