Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Renee Kroeker, founder of Renee Kroeker Private Yoga, located in Staten Island, NY, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

My business is Renee Kroeker Private Yoga. I work with individuals, couples, and families in their homes, businesses, or virtually, anywhere from one to three times a week, teaching personalized yoga sessions that meet their specific needs and goals. Many of the clients that I work with identify as being a Highly Sensitive Person (as defined by Dr. Elaine Aron), an Empath, or both. I share these unique traits and characteristics with my clients and am able to offer the gentle, supportive, sacred, and safe space that they need for their sessions.

I help them in accessing their calm center when they are feeling overstimulated and develop tools for building resiliency and staying grounded in the challenging world we are living in. I also work with a few specific special needs populations such as stroke survivors, persons with MS, and adults on the Autism spectrum. These sessions are always fun, full of surprises, and immensely rewarding!

Tell us about yourself

I've been blessed to live a life in which I have been able to weave together and integrate a variety of personal and professional experiences that serve me well in my current work. My own yoga journey began over twenty-five years ago when I stumbled upon an ad for classes at a local community center. I felt a sense of immediate gratification in the afterglow of my first class that got me hooked right away! I've studied theater, worked in social work for many years, and taught Movement and Wellness to children and teens for about a decade.

It was during my time as a teacher that I had the opportunity to get my yoga teacher certification through Breathe For Change, a program designed specifically for teachers working in the school system to become empowered champions of wellness in their classrooms and beyond. I stayed in the classroom for about a year after my certification and then decided to embrace the "beyond." In 2018, I took a leap of faith and left behind the stability of my job in the school, and became a yogipreneur. Renee Kroeker Private Yoga was launched, which is both a business and a calling.

My biggest motivation is the love of the work that I do and have for my clients and the freedom that comes with being in charge of my time. It is such an honor and privilege to be invited into my client's private spaces, whether that it is in their homes with their pets "participating" in the session or getting a peek into their living room through Zoom. It's an intimate and beautiful experience, and I often develop long-term working relationships with my clients because of the bond that we create over time.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Prior to 2020 and the pandemic, I would have said that my biggest accomplishment was that I successfully took an idea and created something out of nothing. In March of that year, all of my sessions were in person, and my business was really starting to take off. Then, the pandemic hit, and I, like many entrepreneurs and small business owners at that time, lost a lot of what I had built. But it wasn't the end simply a long, drawn-out pause in which I took the time to really go inward and become very reflective about my life and my business.

Eventually, I made the necessary changes, such as doing a digital pivot and embracing the new virtual reality we are all living in. As a result, a lot more doors opened up, and I connected with clients in different parts of the world that I would never have met before. So, now I would say that my biggest accomplishment is that I created something out of nothing, lost most of it, and then rebuilt it better and stronger!

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

The truth of the matter is that business is personal, and you shouldn't believe anyone who tries to tell you otherwise. Being an entrepreneur will bring all of your "stuff" to the surface, and unless you really dedicate your time, energy, and commitment to your own personal growth and healing, you will constantly come up against obstacles and blocks that keep you stuck. The more inner work you do, the more it will be reflected in the growth and opportunities that come your way in business. True self-care and entrepreneurship go hand in hand and are not for the faint of heart, but they are tremendously rewarding!

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. It's really helpful to get coaching in the early stages of starting a business. Find someone that has done something similar to what you want to do and, more importantly, that you feel a connection and resonance with. That being said, your own inner voice and intuition should be what holds the reins on the decisions you make as far as how you want to run your business.
  2. When you feel like giving up, you will take a break. It's ok to rest. It's ok to put things on pause and come back to them at a later time. When you take the time to reset and recharge, you'll come back when you're ready at a much more grounded and enlivened place.
  3. Be mindful of the Comparison Trap! Some of my favorite adages about this are "Comparison is the thief of joy" and "compare equals despair." You have something to offer by simply being your unique, authentic self and letting your light shine!

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

In addition to the work that I do as a private yoga teacher, I also facilitate virtual workshops and programs specifically created for and tailored to Sensitive Souls. (HSP's and Empaths) Some of the work that we do is themed around issues such as creating grounding practices, navigating boundaries, healing trauma and embracing self-compassion. I have a free, private Facebook group called Highly Sensitive Soul Seekers, where I offer support to this beautiful community.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.reneekroekerprivateyoga.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/soulfulhsp/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renee_kroeker_private_yoga/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renee-kroeker-788699195/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.