Oakville Small Business Spotlight - Kula Yoga Studio

As we celebrate Small Business Week , I’m please to share the contribution of Kula Yoga Studio, which is celebrating their 10th anniversary this December of offering Yoga instruction to Oakville.  Kula opened its doors in 2003 with the first Hot Yoga Studio west of Toronto.  Founded by Studio Director, Colin Matthews, Kula has become a celebrated Yoga studio recognized for outstanding teachers, innovative programs and workshops, and an inviting community that fosters health and well-being.

In celebration of their 10th anniversary, here are 10 exceptional ways Kula has supported Yoga practice in Oakville:

Community:  Kula is clearly a safe and caring space for students of all ages and walks of life to roll out a mat and practice.  Kula, means ‘community’ in Sanskrit, and this studio is evidently a welcoming and thriving community of Yoga practice.

Inspired Yoga Teachers:  Kula teachers come from different lineages of Yoga study, offering specialization in various forms of Yoga practice.  However, they all unanimously share a commitment to life-long personal study and a desire to support students experience a healthy, empowered and evolving practice.

Diversity of Yoga Classes:  Kula offers over 60 classes per week in both a heated and non-heated studio space.  There’s a class for everyone from beginners to advance practitioners!

Family Practice: One look at the class schedule, and you can see family needs are taken into account! Kula offers weekly pre-natal classes, as well as mom and baby class series. There are Yoga classes scheduled for mom and dad while Little Yogis (ages 5-9) and Young Yogis (ages 10+) practice as well. Starting Monday November 19th at 1:30pm we will be adding a new class to the Kula schedule, Mom and Baby Yoga. Enjoy all the benefits of yoga in a class designed to connect you with your baby.

Inclusive:  Kula makes a conscious effort to ensure Yoga is accessible.  They offer several $8 classes on their schedule, as well as $5 community classes taught by a recent graduate from Kula’s Teacher Training Program, and a weekly Karma class in which proceeds are donated to charity.

Green Studio Space: The creation of a healthy practice space and an intention to minimize the operating foot print is evident in the following ways at Kula: cork studio floors, radiant heating, non-toxic cleaning products, VOC-free paint, mason jars instead of plastic water bottles, alkaline water filtration system, low-flow toilets, Solar Water heater, and LED lighting. Learn more by clicking here.

Sunday Nights at Kula:  A vibrant community conversation led by Colin Matthews about life and how to live a purpose-filled life.  Think, taking your Yoga practice off the mat and into the world!

Yoga Teacher Training: Kula has an impressive faculty of teachers working together to support budding Yoga teachers, and dedicated students through their Advanced Study and Yoga Teacher Training Curriculum. Kula offers a 200-Hour and 500-Hour certification, as well as a specialized certification in Pre and Post Natal teaching.

Energy Exchange Program (EE): Kula’s EE program invites yoga students to work at the studio in exchange for unlimited classes. The inspiration for this program was to foster community involvement and to offer alternative forms of currency.

Students:  Kula Director, Colin Matthews says the tremendous sincerity from students to study and apply their practice of Yoga in their life both on and off the mat is the greatest celebration of all after 10-years!

Kula has convinced me to try my first hot yoga class!  Check out their class schedule by clicking here. 

Oakville Small Business Spotlight - Dr. Michelle Peris, Naturopath

Dr. Michelle Peris chose to become a naturopathic doctor (ND) when she experienced how much better she felt after making changes for a healthier lifestyle.  She wanted to inspire others to do and feel the same. Becoming a mom further strengthened her passion to help families searching for a natural approach to raising their family and provide prevention-focused health care.  Dr. Peris really believes we were meant to live very happy and healthy lives and her passion is helping others achieve that.  Did you know that most benefit plans cover naturopathic appointments?

Dr. Michell Peris, ND

It is very easy to see Michelle's passion when chatting with her about her business or about helping a patient trying to solve a health issue.  We asked her a few questions about what she loves about her work; take a minute to read and learn more about Dr. Peris.

What do you love about running a small business?

