We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Arlinda Self. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Arlinda below.

Arlinda, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

The mission behind starting a yoga business is to create a safe, inclusive space where everyone, especially the Black community, can experience the healing and transformative power of yoga. Yoga promotes mental, physical, and spiritual well-being, and it’s more than just poses—it’s a tool for stress relief, self-discovery, and empowerment.

In the Black community, where systemic stress and trauma are often more prevalent, yoga serves as a powerful practice for reclaiming peace, building resilience, and fostering self-love. By offering accessible yoga, we aim to promote health and wellness while encouraging a deeper connection to self, community, and culture.

Arlinda, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m passionate about wellness, and my journey into the yoga industry began as a personal pursuit for healing and self-care. I discovered yoga during a challenging time in my life, and it became a transformative practice that not only restored my mental and physical health but also deepened my connection to myself. That experience motivated me to share yoga’s benefits with others, especially in communities that are often underserved in the wellness space.

At my yoga studio, I offer a range of services including traditional yoga classes, specialized offerings like restorative and R&B yoga, as well as affirmation-based sessions designed to encourage mindfulness and self-love. My goal is to make yoga accessible and enjoyable for everyone, regardless of their background or level of experience. I focus on creating an inclusive, welcoming environment where clients can feel safe to explore their own personal growth through movement and mindfulness.

One of the biggest problems I aim to solve for my clients is stress relief. In today’s fast-paced world, especially within the Black community, many individuals experience heightened levels of stress and trauma. Yoga can serve as a powerful tool to help manage these challenges, fostering inner peace, emotional resilience, and mental clarity. What sets my practice apart is that I specifically tailor my classes to offer not just physical benefits but also deep mental and emotional healing, making yoga an empowering practice for everyone.

I’m most proud of creating a space where people feel seen, supported, and uplifted. I want my clients and followers to know that my studio is not just about fitness—it’s about community, self-care, and empowerment. My mission is to bring yoga to people who may not have seen it as accessible before and to help them experience the profound benefits it offers. Ultimately, I’m here to serve as a guide on your journey to health, healing, and self-discovery.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

One story that stands out from my journey and illustrates resilience is from the early days of starting my yoga business. I was deeply passionate about bringing yoga to my community, but initially, the response was slower than I had hoped. I was pouring time, energy, and resources into creating a welcoming space, but attendance was inconsistent, and I began to doubt whether my vision would take off.

Rather than give up, I took this as an opportunity to adapt and reconnect with my purpose. I started hosting free community classes to introduce more people to the benefits of yoga, focused on building relationships, and engaged more deeply with the people I wanted to serve. These efforts didn’t yield overnight success, but they did build trust and awareness within the community. Eventually, more people started attending, and the word began to spread about the unique, welcoming environment I had created.

Looking back, I realize that the challenges in the beginning were essential to my growth. They taught me patience, persistence, and the power of truly connecting with people. This experience strengthened my belief in the mission and made me even more committed to creating a space where everyone, especially those who need it most, can experience the healing benefits of yoga.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Building my audience on social media was a process that required patience, consistency, and authenticity. When I first started, I knew that I didn’t just want to post content—I wanted to create a community where people felt inspired and connected. I focused on sharing meaningful, relatable content that reflected my mission: making yoga accessible and fostering self-love, particularly in underrepresented communities.

At first, my following grew slowly, but I stayed consistent. I used every opportunity to engage with my audience—whether it was responding to comments, sharing personal stories about my yoga journey, or providing tips on mindfulness and wellness. Over time, I found that authenticity resonated the most. Instead of trying to fit into a mold of what I thought a wellness brand should be, I embraced my unique voice and message. This helped me attract people who aligned with my values and who were genuinely interested in the space I was creating.

Collaborations with other local businesses and instructors also played a big role. By partnering with people who shared similar goals, I was able to tap into new audiences and grow organically. Live classes and events, both in-person and online, helped me further connect with followers and showcase what makes my approach to yoga unique.

For anyone just starting to build their social media presence, my advice is simple: be consistent, be authentic, and be patient. Focus on quality over quantity—it’s better to have a smaller, engaged audience than a large, disconnected one. Engage genuinely with your followers, create content that reflects who you are and what you stand for, and don’t be afraid to share your personal story. People are drawn to authenticity, and that will ultimately set you apart.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.SELFLM.com
• Instagram: ARLINDA Self
• Facebook: ARLINDA Self