Posted on: October 3, 2026

Celebrating 30 Years in Business

From personal trainer to yoga teacher to lead yoga trainer, from Canada to Australia and back again – it’s been a long, wonderful journey!

I forgot to celebrate last month that I’ve been running my own business for 30 years.

30 years?!?

I can so clearly remember when I got started as a new personal trainer in 1996, or, as the kids would say, back in the 1900’s – as though I went to client’s houses in a horse and cart. I mean, I had a flip phone!

What I remember the most are the people. I think of my first lovely clients who took a chance on a 22-year-old trainer. I think of my long-term clients who watched me learn, fumble, and grow. They were gracious through my transition from fitness to teaching yoga and then when I up and moved to Australia.

I think of the first yoga teacher training class back in 2006, and all the students since who’ve shared trainings with me and then stayed connected when I moved back to Canada and transitioned to teaching and coaching online.

I look back and see so much change and growth, so many challenges (some I thought I could not overcome), and so much love and enthusiasm for yoga shared.

One of the things we learn early on as yoga teachers is how much we rely on the passion of our students to keep us moving through hard times and droughts of our own enthusiasm. I still do. I see the hopes and dreams and brilliant ideas that students bring to their teaching and it keeps me inspired.

Another thing many teachers learn is that we can get caught up in the flow – just moving along with what we’ve been doing because it’s what we’ve been doing. I think that 30 years is a time for me to perhaps take a pause, do some reflecting and analyzing, and think about how I want the next period of my life and work to go.

What’s Next?

It’s a bit scary to even think about there being an eventual end to my yoga teaching career and my business. It’s so much a part of me, what would I be without it?

So, if anyone out there reading this has had a similar experience I’d love to hear your wisdom. How do you maintain a career for more than 30 years and keep on giving your best? How do you know when it’s time to transition away, or grow and evolve, or just keep on serving in the way you have?

You’d think after 30 years I would have more clarity, but one thing I’ve learned for sure as a business owner is that clarity is rare. More common is the sense of responsibility to keep on caring, sharing, and serving your people even in the times when you aren’t sure what’s next.

I wonder what’s next?

Ps the biggest thanks go to my family for being the inspiration, foundation, backup, and business coaches all these years.  How they aren’t completely sick of me I’ll never know!

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