Ep.36 Yoga, Circles, and Meaningful Connection
With Tessa Venuti Sanderson
Episode Description:
In this episode Tessa, a yoga teacher, circle facilitator, and author based in Caversham, Reading. Tessa shares her journey of building a diverse business rooted in community and connection over the past 15 years. This interview explores her work with yoga, menstrual cycle education, and the power of circle holding, including her recent book, “Circle Holding: A Practical Guide to Facilitating Talking Circles.” Tessa discusses the importance of creating meaningful connections, the evolution of her business through online training and in-person events, and her vision for bringing circle practices into schools and intergenerational settings. She also shares valuable insights on marketing a multifaceted business, finding balance, and recognising the gaps where you can make a difference in your community. Tessa encourages listeners to explore the power of circles and to consider how they can bring positive change to their own lives and the lives of others in Reading.
Tessa Venuti Sanderson website: https://www.tessavenutisanderson.co.uk/
Tessa Venuti Sanderson Social Channels:
Check out Tessa’s book on Circle Holding:
Listen to the episode
Episode Time Codes
00:00 Episode Introduction
00:25 Welcome to Tessa!
00:55 Introduction to Tessa and her business
01:18 What Tessa likes about Reading
02:22 Tessa’s background
03:50 How Tessa’s business has developed over time
05:28 Pay attention to the common thread in your work
06:45 Tessa’s book
09:20 How Tessa launched her book
10:26 Tessa’s plans to promote her book going forwards
11:57 How Tessa has promoted her business
14:00 How Tessa finds time to do everything!
16:31 Tessa’s plans for the future
18:38 Final thoughts
Videos
Finding Time For Everything
Tessa's Marketing Strategy
Be the Change You Want to See
Tessa's Circle Holding Book
Key takeaways
Diversification and Adaptability:
Tessa’s journey highlights the importance of diversifying your business offerings. This demonstrates the necessity of adaptability and creating multiple revenue streams to ensure business sustainability, especially in unpredictable times. For any business owner this is a key takeaway: don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
Building Community and Word-of-Mouth Marketing:
Tessa emphasises the power of building strong community relationships and leveraging word-of-mouth marketing. Authentic engagement and customer satisfaction are crucial for long-term success. Focusing on community, and serving that community well, will always pay dividends.
Identifying Gaps and Creating Solutions:
Tessa’s approach to creating books and developing her business stemmed from identifying gaps in available resources. This entrepreneurial mindset, of seeing a problem and creating the answer, is vital for business owners who want to innovate and make a meaningful impact. This is a very valuable skill, and mind set to cultivate.