I am very grateful to have a career that doesn’t feel like work. I truly enjoy working with my patients.  I often feel inspired by others’ successes. It fuels me to strive to work harder and be better both professionally and personally.  I am also appreciative of my ability to schedule my work hours around what works best for my family. Being able to practice what I preach with an aim for work life balance while not compromising my health or wellness is an integral part of my vision for a happy and purposeful life. 

What to do you love about running your business in Oakville?

I have been practicing in Oakville for five years and I see residents of Oakville as very receptive to integrative health care and eager to incorporate a naturopathic doctor into their health care team.  My goal is to inspire patients to live healthfully and empower them to be active participants in their health care. The people of Oakville have been very receptive to this.  

What do you want Oakville families to know about your business?

I am an ND with a clinical focus in woman’s health and pediatrics.  I want to support moms by helping them take care of themselves. As moms, often our priorities shift  from self care to care for our children thus our health tends to suffer.  I want to help moms find that balance.  I very much enjoy working with children and families finding creative ways for the family to function more healthfully. 

Children respond so well to natural interventions and there is no better time to incorporate a preventative health care approach then in childhood.  I want to empower families to thrive and not merely survive with simple nutrition and lifestyle changes.  I feel inspired to share a message of healthy living and I want to empower as many families as possible.  I can help you take the next step in living more healthfully.

momstown Oakville is fortunate to have Dr. Peris come and speak at our mom & baby group, our members always have a great things to say about her visits!  Please contact Dr. Michelle Peris, ND at the Oakville Massage & Wellness Clinic to make an appointment and make sure you visit her blog for lots of healthy living tips for parents with young families!

Oakville Small Business Spotlight - SupperWorks

I actually can't remember where I first heard about SupperWorks but it has certainly cemented a spot in my family as it reminds me of special times in my life.  The SupperWorks Stork Special was part of my post baby plan with both kids, the cottage pick up special makes our time at the cottage easier and more enjoyable and I've even served SupperWorks meals to friends who were over for dinner to rave reviews.  I love the story (I can totally relate to losing interest in cooking) of how SupperWorks got started so I'll let Joni Lien, the owner, tell it in her own words.

Click the image to watch a video of how SupperWorks works!

Tell us how you came to start your own business.

We first came across the “meal prep” concept in Oprah magazine!  We did some research and discovered that there were none in Canada.  My life at this time was very full.  I was married, had 2 young daughters in lots of activities, had relocated within Canada a few times, had gone back to school, and was always busy, busy, busy. I had long lost any sense of enjoyment in the kitchen. Quality home-cooking had given way to convenience foods, take-out, and restaurants; expensive and not always particularly tasty or nutritious. What really irked me is that when the kids were little, I’d spent lots of time in the kitchen with them, making cookies and teaching them basic cooking skills, but we’d come to a point where all of that was being lost in the piles of take-out containers.

I couldn't get the business idea out of my head - somebody else does the grocery shopping, tests the recipes, does all of the prep work like washing, chopping, grating, and making sauces, washes the dishes, AND cleans up when I spill. In other words, I can get a good, nutritious meal on the table in a fraction of the time, spend some time around the table with my family, AND make it to soccer practice on time!

What do you love about running a small business?

I love being part of something I’m so passionate about – something that has made a difference in my own life and in the lives of so many of our customers, in so many different ways.  I’ve had people tell me that SupperWorks has saved their marriage, has helped them lose weight, has taken the stress out of entertaining, has made cottage life more enjoyable, etc.

Curious to learn more about SupperWorks?  Here are the top 5 things you should know about this great Oakville small business.

• SupperWorks uses only high-quality, restaurant-grade meats in our recipes. Oakville’s own Woodwards Meat Purveyors has been out meat supplier since we first opened our doors.

• SupperWorks has special “bring your child” sessions on Saturdays.  You can bring a child (aged 5 and up) and prepare your family’s meals together. Our customers tell us that kids who have a hand in meal-making are more willing to venture outside of the “nothing but pasta with butter comfort zone” and try more adventurous foods!

• SupperWorks offers complete meal packages for Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.  They are easy, easy, easy to cook at home (and they’re really good!) so that you get to spend the day with your family, rather than in the kitchen.

