To celebrate International Women’s Day, we asked our wonderful franchisees a few questions about their successes as Hotpod Yoga studio owners. As a network, over 90% of our studios are owned by women, whether that be solo or as a duo. Without them, Hotpod Yoga wouldn’t be all that it is today.
Meet Helen and Catherine
Hotpod Yoga Chester Co-owners
What has been your greatest achievement to date?
Helen- My greatest achievement is navigating a very challenging period in my life, losing my mum to Alzheimer’s and supporting my sister through her heart transplant which made me stronger and helped me reassess my priorities. It gave me the courage to leave a career that no longer fulfilled me and follow my passion for yoga. Since then, I’ve grown Hotpod Yoga Chester into a successful business alongside my sister, which has been incredibly rewarding both personally and professionally.
Catherine- My greatest achievement is my ability to pick myself up each time I face a health challenge. Experiencing heart failure and undergoing a heart transplant were incredibly difficult, but I’ve found the strength to carry on and keep moving forward. Being able to recover and work alongside my sister to run Hotpod Yoga Chester has been deeply rewarding, and I’m proud of the resilience and determination that has carried me through both personal and professional challenges.
Why do you feel International Women’s Day is important?
International Women’s Day is important because it celebrates resilience, strength, and the achievements of women, both personally and professionally. For me and my sister, it’s a reminder of how women can support each other through life’s challenges, whether facing health struggles, personal loss, or pursuing ambitious goals. It’s also an opportunity to highlight the impact women have in business and the community, and to inspire others to follow their passions and keep moving forward, no matter the obstacles.
Meet Shennon
Owner of Hotpod Yoga Southampton
What do you feel is your greatest achievement to date?
My greatest achievement is growing my yoga studio over the past five years through resilience, perseverance, and hard work. As a Singaporean living in a completely different culture, I built the business from the ground up and immersed myself fully in the Southampton community.
Today, the studio is a genuinely diverse and inclusive space, bringing together students and teachers from a wide range of backgrounds, including Lithuanian, Latvian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Italian, Ukrainian, Spanish, Venezuelan, American, British, Indian, Chinese, and Thai communities. It has become a shared mental and physical space where people connect, grow, and support one another through different stages of life.
Building a business that thrives in adversity while creating a strong sense of belonging for so many people — alongside raising my family — is what makes this achievement both meaningful and deeply personal to me.
Why do you think International Women’s Day is important?
International Women’s Day is important because it celebrates women’s achievements and highlights the challenges we still face — juggling work, family, and personal responsibilities, and navigating bias or unequal opportunities. These challenges have never stopped me from moving forward. Despite them, our differences are our strengths: we multitask, problem-solve, and support others while creating impact. IWD reminds us to recognise these contributions and inspire women to embrace their resilience and potential.
Meet Lizzy
Owner of Hotpod Yoga Eastbourne
What led you to launch a Hotpod Yoga studio?
I loved how Hotpod yoga made yoga feel more approachable and less intimidating. The pod creates such a safe, warm space, which helps people relax and try yoga without feeling judged. I felt it was something different that Eastbourne didn’t have at the time and knew it could bring people together in a really positive way.
What has been your greatest achievement?
Opening Hotpod Yoga Eastbourne at 24 and keeping it going through all the ups and downs of running a business. Something that I’m really proud of is building a community, supporting teachers, and seeing people return week after week.
What advice do you have for women looking to begin their own journey as business-owners?
You don’t need to have everything figured out before you start. Take the first step, learn as you go, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Confidence comes from doing, not waiting until you feel ready.
Meet Kelly and Liberty,
Hotpod Yoga Birmingham Co-owners
Being a female duo makes the journey of owning a business super special. We are built from the same cloth and understand the push and pull of life and business. We are intuitive, empathetic and expressive. These statistically more female traits, we intentionally lean into and have enabled us to have a transparent, trusting and collaborative relationship.
We go out of our way to celebrate all our wins, no matter how small. We give each other grace, trusting that we both have the best intentions, always. This is so important because being a woman is a beautiful rollercoaster, which sometimes you don’t have control of. Finally, we really lean into the female nature of care giving, we always tell our customers they are in safe hands, and we will look after them because we truly do, it is in our nature.
What advice would you give to women looking to start their own business?
Take the jump. Lean in to your strengths. And enjoy the journey.
Are you ready to begin your journey as a business owner? Book a free 15 minute with our team here.