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

Hi Aesha, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

Starting my own business has been the biggest risk I’ve taken in my life so far. I never thought I’d be an entrepreneur. But as fate would have it after working eight years as a software programmer in corporate, I decided to pursue my real passion of health promotion and exercise physiology.

I took this 360-degree turn in my career when I was diagnosed with sciatica due to the sedentary nature of my work. That’s when I became interested in exercise and understanding how the body works. I was so fascinated by the potential our body holds to heal and grow if we give it the right stimulus that I went back to school and earned my master’s in exercise physiology.

I worked as a physiologist in a clinical setting and then at a corporate company before COVID while keeping some private clients as a side gig. When COVID hit, I realized that I could have my own business and start consulting corporations. That’s when I started working in my business full time, creating wellness training programs for their employees, and delivering wellbeing education.

Leaving a stable career and the security of a job was a daunting task. It was fueled by my desire to serve others and help them become the best versions of themselves. I love what I do. It has brought so much meaning to my life. I get up every morning and fuel my passion and my day is filled with many moments of happiness as a result.

Ten years later, looking back I see how it was a big leap of faith and a small step into the huge world of business about which I knew nothing. Entrepreneurship requires a lot of courage, confidence, and trust in your abilities. There have been many setbacks along the way. But the incredible joy I get from empowering others with wellness tools and witnessing their transformation surpasses any challenges. And for me, that’s a risk worth taking.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My business has multiple arms. I offer individual coaching, organizational training, and public speaking.

As a coach, I help busy professionals who are leading a sedentary lifestyle take charge of their health. Most of my clients have musculoskeletal issues and chronic metabolic diseases. I work alongside their physicians and help my clients overcome obstacles to health by providing them with lifestyle interventions that include improving their posture, and nutrition, and personalized exercise recommendations based on their biomarkers and physiologic needs. My coaching helps them improve their overall well-being and transform their health. With the coaching tools, they can create sustainable changes in their life. I provide holistic wellness coaching which includes mental wellbeing tools and positive mindset cultivation. I am proud of my clients, who take the most challenging step of seeking help and prioritizing their health and wellbeing.

As a wellness consultant, I analyze the current employee benefits and design workplace wellness solutions. I help organizations create a culture of wellness by implementing health programs that put organizations’ biggest asset, the employees first. My corporate wellness programs increase employee productivity and company’s bottom line. On average companies see a 3:1 return on every dollar spent on my corporate wellness programs, that means, for every dollar spent on the wellness program the companies make three dollars.

As a public speaker, I present inspirational keynote speeches at conferences on the topic of emotional empowerment through posture and well-being. I deliver high-energy presentations that challenge audiences to leverage their focus to what matters most at work and in life, their health. Audiences love the empowering well-being tools I provide from the stage that they can use for the rest of their lives. My keynotes are based on my international best-selling book; “Unhunched: Discover Wellness Through Posture.”

Have you ever had to pivot?

My biggest pivot in my career as a physiologist happened when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the corporate facility I used to work at. I knew people were craving connection and health. I pivoted to online coaching and workshops. These workshops helped create a wellness community and fostered connection. At times I had 100 – 200 people in my online workshops. Participants could ask me anything about their health and wellness. As I delved further into this new venture, a couple of corporations approached me to offer online workshops for their employees. It was during this realization that I had my “aha” moment. I recognized the potential of the offerings and decided to commit myself fully to this business. This pivotal moment helped me transition my business from a side gig to a full-time career.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

My personal experience of going through lower back pain and feeling the obstacles of a sedentary job is what makes me an effective coach and consultant. I’ve already traveled the path my clients are following. I can easily understand my client’s struggles, and challenges and guide them with solutions that work for their situation. With my authentic experience, I can create a genuine connection with my clients.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.aeshatahir.com
• Instagram: @tone_and_strengthen
• Facebook: Tone and Strengthen
• Linkedin: @aeshatahir
• Youtube: @toneandstrengthen5984

Image Credits
Photo credits TLP Studios