Kimi Hajian on Creating Transformational Yoga Retreats

Discovering Depth and Returning to Myself

Yoga began shifting from something physical into something deeply personal. I started going on retreats and studying with teachers who opened the doors to the philosophical and internal layers of the practice. In 2022 I completed my 200 hour training without ever planning to teach. Yet the more I learned, the more I felt pulled to share.

For years I balanced teaching on the side while working full time in marketing. Corporate life paid the bills, but yoga gave me meaning. I often felt that all my creative energy was being used to grow other brands while none of it was supporting my own dreams. By early 2024 that feeling became impossible to ignore.

The Decision That Changed Everything

I made one commitment. One reel every Sunday. No excuses. Even if it was my only free day or meant arriving late to family lunches. That single promise built my discipline, shaped my confidence, and created a steady practice of expression.

Consistency worked quickly. Ten thousand followers. Then twenty. Then fifty. Today I am grateful to be connected with a community of more than one hundred thousand people across Instagram and TikTok. Social media changed my life not because of the numbers but because it brought me into conversation with people who care about yoga with the same depth that I do.

Evolving Practice, Expanding Voice

As my content grew, so did my practice. I shifted from heavy Vinyasa and Rocket classes several times a week into something softer, more intentional, and rooted in subtle practices. Philosophy, mythology, and deeper study began guiding my movement. These days I teach and practice a blend of Hatha Vinyasa with long holds, playful transitions, inversion work, and backbends. I am still discovering who I am as a teacher, but this blend feels nourishing to me and to the students who practice with me.

Social media unexpectedly became a catalyst for real yogic study. The need for depth, clarity, and researched teachings was undeniable, and the more people asked, the deeper I went. For me, social media is not harmful when used with intention. It became the very tool that shaped my path.

Building Alkimi and Becoming a Founder

Before launching my Alkimi app, I moved through a long period of confusion. I did not know what my niche was or how my offering could stand apart. I feared creating something unoriginal and felt overwhelmed by all that already existed. So I reached out to one of my teachers, @saraticha, and asked if she would coach me. Her guidance changed everything. She helped me see what was uniquely mine, and without her perspective Alkimi would not be what it is today.

Turning an Idea Into Something Real

The business journey began when I finally admitted that I needed support to bring my idea to life. I invested in an app platform and branding help because doing everything alone would have taken years. It was a major financial leap that pushed the project from dream into reality.

Alkimi launched two months ago and is steadily growing with more than one hundred members. Inside the app are asana flows, posture breakdowns, intentional practices, pranayama, meditation, and a book club with essential yogic reads. I also co created a course with Dr Raj Balkaran based on his book Stories Behind the Poses.

My long term vision is to build a complete, accessible resource that teaches yoga on and off the mat. Eventually I want Alkimi to hold philosophy, chakras, subtle body teachings, and everyday applications of yoga so that anyone, anywhere, can study the full system.

Retreats and the Power of Real Transformation

Retreats have become one of my favourite parts of this work. My first retreat in Portugal was a turning point. In just a few days I witnessed more human transformation than I ever had behind a corporate laptop. It was clear that I needed to go full time as a teacher. I returned to Prague, began teaching again, and am currently preparing my next retreat in Croatia for 2026.

Most of my community growth and sales come from Instagram supported by ManyChat. Yet when I asked retreat students how they found me, most said TikTok. It showed me that the content we do not overthink often travels the furthest.

Lessons I've Learned

No one will ever care about your vision as much as you do. Your work requires your energy, your devotion, and your consistency even when it is inconvenient. Hire people who understand your world and can support it with heart. Share with intention and trust that the people meant for you will always find you. The more you relax into your creativity, the more others connect.

My Message to Founders

We are privileged to shape the future of yoga. Share from authenticity, study, and a commitment to reduce suffering in the world. Root your mission in something bigger than yourself and then meet it with discipline. For nearly two years I committed to one reel every week. I skipped events, stayed up late, and created even when no one was watching. Trust your mission deeply, but remember that trust must be matched with action. Let your work become a channel for something meaningful.

Business Takeaways from Creative Courage

Clarity often arrives only after movement. Begin before you feel ready and allow your niche to reveal itself through action.

Aligned Support

Mentorship from someone who understands you can compress years of uncertainty into months of direction.

Focused Consistency

One non negotiable habit can build a brand. Small weekly commitments compound into community, trust, and recognizable authority.

Energy Investment

Ideas stay ideas without your willingness to invest time, resources, and belief in their expansion.

Authentic Expression

Depth is magnetic. Share with intention, study, and presence. The right people always respond.

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.