1. Where did the idea for Raw Yogini Sonia come from?
Raw Yogini Sonia is a name a friend and I came up with when I was thinking of ways to promote my yoga and raw food preparation classes.I wanted something that shows my two greatest passions at the same time it has to have a face so right away people would know who they are talking to.
It’s not a business or a brand name but a person they are dealing with. So came Raw Yogini Sonia.
The short story behind this Yoga teaching came first.It was soon after I attended Sivananda Yoga teachers training in Kerala, India in January 2011.
Then pilates teaching when my pilates teacher asked me to take over her class at the UP College of Human Kinetics community recreation program in mid 2013.Then raw food. It was after I visited a friend in Ubud, Bali where I attended raw food preparation classes.
I fell in love with raw food and I knew it was something I wanted to share to people. A friend sent me a message while I was still in Bali asking me to teach in Manila. Come June 2013, I had my first raw food preparation class with only a few friends and then it was followed by more classes.
At that time, I was working full-time for a non-government organisation and teaching yoga, Pilates and raw food on the side. Eventually, I decided it was something I want to do full-time. So since January 2014, Raw Yogini Sonia has become my full-time work.
Other than raw food preparation, yoga, and Pilates classes, Raw Yogini Sonia also offers a service called Take Me Home where I prepare raw lunch and dinner for pick-up at my house.
It’s still in its pilot stage though. I also do Reiki and Chi Nei Tsang sessions. Reiki is a form of touch healing that helps channel and balance the energy of a person. Chi Nei Tsang on the other hand massages the internal organ by massaging the tummy.
In the next few weeks, I will be teaching a yoga-raw food-meditation workshop at Graceland Estates and Country Club in Tayabas, Quezon.This is something I hope to do more.
I will also be supplying raw food desserts to a new restaurant in Quezon City. There are lots of plans but I’m taking it slowly.
2. How do you bring ideas to life?
First, I envision what is it that I want to accomplish and then I ask for guidance through prayers, signs, advice from friends and family Then I take my baby steps towards that vision. Or sometimes I just flow towards this vision.
If it’s flowing smoothly, then I continue. If there are blockages, I pause to assess the situation.
I also listen to my instinct. Always I feel I am guided if I do that.
3. What’s one trend that really excites you?
Health and healing. I get excited when I see more and more people embracing healthy lifestyles and moving towards natural ways of healing.
4. What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
I am very industrious and committed. When I say I will do something, I really commit myself to do the task. I am also very detailed making sure every aspect of the task is handled well.
I also trust my instinct and I do my best not to get too attached to results. That way I get something done and had fun while doing it.
5. What was the worst job you ever had and what did you learn from it?
I don’t think there is such a thing as a worst job. It may not be the best but you will always learn lessons from it. I've worked for magazines, NGO, and politicians and among the lessons I learn in all my work experiences are: try not to be too attached with your work, no matter how busy you are always find time for your friends and family, and choose a job that keeps you excited and makes you wake up in the morning and look forward to go to work.
Kids Yoga & Riki Session At Brgy.89 and 90 Tacloan City
Most important is, it is never about the money. It is about the feeling of fulfilment at the end of each workday.
6. As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Always persevere and always say and ask for what you want.
7. What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business? Please explain how.
I’m just starting so I wouldn't say Raw Yogini Sonia has grown completely. But I’d say treating your clients (in my case students) as friends is most important.
It’s about building relationships and growing and learning from them. Since I started teaching, I've developed lots of new friendships and knowing that we have common interests, I know that these friendships are bound to last a long time.
And also, not thinking about it as a business but more of doing what you love most with the people who loves what you do.
8. What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
As a yoga and raw food teacher, students come and go. There are times when you set a regular class, you wait for an hour and no one arrives.
I don’t give up. I just put yourself out there and eventually people find you.
9. What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
It could be anything on health. What could be more fulfilling that help people get healthy.
10. What Are Your Other Services and Product?
Raw food preparation, yoga and pilates classes. Take Me Home (this is raw lunch and dinner meal that I prepare for pick-up). Reiki and Chi Nei Tsang sessions.
11. What software and web services do you use? What do you love about them?
I use Facebook. It’s a good way to advertise and promote your services. Also a very good way to connect with people.
12. What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
If you’re asking for business books, I can’t recommend anything. I was never a fan of business books.
But three of my favorite books are Celestine Prophecy, God on A Harley, and Women Who Run With The Wolves.
In a nutshell, Celestine Prophecy talks about spiritual awakening and synchronicity, God on A Harley is about the journey of one woman to loving herself and living simply, while Women Who Run With The Wolves takes women on a journey to reconnecting and rediscovering the wild woman within.
I’d recommend this to almost everyone including entrepreneurs. I’d say bits and pieces of what I am doing now are influenced by these three books.
13. What people have influenced your thinking and might be of interest to others?
Of course, my parents would be the first on my list here. They have taught me to do what I love most and they taught me that I should always be happy in the work that I am doing. This is why I have Raw Yogini Sonia.
For yoga and pilates, it will be my teachers. Those in India most especially one German teacher named Shambu who have always guided me in my headstand. I remember him telling me when I couldn't come up to headstand that my body is ready but the mind is not.
It’s a very gentle reminder that mind really is a very strong force in everything we do.
Another yoga teacher is Joji Balcita who has been my teacher since 2010. One of the very first things she told me was to open my heart while doing the pose.
And it’s not just opening the shoulder but really opening from the center. Of course this opening of the heart is not just about the pose but it applies to my daily life. To really open my heart to life.
For raw food, my teacher Jon Dale (JonnyFreesh.com) will always be my guru. When I’m stressing about the things I should be doing, he’d always say, Don’t should yourself.
Yes, he taught me not to be too hard on myself especially when it comes to eating. When I say, I wish I could do something, he’d say, don’t wish, just do.
So now after months of saying I wish I could be a full-time raw food and yoga teacher, now I am a raw food and yoga teacher
Raw Yogini Sonia offers Sivananda & Ashtanga (beginners) yoga, pilates & raw food preparation classes/workshops in Philippines. RawYoginiSonia@gmail.com
