Charlotte Left the Spotlight to Teach Yoga: From Modeling to Building the Insight Out App

of inner silence drew me back again and again. Yoga became my anchor through heartbreak, grief and the unraveling of who I thought 1 was. As I navigated betrayal and divorce, the practice reminded me I didn’t need to be fixed. I just needed to remember who I already was. Over time, my practice expanded beyond the body into meditation, mantra, kriya, breathwork and the science of the nervous system. What began as movement became a way of living.

A huge turning point was training at Sattva Yoga Academy, just outside Rishikesh. What was meant to be a month-long course became six months. The teachings of Anand and the way he weaves ancient wisdom into modern living shaped me profoundly. Today, I continue to live and teach there for part of each year.

Building Insight Out Yoga

Starting Insight Out Yoga wasn't a carefully mapped plan. It was born in lockdown, when all the studios I taught at shut down. With nothing but my phone, AirPods and the willingness to show up imperfectly, I began teaching online. Those early classes became the seed of everything that followed.

What started as a few Zoom sessions has grown into an online membership, global retreats, grassroots community events in the UK and now our next chapter: the Insight Out Yoga app. The app brings the depth of yoga into daily life with practices of varying lengths, themed sadhanas, meditation, mantra, breathwork and tools for nervous system health. It is an online sanctuary for ancient practice and modern mastery, a place where anyone — from beginner to lifelong practitioner — can feel at home.

Walking the Line of Service and Sustainability

Running a business rooted in yoga has its challenges. There is always a delicate balance between service and sustainability. Growth has never been about doing everything at once, but about choosing what is aligned, step by step, and trusting the ripple effect.

Instagram has been my most powerful tool for connection. Not through polished ads or strategies, but by showing up authentically. My retreats and memberships have largely grown from the community built there, grounded in genuine human connection. Lessons I've Learned

Entrepreneurship taught me that you don't need to wait until you feel “ready.” If you do, you'll wait forever. The nervous system will always find reasons to hesitate. The key is to show up anyway. Show up with humility, authenticity, the willingness to make mistakes and most importantly, consistency. That's what people resonate with, and what keeps you moving forward.

At the heart of Insight Out is the belief that yoga isn't about bending your body — it's about remembering your Self. My mission is to make these teachings accessible without diluting them and to create spaces where people feel safe, confident and supported to expand their potential within a loving community.

My Message to Founders

Don't underestimate the power of simply beginning. Your idea doesn't need to be perfect and neither do you. The journey is not about flawless execution but about showing up with presence, courage and consistency. Trust that what you are building matters, even when it feels small. The ripple effect of aligned action can reach further than you imagine.

Business Takeaways from Begin Imperfectly

Waiting for the perfect moment is a trap. Start small, start messy, but start.

Service First

Build with the intention to serve, not just to grow. When people feel seen, your business grows naturally.

Aligned Growth

Expansion works best step by step, guided by alignment rather than urgency.

Authentic Connection

Community thrives on honesty and presence. Share your real self and the right people will find you.

Consistency Wins

Success doesn't come from grand gestures, but from showing up day after day with steady commitment.

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.