Building Balanced Planet Yoga

One of my favorite stories to share is about how I met my business partner, Cheryl, on the mat. She was double my age and could hold postures five times longer than me, always rushing in straight from work but never missing a class. For months, we practiced side by side in silence. In my head, I decided she was standoffish, too busy, and uninterested in connection. I even started silently competing with her. Then one day, after class, she smiled and said, “Thanks for sharing your energy with me today.” That moment shifted everything. Within a year, we both signed up for a training and joked about opening a studio together. The joke became reality—and Balanced Planet Yoga was born.

Overcoming Life's Biggest Challenge

At 25, the same year I opened the studio and got married, I was diagnosed with cancer. The years that followed were filled with the bliss of new beginnings alongside the heaviness of illness, uncertainty, and recovery. My practice evolved because it had to. I went from leading high-energy classes to barely moving on my mat. That humbling season introduced me to yin yoga, breathwork, and meditation—practices that now form the core of what I teach. Teaching Today

Today, I call my signature class "Vin to Yin" a blend of flow, stillness, and nervous system support that feels like a full-body exhale. I believe yoga doesn’t have to be intense to be transformative. In a world that's overstimulated and overwhelmed, many of us need permission to

soften, and reconnect. I now teach across Phoenix and lead trainings in everything from 200/300HR certification to yin, nidra, and breathwork.

Lessons I've Learned

Ignorance was bliss when I first started. My business partner handled backend logistics, but marketing and community-building? That was all me—and I was clueless. No systems, no funnels, just Canva flyers and a lot of hustle. But I became obsessed with figuring out small business marketing. I taught myself Canva, studied sales psychology, learned to speak directly to our audience, and fell in love with the process.

Scaling meant evolving with our community while keeping one eye on what's next. That meant building teacher trainings, hosting retreats, and expanding our schedule based on what people actually needed—not just what was trending.

Mixing passion with business is personal. When you love something deeply, failure stings more—but the wins are sweeter. My biggest lesson? Don't do it alone. Find mentors, coaches, and peers you can lean on.

My Message to Founders

If what you teach doesn't light you up anymore, change it. Students can feel authenticity. The best teachers are the ones who teach what they truly love, not what they think they should offer. Not everyone will love you—and that's a gift. The right people will find you and stay. Passion is what scales.

Business Takeaways from Start Before You're Ready

You don't need to know everything before you begin. Action teaches you faster than planning.

Evolve With Your People

Listen deeply to your students’ needs and adjust your offerings accordingly.

Find Your Support Circle

Business is easier when you have mentors and peers to lean on. Lead With Authenticity

Teach what you genuinely love. That's how you attract loyal students. Balance Energy

Sustainable growth comes when you pair ambition with rest.

At , we don't just share inspiring stories — we break down what makes yoga businesses succeed. By learning directly from real founders and entrepreneurs, we extract actionable lessons and proven strategies you can apply, so you can avoid common mistakes, feel more confident, grow faster, and make bold choices with clarity.

Business Takeaways

  • How did you set up your yoga business Honestly? Ignorance was bliss. We really had no idea what we were doing. My business partner knew how to handle the backend logistics of running a business, but building a community? Marketing? That was all me—and I was clueless. You would laugh at the things I created to promote our early events. No systems. No funnels. Just chaotic Canva flyers and a whole lot of hustle. But I became obsessed with cracking the code of small business marketing. I taught myself Canva, studied sales psychology, learned to speak directly to our audience—and I fell in love with the process. Fast forward to now: I consult for small businesses and help teachers market themselves authentically in an oversaturated space. I learned everything the hard way—and it’s why I can teach it so well now.
  • How did you scale your yoga business Evolve with your community, but always keep one eye on what’s next. That’s the key. Stay relatable and rooted, but don’t be afraid to level up—whether it’s through your offerings, your pricing, or your presence. For us, that looked like building out teacher trainings, hosting retreats, and expanding our class schedule based on what our people actually needed (not just what was trendy). It's a mix of listening deeply and daring to lead.
  • What have you learned—as a person and a business owner Mixing passion with business is personal—and when you love something deeply, failure stings even more. But it’s also what makes the wins so sweet. My biggest lesson? Don’t do it alone. Find a mentor, a coach, a circle—someone you can bounce ideas off of, vent to, or lean on when the road gets rocky. That support makes all the difference in the early years.