Today The Asian Entrepreneur has the opportunity to speak to Khusboo Singh, the founder of Divine Yoga Shop!
Tell us about yourself!
I am an Entreprenuer, a Yogi and a Nature-Lover. Surely when it comes to talking about oneself it becomes no less than an ordeal so let me take a neutral position of “Noone” as they teach in Transcendental Meditation. I believe I am the chosen one to spread love and light in the world and to bring people together through the medium of Yoga. Divine Yoga Shop was created with this genuine urge to connect with others whether or not they are on their spiritual journey. Yoga is much more than Asanas or Poses and we created Divine Yoga Shop to spread this message. Loving oneself is a great place to start which helps in making a difference in our own lives and in the lives of others. Yoga has taught me this secret and hopefully I will be able to share this with as many people as possible.
In your own words what do you do?
I have worked in banks in the past and it is only through my recent employment at University of London that I met some genuine, spiritually-connected people who inspired me to follow my heart before it is too late. Without further ado, Divine Yoga Shop was created and the next chapter began.
What led you to your current business?
Yoga has provided answers to life’s toughest questions. We are the living embodiment of truth and when we start to listen to our hearts we get clear path of how to reach nirvana, enlightenment. I would like to restrict the use of spiritual words and say “Yoga has shown me the path” Internet is full of ecommerce and online shopping but how many of them provide a truly satisfying and ethically uplifting experience? With ads hovering around the website, promotions and offers to grab- the entire shopping experience becomes like a transaction in a busy fish market.
We want to make the online shopping experience like an hour or 2 well spent in a relaxing spa. With beautiful blogs, pictures and products, shopping at Divine Yoga Shop is a relaxing & rejuvenating experience.
Could you walk us through your process of developing your business?
This is an interesting questions and the one that would take the most time to answer. To keep it short and simple- the whole process was enjoyable not saying it was the easiest. It was and is enjoyable because each day sees activities that are done following the inner calling. A day that starts with Yoga & Meditation cannot be a day that sees no positive action. From registering the company to getting the work done by Developers, Content Writers, Graphic Designers, Social Media Managers, the whole process of developing the Yoga business was full of colours and vibrancy. We are hopeful that it will be just as beautiful in future too.
Did you encounter any particular difficulties in the beginning?
We didn’t really encounter any major difficulties that are worth mentioning. In fact the process was simple, clear and straightforward. May be it was the magic of starting the day with Meditation.
What is your long-term plan?
We believe in making short-term plans and following one thing after the other. Connecting dots become easier like that. Learning each day about what works and what does not helps to plan for the next day. In short each day’s learning paves way for the next one. We have plans and are already working towards making Divine Yoga Shop a sanctuary where one can simply relax after a busy day.
Could you share with us some industry insights?
Yoga Industry is booming. We do not like to call Yoga a Business. Yoga is Yoga and Business is Business. However, for yoga to reach the masses as it has done over the last decade or so business and yoga have had to become mutually intertwined.
There are over 10,000 active yoga teachers in the UK, teaching between 20,000 and 30,000 yoga classes each week. Research suggests that teachers are offering an average of 2-3 classes per week and that the average number of students per class is around 15. This suggests that there are between 300,00 and 460,000 people currently practicing yoga in the UK. To put this in perspective, imagine if everyone in the UK made yoga part of their daily routine. The lifestyle changes, behaviors, and personal beliefs would likely shift in ways that are evident in people who have made yoga an integral part of their lives.
What are some important lessons you’ve learnt about entrepreneurship?
People are real assets of any business. It is extremely important to focus of them before focusing on other resources. At Divine Yoga Shop we value our manpower more than anything else. In fact we would like to use the word “Human Power” so as to not be gender-unbiased. The 2nd important lesson I learnt is to be patient and take 1 thing at a time. Managing a business can be an overwhelming experience. I like taking few deep breathes every half an hour to stay focused and grounded.
Any tips for achieving success?
There are no shortcuts to success and neither is there a recipe to be successful. When one follows their true calling and are passionate about what they want to do- Success follows. When one is happy after a day’s work and feels that it was a rewarding day irrespective of whether they achieved a target sales figure- I call this Success. In short I would like to say that Success can be measured by the level of spiritual and psychological satisfaction one receives from a day’s work. Of course monetary value follows.
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