Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Stacey Madden, Founder of Mindful Somatic Wellness, located in Calgary, AB, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Mindful Somatic Wellness offers embodied emotional support. We work with anyone wanting to integrate trauma, anxiety, and depression through a body-based approach. Rather than continuing to take about painful past experiences, we feel into the present movement with embodied awareness practices. Through the lenses of Somatic Experiencing, Interpersonal Neurobiology, MindBody therapeutics, and other somatic modalities, we create conditions for trauma resolution, emotional regulation, and a resilient nervous system.
Tell us about yourself
After teaching trauma-informed yoga and meditation for 15 years, I felt there was much more to explore regarding embodied emotional response. Because we've all been conditioned to think about our emotions rather than feel our feelings, our emotional responses can be confusing. Once I started to explore various somatic modalities with a focus on the embodied human experience, it all started to make sense. Our emotions are all indicators of needs and wants, and the bigger and more 'negative' the emotion, the longer that need has gone unanswered. When we begin to really feel ourselves through the language of our nervous system and body patterns, the more freedom and capacity we have to be alive and present. Each time a client builds and can notice more emotional and physical resilience, I am motivated to continue to offer this again and again.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment to date is reopening my practice, complete with an office space for one-on-one sessions and a studio for larger movement practices and classes. It's beautiful, bright, and perfect for embodied explorations of all sorts.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things is having to attend to the day-to-day running of a business. It would be great if we could just attend to all of the 'fun' things, but the garbage needs to be taken out, and the floors needs to be cleaned. It's all fun, though!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Have your support system in place before you begin. Therapists, family members, and friends you can lean into and connect with so you aren't doing everything alone.
- Don't forget to take care of yourself. It's culturally embedded that as an entrepreneur, you should be grinding 24-7. Don't. The longevity of your business will be reflected in your own physical and emotional health. If you're not ok, your business wont be ok either.
- Celebrate your successes, small or large! Your brain and nervous system will reflect success every time you celebrate and will conspire to feel that way again. Imagine that everything is working out to support your vision. Every mistake or misstep is an opportunity to do better the next time.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.mindfulsomaticwellness.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/staceymaddensomatictherapy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulsomatics/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StaceyMadden19
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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