• SupperWorks is all about quality food at reasonable prices. 99% of respondents in our customer survey said that they eat healthier and better with SupperWorks, and 88% said that, since using SupperWorks, their monthly food bill has either stayed the same or gone down!

• The great thing about getting to do the assembly yourself is that you can take into account allergies, likes and dislikes (recipe calls for cilantro and you don't like it?  Don't add it!) and still come out with fantastic meals prepped and ready to go!

Feeling hungry?  Go check out their upcoming menu and book your session!  This Oakville small business is definitely worth a look!

Oakville Small Business Spotlight - Dr. Kate Irwin, Connor Chiropractic

Having young children seems to cause parents to let their health take a back seat to all the rest of the demands that come with raising a young family and finding a balance between home life and work life. But everyone knows that the reality is, if you don't take care of yourself, you can't take care of your family either. Dr. Kate Irwin and the team at Connor Chiropractic (located on Cornwall Road) pride themselves on a holistic approach to patient care, taking into account all the elements of their patients life and their state of health. Dr. Kate Irwin works hard to ensure that her patients are receiving all of the care they require to lead a full, active life.

Dr. Irwin's passion for helping people lead a healthier, pain free life is evident when I asked her to describe what she loves about her work.

Dr. Kate Irwin, Connor Chiropractic

What do you love about being a part of a small business?

My greatest joy as a Chiropractor is having the ability to help decrease or eliminate my patients pain and get people back to their everyday life or sport! Overall though I love how personal this small business is. From the welcoming front desk staff, to the multitude of health care professionals in our facility, each person takes time to know all those that walk through our front doors. Being a small business allows me to go the extra mile with my patients.

How is your business involved in the Oakville community?

Connor Chiropractic is involved in the Oakville athletics community through Connors Runners - a run group coordinated by Dr. Steven Connor, recognizable by their neon orange gear. 

What do you want Oakville families to know about you?

As a Family Chiropractor,  I have a passion for getting patients back to their full function. I believe that the human form is meant to move. Life events, injuries and pregnancy can limit a person’s ability to move and I aim to restore that motion. My background in triathlons and personal training allows me to better understand the function of the body and the limitations we face when not functioning properly. Chiropractic treatment is effective for those of all ages to help realign the body and help increase overall health. 

Make sure you check out Dr. Irwin's blog for recipes and helpful information, like this post on determining if your child's backpack is too heavy and causing them pain.  To make an appointment to see Dr. Irwin, click here.

Oakville Small Business Spotlight - Little Rascals Place

Little Rascals Place has been a favourite spot for Oakville kids since it opened.  With lots of bright and welcoming decor, a mini trampoline, a ball pit and lots of blocks, Little Rascals is a great place to take your kids for some fun indoor play or a fabulous place to host a birthday party.

I asked the owner, Nilla, tell us a bit more about how Little Rascals Place came to be and what she loves about running a small business.

Tell us how you came to start your own business.

Well, I had just moved to the area and was looking to start something that would make a difference. I like to think my kids were my inspiration and I wanted to offer families a place where they could host children related events, but exclusively.  That’s how Little Rascals was born and I only hosted private events on the weekends and evening. As time went by I got inquiries about day time play and added that later on.

What do you love about running a small business?

What I love about being a small business owner is that I am the creator of my own success and wealth.  I have learned so much and met many other entrepreneurs, there is something very enticing about carving my own path (for me at least).  I love that I get to perform the many different roles that comes with being a one women show.  To be so involved with all the different aspects of running a business, from networking to advertising to customer service and everything in between. I enjoy it all, but I definitely love that I get to plan out parties and events and be part of the families making memories.

What to do you love about running your business in Oakville? 

I think Oakville is a great place to be a small business owner; it’s such an ambitious town.  I try to contribute back to the Oakville community and to do my part. Little Rascals is always part of the charity fundraisers and we also donate to schools for their fairs.  I believe what makes a community great is the involvement of local business owners. 

What do you want Oakville families to know about your business?

