Aanika Chopra: Yogamasti

My name is Aanika Chopra and I am a classically trained Indian dancer and a yoga instructor. I have been residing in UK for the past 21 years and have Indian origins. I have been actively involved in the arts from a young age which has led me to progress in these fields and Yogamasti is a natural result of all that I have been learning over the years.

I have been teaching yoga in the Midlands for the past 5 years. I have also been taking yoga retreats in Iceland and still continue to do so. My bollywood workouts have created a lot of interest from the media and I have been actively taking workshops at various venues throughout the Midlands.

I also do a lot of school work with dance and yoga and have been a freelancer for a long time now.

My motivation

I have always wanted to be independent and I work best when in control of things. When making of my yoga DVD, the idea of Yogamasti started taking shape. I realised that the costumes I was making for the DVD are not going to stop just there. They were so comfortable and beautiful that I just had to take a plunge and introduce them to the yoga market, which is fast becoming very popular.

I am also aware that this is the natural progression of a yoga instructor. With a following of students and loads of links with the yoga industry it seems ideal to start a business which can be your hobby as well as bring you money.

How the Women’s Business Development Agency helped

I then found out about the Women’s Business Development Agency through a friend. I was looking for grants and help with finances, and training as the idea could not take shape without either of those. I also needed to develop my computer skills which have improved though I am still working on them.

Initially I did not have enough courage to go through with this whole thing of starting a business. Also I wasn’t sure whether there will be any money coming at all! I wasn’t sure how I was going to market it etc…but as I went through the business plan with Minal, my business advisor, things started getting clear soon enough. Since these plans are very detailed, it’s a lot of learning happening at the same time. WBDA also offered fantastic training workshops which I attended.

Minal has been very supportive at all times and hugely encouraging. She helped me from the very start on the business plan which was, I must confess not easy for me. I learnt a lot about turning ideas into opportunities and also to be flexible thinker which leads to better results when doing your PR.  And all the help, emotional support and the push in the right direction helped.

About Yogamasti

Yogamasti is about providing yoga clothing, matbags, meditation stoles etc to a yogi. Although this is aimed at yoga lovers, the range has come out to be one of active wear where other disciplines in the exercise and fitness industry can also wear and enjoy them.

The range consists of lycra and cottons and the intricate handwork on them makes it refreshing and novel.

My product range is extremely beautiful and I have just attended a Yoga Show which went really well. I have also been featured in the International Yoga Magazines and also trying to distribute my DVD in America at the moment.

Thanks to the help provided by the Women’s Business Development Agency I feel a lot more confident and much more comfortable with the idea of running my own business!

For more information about Yogamasti please contact Aanika on 07723423719, email info@yogamasti.com, or check out her website http://www.yogamasti.com/