MaryRose Reaston Of Yoga Your Way On The Five Ways To Develop More ‘Grit’
Surround Yourself with Like- Minded People- Surround yourself with people who share your core values and grow as a team. At Yoga Your Way, we share the same core values, which helps us grow with integrity guiding us. We’ve been offered shortcuts and ways to create content or cut corners on our SUP or retreats, but we have stayed true to ourselves and our brand. This shared commitment to our values helps us maintain our integrity as we grow.
As a part of our series called “Grit: The Most Overlooked Ingredient of Success” I had the pleasure of interviewing MaryRose Reaston.
MaryRose Reaston is one of five female entrepreneurs who co-founded Yoga Your Way. She believes in the empowerment of people, especially women to be able to facilitate their health and wellness. Yoga Your Way was formed to enable every body to participate in fitness.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us a story about the events that have drawn you to this specific career path?
I was drawn to this career path later in life after injuring my back, which forced me to cancel a business trip. At the suggestion of a friend, I tried yoga. When I first visited a studio, I was amazed by people performing headstands, splits, and other advanced poses, all without specific instructions. This initial experience was almost discouraging, but it ultimately led to the formation of Yoga Your Way by Heather Mackay, Anne Finch, Isabella (Bella) Espinosa, Autumn Moon and me. We are a diverse group of women united by a common goal: promoting health and wellness for everyone, regardless of age, physical ability, or economic status. Anne Finch, my college roommate, and I are both “senior citizens”, (in number not mindset) while Bella is in her early twenties, and Heather and Autumn fall somewhere in between. Heather had been practicing yoga for twenty years when we met, and her grace was mesmerizing. Autumn, both a yoga practitioner and therapist, was a true inspiration. Bella’s enthusiasm is contagious and Anne is our anchor making sure we keep the business well organized. Our shared philosophy and love for the water inspired us to start Yoga Your Way in Carlsbad, California, with our first endeavor being Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP) Yoga. Since then, we have grown our company significantly. We now offer an extensive online platform accessible 24/7/365, live virtual classes, wellness yoga at San Diego hotels, international yoga retreats, and, for the first time ever, Beach Pilates on Carlsbad beaches. Our journey has not been without challenges, but through mutual inspiration and a shared commitment to our mission, we have come a long way. Developing grit on our career paths has been essential to overcoming obstacles and achieving our vision of inclusive wellness.
Can you share your story about “Grit and Success”? First can you tell us a story about the hard times that you faced when you first started your journey?
We have faced many obstacles, but one in particular truly tested our GRIT and led to our success. For us, GRIT stands for Gratitude, Resilience, Integrity, and Tenacity. These principles gave us the courage to take on a “bully” who didn’t want us to continue offering SUP Yoga in Carlsbad. He assumed that as a small company of women, we lacked the backing, strength, and money to stand up to him. He tried to force us off the water and embarrass us in front of our clients. Faced with two choices — fight or walk away — we chose to fight. Our reliance on GRIT made us stronger and opened up new possibilities. Knowing we might lose the battle, we expanded our services to a major hotel in San Diego, The Bahia, where we now offer not only SUP Yoga but also Wellness Yoga. What seemed like a setback turned into a blessing, providing more opportunities and showing us the power of community support. By relying on each other and our principles, we emerged stronger and more resilient. Today, we offer SUP Yoga in two diverse locations and continue to expand, proving that GRIT can transform challenges into opportunities for growth.
Where did you get the drive to continue even though things were so hard?
The drive to continue came from the support and strength we drew from each other. As yogis, we practice what we preach, embracing the belief that we are all connected and that everything in the universe is interconnected. Yoga teaches us to live in harmony with ourselves and the world around us while developing a deep sense of mind-body connection for strength. This philosophy not only guides our personal practice but also underpins our business approach. We truly support each other and strive to focus on the positives rather than the negatives. This collective mindset has been our foundation, allowing us to persevere through challenges and grow stronger together.
So how did Grit lead to your eventual success? How did Grit turn things around?
Our GRIT — Gratitude, Resilience, Integrity, and Tenacity — turned things around for us. We start each day with gratitude for each other, for Yoga Your Way, and for our many opportunities. We have a mantra we repeat daily: “Our success is imminent.” By focusing on what we are grateful for, we maintain a positive outlook each day. Being true to ourselves and embracing resilience is key. Instead of focusing on the negatives, we look for opportunities in everything, which has allowed us to expand our business. Integrity, by staying true to who we are and what we stand for, helps us overcome obstacles and fosters genuine connectivity with ourselves and our community. Resilience and tenacity go hand in hand, with tenacity driving us to keep going. Our inspirational anthem is Starship’s “Nothing’s Going to Stop Us Now,” which reminds us that we can build our dream together, standing strong forever. Nothing is going to stop us now.
Based on your experience, can you share your “5 Things You Need To Know To Develop More Grit”?