At Little Rascals we do things a bit differently, because we believe that having an intimate gathering makes for great parties.   No party has even been the same at Little Rascals, which is why we have such great clients who come back year after year hosting another birthday or a sibling’s party.  This is really amazing since 90% of the parites that I have hosted or planned have been from referrals. I think birthdays are such a big part of childhood and I believe in catering to the wants of the families to make sure children have great memories of their birthdays. At Little Rascals we want to help you make that day more special, so you can enjoy celebrating!  

momstown Oakville has hosted several events at Little Rascals and our mamas love Nilla and how welcoming and warm she is when greeting all the little ones that come to play.  Little Rascals has so much to offer Oakville families.  Not only do they have great birthday party packages and an indoor playground, but they also offer after school programs in Art & Drama and Lego & Robotics and summer camps (full day & half day options) too!  Check out their website to read more about this great Oakville business!

Shop Local Oakville Spotlight - Pretty In Pink Spa Studio

Founded in 2011, Pretty in Pink Spa Studio is Canada's premier all-natural spa specially designed for young girls. It is the brainchild of Sonia Imerti, an educator, entrepreneur and mother of two girls, who recognized the need for a spa with a holistic approach to personal care for girls and women.  Located in the Upper Oakville Shopping Centre in Oakville, Pretty in Pink is a place where young girls and teens are encouraged to uncover their natural beauty, nurture their well-being - both inside and out, and celebrate their confidence and self discovery.  All of their products are all-natural, chemical free and age appropriate delivered in an inspirational and empower space.  They also have just launched an e-commerce option offering the chance to shop online for some fabulous products!

I was lucky enough to be treated to a facial at Pretty in Pink not long ago and chat with the owner, Sonia Imerti.  I'll admit, before I went to visit Pretty in Pink, I assumed that there would be pink everywhere followed by sparkles and sequins and I wasn't sure what to expect.  My visit left me really impressed.  Is there pink in the store?  Yes, but the vibe, the vision of what a young customer would experience is really great, very calming, and something that I think young girls could really benefit from.

Here are the top 5 things you need to know about this great Oakville Small Business:

1.  As mentioned above, all the products used and sold are organic and contain natural ingredients.  The mascara sold in the front retail space is Fruit Pigmented Colour Cosmetics made from things like raspberries to get the dark colour (and it smells divine too).  Sonia puts a lot of effort into making sure all the products are safe and natural.  How lovely does a natural Vegan warm Belgian chocolate face mask that nourishes the skin with antioxidants and restorative oils sound?  This is just one of the age appropriate treatments offered for young girls.  Check out all their services here.

2. Pretty in Pink does fabulous birthday parties.  Girls can do things like make their own lip glosses at the party, they wear plush robes, get pampered and their packages include the food and cake!  How easy is that for planning?

3.  Pretty in Pink empowers the spirit of young girls.  This fact was really driven home to me when chatting with Sonia.  At some point, most girls will be curious about makeup and want to experiment.  I loved Sonia's approach of accepting that curiosity and working towards making tweens/teens understand how to apply it properly and what products might be harmful to their skin.  It is important to teach them not to share mascaras and to clean make up brushes, etc.  I love the thought of doing this as a bonding experience with my daughter (and yes, picking up a few tips myself!)

4. Pretty in Pink now does facials for Moms!  And you don't want to miss out.  I was lucky enough to enjoy a facial treatment and it was really amazing.  I really liked the Eminence Organic product line, the Stone Crop Whip Moisturizer being a favourite of mine.

5.  Did you know that Pretty in Pink also has a retail store?  Not only do they sell all natural, organic cosmetics but they also are one of the best places in town to get loot bag items or gifts for girls of all ages. Some of their top sellers include one of Oprah's favourite things, the Feeling Smitten Cupcake Bath Bombs, sleeping bags, jewellery, fun soaps and cute pens.

I also love Pretty in Pink's 'pinkspirations' that they frequently post on their Facebook page.  Great messages to share with girls and women of all ages and a testament to Sonia's passion and what she is really trying to achieve with her business.  As we celebrate Small Business Week this week, please take a minute to learn more about Pretty in Pink.  What a great local business in the Oakville community!