Sienna Stark is the founder of Phoenix-based YogieFlow, an online yoga and meditation subscription service for kids – by kids. Stark is just 12 years old and is already on track to becoming a certified yoga instructor. The web-based program, which launched May 1, aims to help kids of all ages elevate their emotional wellbeing and strengthen their athletic ability.
“The concept came to me because I’m in my yoga teacher training and I’m a little nervous about teaching in front of people, but I just go home and videotape myself and I thought, ‘This is really cool,’ and I want to share my knowledge with other kids,” Stark says.
A former competitive gymnast, Stark says she looked forward to stretching before practice and competitions more than gymnastics itself. She started practicing yoga at home by following YouTube videos.
“My parents got me into a studio and that’s how I got into yoga,” the young entrepreneur says.
YogieFlow focuses on fundamentals, allowing beginners to build their practice from the ground up. Stark also does tutorials that teach skills for strength and flexibility that can be applied to specific sports.
“Let’s say you’re playing soccer and you need to strengthen your thighs. I have stretches to help strengthen your hips and thighs,” she says. “I made it accessible for everybody. It’s super easy to use.”
Stark created a methodology called PSC (Peace, Sport, Confidence) – a yoga style that helps kids find inner peace and happiness, take their sport to the next level and build body confidence. Stark also teaches meditation techniques to improve focus and mood.
“The real reason we practice yoga poses is so we can sit in meditation longer, so you can warm up the body for meditation,” she says.
For Stark, meditation is more difficult than yoga. Her favorite meditation method is called karmala, which syncs hand movements and breathing. “I really like breath work, too,” she says.
Stark believes yoga is for everyone, whether you’re 10 or 50 years old. “Anybody can do it,” she says.
The YogieFlow platform is subscription-based – $5 a month or $50 a year. Stark says it’s convenient and easy to use, allowing people to practice anywhere at any time. So far, the feedback from subscribers has been overwhelmingly positive.
“They say that they notice that they’re a lot calmer and happier and they’re not worried about the outside stress,” Stark says. “Their life is less stressful.”
Through YogieFlow, Stark hopes to inspire other kids to practice yoga and perhaps even start their own business.
“I want to teach other kids, hopefully around the world someday, other yogis and other yogi kids who are passionate about yoga, as well,” she says.
For more information, visit yogieflow.com.
