Why I Became a Certified Yoga Instructor While Running 2 Businesses
How Yoga (and Public Speaking) Made Me a Better Leader & Entrepreneur
The Founder Flow is a newsletter where I share my personal take on entrepreneurship, wellness, and modern womanhood. As the founder of Dreamday and Co-founder of The Quality Edit / Quality Media, I reflect on what it means to build with purpose and live with intention.
People often ask me why I decided to do a 200-hour yoga teacher training while running two businesses, raising two kids, and with no intention of actually becoming a yoga teacher.
At the time, life already felt full. It was the peak of the holiday season, work to-dos became never-ending, overwhelming, and I had to navigate a health scare. I spiraled into a cycle where the pause I desperately needed always seemed just out of reach. And then, on a random Tuesday, I got a mass text from my yoga studio: "Do you want to become a yoga teacher?"
At that moment, I realized I wanted something different - something hard, something that scared me. So, I said yes and signed up.
What I didn’t know then was that the real work wouldn’t be on the mat–it would be in facing myself.
It wasn’t the physical flow that challenged me most – it was the stillness, and what rose to meet me there.
The Email I Almost Sent
I felt it most the night before my final. I had to teach a full class (to the class I’d learned with), and the fear hit me like a wave while I was practicing my flow over and over again. I opened a draft email to bow out. But then I remembered what my teacher, Leah Zaccaria, once said: “You have to walk through the fire to get to the other side."
Public speaking has always been my personal fire – terrifying and transformative. I once almost impulsively quit a job because there was too much pressure to publicly speak (luckily, I didn’t).
So I did it. I taught my class.
Despite the precursor tears welling up, the fear in my chest, and the voice telling me I’d fail (even though failure wasn’t even a possibility, I had two actual “jobs” waiting for me after all) – I never sent that email. And after I taught the class (not to perfection, but enough to make me damn proud of myself), Leah told me my voice– strong, loud, and commanding – was my gift. The thing I’d spent years fearing had always been my strength.
A Full-Circle Moment
That same day, as I walked into the studio for my final, I refreshed my inbox and saw an email from Fast Company: Dreamday had been named one of the Most Innovative Companies of 2024.
It felt surreal. And it reminded me that building something meaningful isn’t at odds with your personal growth. In fact, one fuels the other.
5 Lessons Yoga Taught Me About Entrepreneurship
1. You Can’t Skip Savasana
Rest isn’t a reward–it’s a requirement. I now protect white space like I protect revenue. Sunday resets (I try to see how much restorative time I can get on my Oura), walking meetings, and moments of stillness sharpen my thinking and leadership.
2. Fear is Optional. Growth is Mandatory.
The discomfort of public speaking didn’t mean I was in danger–it meant I was expanding. I now run toward fear, not away from it. One of my favorite mantras is “Do something that scares you every day.”
3. Strength Comes From Holding the Pose
Starting is easy. Staying when it’s hard–that’s leadership. When things go sideways, I breathe, adjust, but don’t quit.
4. You Are Not Your Thoughts
I now know how to spot the voice of self-doubt and separate from it. No one tells you that fear and intuition often speak in the same voice – it’s up to you to learn the language. Fear sparks an emotional reaction within you; intuition and truth bring a quiet knowing, usually with no bodily sensation. Fear is just noise–your monkey brain on autopilot, walking the most familiar (and often unhelpful) path. The work is staying grounded in truth and rewiring your pathways so you can come back to that truth faster.
5. Presence is the Superpower
Yoga trained me to be fully here (mentally and physically). And in business, presence is what builds trust, culture, and momentum.
Leading by Living It
Since that training, I’ve noticed ripple effects. A team member started walking 10k steps a day. Our executive team all got Oura rings to improve their wellness. Someone else got a walking pad. And our EVP of Operations (maybe?) stopped eating as many food dyes and Flamin' Hot Cheetos. Another shared how my commitment to growth shifted their personal perspective.
Turns out, how you live teaches just as much as what you say. For example, taking our quarterly ‘wellness day’ myself, gave permission for others to do the same. We also now have a wellness benefit, what we call our “Better You Benefit” where we give our employees a stipend + a week off to do something that mentally, physically, or spiritually betters them, just for the fun and joy of it.
Keep Walking Through the Fire
I’m still not totally comfortable with public speaking. But I do it anyway. Because the fire–again and again–is where the transformation happens.
What’s something you’ve almost backed out of – but did anyway? I’d love to hear.
Somethings Of The Week
Welcome to my ‘somethings,’ a space to share what’s been inspiring, intriguing, or just downright fun lately. Think of it as a curated highlight reel of what I’ve been reading, listening to, wearing, cooking, and loving.
Something Healthy
You all know I’m deep in the microplastics debacle–so I finally ordered Bryan Johnson’s microplastics test (on sale now for $135) and his Speed of Aging test (everyone is sharing their fancy Function age scores, and I wanted something lighter lift before trying that). Planning to do the microplastics test once I’m done with Invisalign in a few weeks (feels like that could impact results?). On the oral hygiene front, I’ve swapped my Sonicare toothbrush (who knew they also leach microplastics….) for the Primal brand, which I’m loving!
Also influenced by the Melissa Wood Health x Danielle Bernstein podcast where Melissa swears mouth tape changed her life. I impulse-bought the Dream Recovery mouth tape that night. Tried it–woke up halfway through the night and subconsciously took it off my face, but still got a great sleep score. Trying again tonight.
Something Foodie
Still loving my Seatopia subscription–clean, sustainably raised seafood that actually tastes like it was just caught. I use it weekly. If you’re curious, here’s my discount code: LAUREN10.
Also gave in and bought Bryan Johnson’s “Snake Oil” olive oil. I saw the video of him saying he has a tablespoon with every meal and I was influenced. The name? Cringe. I get that it’s ironic, but there’s too much real snake oil out there to make it funny.
Something Newly…Purchased
I just snagged the Tupelo Goods Loop Lounge Chairs for summer–and wow. They’re part modern sculpture, part resort-grade lounger. If Architectural Digest ever did an “Open Door: Backyard Edition,” these would be in it.
Also caved and bought nearly everything from the Lulu & Georgia x Aimee Song collab. Loving the Sestina Bowls (bought in both sizes)–a perfect neutral centerpiece–and added a few other pieces like the Punto Table Lamp (now a luxe upgrade to the one I had previously in my office) to the cart faster than I’d like to admit.
Also stocked up on Koala Eco–I’m fully converted. They just refreshed my stock of personal care essentials (hand wash, bath wash) and household staples (multipurpose cleaner, dish soap). Everything’s non-toxic, beautifully designed, and actually works. It’s rare to find a brand that delivers on performance, aesthetic, and sustainability without compromise–especially with two littles running around.
And let’s talk sneakers. I never thought I’d be a sneakerhead, but Salomon is changing that. The XT-6 in White / Lunar Rock is my go-to for travel, errands, and everything in between–lightweight, ultra-comfy, and somehow still chic. I wore them all around NYC and now in Cabo as I prep for a gym session. Also paired them on the way here with a polished airport outfit–they’re that versatile. Recently added the XT-SLATE in Light Gray to the rotation for a slightly more tonal, elevated look. Both strike the perfect balance between form and function: technical enough for trail (YES, I DO hike (occasionally)), but more importantly, cool enough for everyday.
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