3 Reasons that Drove Me to Start Another Business in My 30s

Launching another business was never part of my plan. I truly enjoy my profession as a yoga teacher and have found deep fulfilment in it. Yet, as questions about how to navigate the next ten years of my life began to surface, I chose to keep an open mind and explore beyond my comfort zone.

One can keep procrastinating until the alarm clock goes off, and these were the moments that set off mine:

1. My health finally gave me the wake-up call I needed.

   
   

My late 20s were filled with episodes of health struggles. It felt almost ironic, while I spent my days advocating wellness to my students, inside I was constantly struggling just to bring my own well-being back to a decent level.

In short, I was surviving, not thriving.

At that time, I was fully aware that I was exchanging my time, energy, and unfortunately, my health for money. Even though it was my passion career, I knew it wasn’t sustainable in the long run.

Someone once told me, “If you want to earn more, just teach more.”

That frustrated me, because i was already depleting, I knew that formula didn’t make sense. So health improvement was priority.

2. Adulthood: where passion meets the price of reality.

   
   

Being very real here, adulting is not exactly pocket-friendly, at least not for me. I started in my early 20s , financially from scratch , with just a small amount of savings from resigning from my first job as a fresh graduate.

With zero financial support from my parents, which, in a way, also gave me the power to take charge and change my own career path.

Like many in their 20s, I was carefree. I earned from doing what I loved, and I used most of it on travel experiences, education, and courses to keep growing.

But as I entered my 30s, I began thinking about family responsibilities, insurances, bills, and my future plans. That’s when I knew I had to put aside my resistance toward this topic and start gaining some practical knowledge and explore options for a second income with sustainability.

3. Growing Through Challenges and New Experiences

   
   

Nine years into teaching, I realised I had become a big fish in a small tank.

I had kept myself safe within my familiar line of work, but not as a person navigating life. There were many moments when I encountered students with various health conditions ( diabetes, IBS, thyroid issues, cancer, insomnia...).

I found myself unable to offer much beyond the physical aspect of yoga. My knowledge outside of asana practice was limited.

Juggling with my own challenges, I began to question the reasons behind them, and to wonder about the root causes and potential of common health conditions. I wanted to understand how to age with grace.

That’s when I felt the need to expand my knowledge beyond yoga poses.

Looking back seven years from today, I’m grateful I made that choice for myself. The knowledge I gained and the connections I formed have shaped me in ways I couldn’t have imagined, leaving a lasting and positive impact on my journey.