In one sentence, how would you describe your yoga business and what it offers?
We are a community-driven, award-winning studio offering soulful Yoga, Prenatal and Postnatal classes, highly rated teacher trainings, and vibrant events – with stunning views of Wandsworth Bridge.
What key challenges or needs do you help your clients overcome through yoga?
We support your wellbeing on all levels — building physical resilience through yoga, calming the mind with meditation, opening the heart through mantra singing, and fostering connection through community events and our book club.
Why did you choose to base your business in Wandsworth – what makes the borough so special to you?
I chose this unique riverside location because it offers a breath of calm just steps away from London’s busy rhythm — a place where life slows down. But more than that, Wandsworth is home: it’s where my family and friends are, where we walk along the river, and where I truly feel rooted. I couldn’t imagine building SOMA anywhere else. 
When did you launch your business, and who’s behind it?
I opened SOMA in March 2023, starting as a one-woman band with the steady support of my family. Our growth has been organic and consistent, built on genuine, lasting relationships. Today, we’re a team of 12 teachers, and over the past two and a half years, thousands of students have walked through our doors.
What was your background before starting your yoga journey or business?
I studied Mathematics and Computer Science back in Croatia, but my heart was already in yoga – I was teaching classes, leading yoga retreats, and later assisted and offered teacher trainings. I was a manager at my mother’s yoga studio before moving to Seattle, where I taught Yoga and Meditation at the University of Washington and local studios. Eventually, London became home – and SOMA became my purpose.
What are the most common benefits your clients experience from regular yoga practice?
I often see students becoming more connected to their embodied experience of life. They learn to pause amidst the busyness and gain clarity and calm in a world that rarely slows down. Yoga offers small shelters – moments of refuge for body, mind, and heart. A strong, flexible body allows them to enjoy life more fully, free from strain and discomfort, while also reconnecting to their innate kindness and resilience.
How does yoga support both physical and mental wellbeing over the long term?
Yoga is more than a feel-good moment, it’s a sustainable path to lifelong wellbeing, supported by science. Physically, it improves strength, flexibility, balance, and cardiovascular health while helping manage chronic pain and aging. Mentally, yoga activates the parasympathetic nervous system – the “rest and digest” mode – which reduces cortisol and helps manage stress. Long-term practitioners often report better sleep, emotional resilience, and a deepened mind-body connection.
Have you received any support (community, council, mentorship, etc.) that helped your journey?
To be honest, I wish I had discovered more support early on – launching SOMA as my first UK-based business was all-consuming. But recently, we’ve had such a positive experience with the Wandsworth Chamber of Commerce. Their events, networking, and recognition – including our recent Health & Wellbeing Business of the Year award – have made us feel truly supported as a small business.
What has been your biggest challenge in running your yoga business — and how did you overcome it?
The hardest part was shifting out of the mindset of “Will we make it?”. That fear can stifle creativity. What helped was cultivating trust and committing to longer daily meditations – it created space for things to flow more freely and allowed the business to grow with more ease.
For people with busy lives, what are your top tips for staying consistent with yoga?
Start small but stay steady.
Schedule one of our SOMA classes into your calendar like you would an important meeting – make it non-negotiable.
Smaller, realistic goals are more sustainable and still deliver incredible benefits.
Can you share a memorable moment or piece of feedback from a client that really stuck with you?
Strong boundaries, no limits. And also, as cheesy as it sounds, to stay true to my values.
What do you love most about teaching and practicing yoga in Wandsworth?
Without a doubt – the community. What we’ve built here is truly magical. I feel that fitness and wellbeing spaces can get so transactional these days, that we’ve forgotten the power of looking someone in the eye, and making people feel seen and valued.
This year’s theme is Yoga for One Earth, One Health — what does that mean to you personally or professionally?
This feels like a call to action — a reminder that yoga is more than a personal practice; it’s compassion in motion. For me, it’s an invitation to stay awake to the suffering around us and take meaningful, local action to support healing and change.
Where can people find you or learn more about your classes and offerings?
On Saturday 21st SOMA is hosting a special, discounted morning class in celebration of the Summer Solstice and International Day of Yoga.
They are also offering an introductory offer of three classes for £30. Find out more here