Emma O’Toole, Founder, Yoga with Emma
I live in Wicklow with my husband and dog Alfie. In 2008 when the business world was collapsing my job in technology as a software tester was in jeopardy and I was given notice of redundancy. Thankfully, I kept my job but I understood that this might happen again. With sound advice from my Mum, she said "turn a hobby into a career". I graduated as a yoga teacher from The Elbowroom, Dublin in 2011 and progressed to a diploma in pre-natal yoga in 2016. I completed 40 hours of intensive Ashtanga yoga training with David Swensen and Level 1 & 2 of Be Activated for Therapists with Douglas Heel. I believe that "This vehicle we own as our body is amazing. Mindset and Movement heals everything."
What is your favourite social media platform?
Instagram, because I have been using it for a long time and understand where my clients are hanging out and I can easily connect!
Tell us about you and your current role or area of interest.
I am a Corporate Yoga teacher and Mindful Movement Coach.
What do you like about your career or area of focus?
There is a plethora of learning and I am fascinated by people's stories. I can work with what is causing problems and release old habits that limit movement and a belief they thought was true, What is in the mind, is in the body and vice versa. It is a joy to witness these realisations and "aha" moments of how easy it can feel better.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
What is in the mind, is in the body and vice versa.
What inspires you, motivates you, or helps you to move forward?
I love listening to peoples' stories and understand why they need my help to feel their best. What motivates me is everybody is unique but life patterns can be similar. What motivates me is to find the pattern and gently change it to dispel limiting beliefs. I am fascinated by how our bodies are made to heal and demonstrating this to my clients is a joy.
What are you proud of in your life so far?
Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook shared my business story on her public page. She picked my story and a few others to showcase. I am most proud of that.
What is your preferred way to meet new people/network?
Lately, it is on my preferred platform, Zoom. Before that, it was on Facebook events
What skills or qualities do you feel have helped you?
I had 23 years of technology experience behind me which helped to transition my business from offline to online with ease.
What do you wish you had known when you started out?
How lonely working for yourself can be.
Who do you most admire in business, academic or creative circles and why?
I really admire my business mentor Sarah Smith. She is a fit-pro mentor and has guided me to be more confident, that I am worthy of helping people and I can be successful.
Outside of your professional/work area, what hobbies or interests do you have or what other areas of your life are of real importance to you?
Since lockdown, my dog has been my lifeline to sanity and meeting other people. I love walking and seeing the scenery around where I live. When I am walking I love to listen to books and podcasts.
Has the pandemic had a positive or a negative effect on you and/or your business?
It has been challenging. I lost a lot of my offline clients and corporate classes, so I had to rethink quickly what to do. Now, I can share my yoga classes with a wider audience outside of Ireland. I have two online courses that I have released which I would never have done if the pandemic didn't happen.
What advice would you have for someone looking to get into the same area of work or interests?
Understand your audience and what your unique quality is to share with the world for people to listen and learn.
What do you feel is the most common reason for people failing or giving up?
When trying to sell classes or courses and no one buys, people give up. When they have to put in the effort and have to push to get the "sale", they give up because the outcome is not the expected result.
Is there a phrase, quote or a saying that you really like?
The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the universe, to match your nature with Nature. - James Campbell
What companies, brands, or institutions do you like or do you think are getting it right?
I think a company like Kelloggs are doing amazing work for their employees. They hear the staff and act on putting a wellness program in place for optimum mental and physical wellness. VHI have their finger on the pulse of wellness for companies and individuals.
How do you define success, and what lessons have you learned so far that you could share with our audience?
Success is not just having money in the bank (it helps if you do) but success to me is helping as many people as I can, to make life easy and enjoyable. When my clients are happy, so am I.