1 . Focus on the Little Things- To develop more GRIT, start by focusing on small, manageable steps. Each day, find something you are truly grateful for and express your thanks. Beginning with small acts of gratitude helps shift your focus from the negative to the positive. When we first started, we faced numerous obstacles, such as attracting customers and supporting a yoga business while reinventing our practice. We didn’t want to be confined to a studio and had ambitious plans for a unique online platform despite having no experience in such a business. Each day, we celebrated small victories, whether it was purchasing a new board or signing up one student. These small achievements eventually led to bigger successes.
2. Stay Strong Against Naysayers- It’s crucial to remain strong and not let naysayers influence you. We were told we could never develop a successful online library because there were already many yoga videos online, some even free and better funded. However, we didn’t waver in our belief. We knew we had something positive, unique, and different to offer. We designed our platform with instructional videos, content for everyone, and affordable pricing. Today, we have employee benefit companies partnering with us for our online content.
3. Never Be Afraid To Try Something New- Embrace new ideas, even if they don’t always work out, as they will teach you invaluable lessons. Some things work, and some don’t, but never be afraid to try. Yoga Your Way is a relatively new business, less than four years old, and we’ve had both successes and failures. For example, we’ve tried to branch out to local day retreats without finding the right formula yet. While we’ve successfully conducted international SUP Yoga retreats, we are still working on perfecting our local offerings. We keep trying, confident that eventually, we will get there.
4. Surround Yourself with Like- Minded People- Surround yourself with people who share your core values and grow as a team. At Yoga Your Way, we share the same core values, which helps us grow with integrity guiding us. We’ve been offered shortcuts and ways to create content or cut corners on our SUP or retreats, but we have stayed true to ourselves and our brand. This shared commitment to our values helps us maintain our integrity as we grow.
5. Think Outside the Box- Always think outside the box. Beach yoga is popular not only in San Diego County but across the country. With our love of the water, we wanted to expand our services to the beach but felt that offering just beach yoga wouldn’t be enough. Thanks to the insightfulness of Dennis Shay, owner of California Village Athletic Club, we were granted the opportunity to offer Beach Pilates and Barre, becoming the first organization to do so in San Diego County. A little creative thinking can lead to incredible opportunities.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped you when things were tough? Can you share a story about that?
We are incredibly grateful for the support we received when things were tough, and hands down, Matthew Finch deserves special recognition. Yes, we are truly a family organization. Matthew is Anne’s son and my godson, so this mention is both professional and personal. When we started, we knew nothing about online content, let alone editing and making videos. Seeing that we needed assistance, Matthew undertook this endeavor to help us. He learned editing, creating content, and has since become the backbone of our online platform. Not only that, but he also encouraged us to expand our SUP Yoga practice and helps out whenever and wherever we need it. Matthew, we wouldn’t be here without you!
How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?
Absolutely, we truly believe in giving back. We conduct complimentary SUP Yoga classes in exchange for donations to the San Diego Animal Society and local women’s shelters. Our commitment to using our success for the greater good extends beyond our immediate community as we continue to grow and expand health and wellness initiatives. By integrating our passion for yoga with philanthropy, we strive to make a positive impact on both individuals and the broader community.
Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that will help people?
We have just embarked on a partnership with Segen-Health Corp to revolutionize the health and wellness industry by encouraging people to take responsibility for their healthcare in a proactive manner. By partnering with Segen, we will have the opportunity to bring our brand to physicians and a broader audience, allowing people to integrate their fitness and healthcare seamlessly. This collaboration aims to enhance the way individuals manage their health, promoting a more holistic and preventative approach to wellness.
What advice would you give to other executives or founders to help their employees to thrive?
At Yoga Your Way, we have found that fostering an environment of respect and positivity allows the company and each individual to thrive. Everyone has a voice, and with that, we all work toward a common goal. This inclusive and supportive atmosphere empowers our team, promotes collaboration, and drives our collective success. By valuing each person’s contributions and maintaining a positive work environment, we create a foundation for growth and innovation.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
If I could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, it would be centered around gratitude. My movement would encourage individuals to cultivate a mindset of gratitude, appreciating the little things in life. By celebrating small victories and expressing gratitude for everyday blessings, we can shift our attitudes and outlooks toward a more positive awareness. Each act of gratitude would serve as a stepping stone, opening us up to even more positivity and abundance. Ultimately, this movement would aim to change behaviors and perspectives, fostering a collective sense of gratitude that enriches the lives of individuals and communities alike.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
My guiding life lesson quote is ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you,’ also known as the Golden Rule. This principle is not only a mantra that I live by personally but also a guiding light for Yoga Your Way. In every situation, I strive to analyze how I would want to be treated, and that guides my actions. This philosophy underscores the importance of empathy, compassion, and respect in all interactions, both personally and professionally. This philosophy underscores the importance of empathy, compassion, and respect in all interactions, both personally and professionally.
How can our readers follow you on social media?
Instagram @yogayourway20
Facebook yogayourway20
Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational.
