We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sherry Steine a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sherry, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

There was a defining moment in my professional journey—one that quietly began with frustration and ended with freedom.

About ten years ago, I found myself deeply disillusioned as a distributor for a multi-level marketing (MLM) essential oils company. I was constantly promoting oils I didn’t truly understand, mimicking what others were saying, hoping that if I just followed the script and posted the right things, it would all take off. But it didn’t.

The market was already saturated, and it felt like everyone was shouting into the same crowded room. I was part of a local entrepreneur group at the time and vividly remember the sting of being publicly chastised by another member for how I marketed the oils. To make matters worse, my upline—the person who was supposed to be my mentor—was more focused on pushing sales than educating or supporting me. I felt lost, unheard, and honestly, unaligned with the entire model. Despite trying for years, nothing was flowing, and deep down, I knew why: I wasn’t grounded in the knowledge. I wasn’t in love with how I was doing the work.

Then something shifted. I enrolled in a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training, simply to reconnect with myself. That choice would quietly change everything. As I progressed into my 300-hour training and later into therapeutic yoga studies—specializing in trauma-informed practices, Ayurveda, and emotional well-being—I began to see aromatherapy differently. I didn’t want to peddle oils anymore. I wanted to honor them. Teach about them. Blend them with purpose. Integrate them into healing.

So I stepped away from MLM and got certified as an aromatherapist. I started crafting intentional, small-batch blends for myself, my family, my yoga students. I launched Aroma Restorative Yoga classes that paired essential oils with gentle movement and deep nervous system care. The passion returned. The purpose rooted in.

Last year, I finally found the courage to launch Vibrance—a beta-tested line of my own aromatherapy products. The response? Soul-affirming. People began to feel the heart and intention behind each blend. It wasn’t just about a smell anymore—it was about healing, ritual, and emotional support.

What I learned is this: When you move in alignment with your values, even if it takes time, the right path opens up. That hard chapter taught me that education and integrity matter. That healing can’t be hustled. And that creating from the heart will always resonate more than selling from a script.

Now, as I stand in this new chapter of my career—offering therapeutic yoga, custom aromatherapy, and holistic tools—I’m no longer chasing success. I’m embodying it.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am the founder of Aligned Expressions and Vibrance Apothecary, a Certified Aromatherapist, Yoga Therapist-in-Training (C-IAYT), Therapeutic Yoga Teacher (RYT 500+), Certified Trauma-Informed Yoga and Aromatherapy Practitioner, and Holistic Home Wellness Consultant. My work lives at the intersection of science, spirit, and soulful self-care—and it’s deeply rooted in over two decades of personal practice, formal training, and hard-earned life wisdom.

How It All Began
My journey into this healing path began not in perfect alignment, but through frustration and a desire for something more meaningful. Nearly a decade ago, I was involved in a multi-level marketing (MLM) company selling essential oils. I believed in the power of the plants but felt increasingly disillusioned by the pressure to sell without real education, support, or a true understanding of how these oils interacted with the body, mind, and spirit.

That discomfort led me to pursue deeper study and eventually certification as an aromatherapist. Around the same time, I began my formal yoga teacher training journey—first the 200-hour, then the 300-hour, and now over 700 hours of therapeutic yoga training including specialized work with cancer care, trauma, vertigo, and emotional well-being. These trainings shifted my perspective and opened up a whole new way of working with people: not just to teach yoga or sell oils, but to truly support healing.

What I Do Now
Today, I offer a unique blend of integrative services designed to restore balance and promote resilience, especially for mid-life women, caregivers, and those navigating emotional stress, chronic conditions, or life transitions. My offerings include:

Private Therapeutic Yoga Sessions (in-home and in-studio)
Trauma-Informed Yin & Restorative Yoga Classes
Aroma Acupoint Therapy & Acuaroma Self-Care Sessions
Holistic Aromatherapy Consultations & Custom Blends
Workshops, Pop-Up Events & Retreats (Creative Calm, Soulful Stillness, Tranquil Essence)
Podcast Host of Aligned Expressions, where I share insights on wellness, spirituality, and healing
Aroma Product Line: Vibrance Apothecary—a beta-tested line of intentional aromatherapy sprays and roll-ons designed for emotional balance, energetic cleansing, and everyday rituals

What Makes My Work Unique
I approach healing with humility and reverence. What sets me apart is the depth of integration: I don’t just offer yoga or aromatherapy—I weave them together in trauma-informed, evidence-based, and energetically attuned ways. Whether I’m teaching a cancer survivor how to ground after treatment, creating a blend to calm the Shen (spirit), or hosting a community class under the open sky, my goal is always the same: to help people feel seen, held, and whole.

I also draw upon the rich traditions of Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Vedic Astrology (Jyotish), and Feng Shui to create holistic environments and practices for healing at home and within the self.

What I’m Most Proud Of
I’m most proud of the courage it took to reimagine my work from the ground up—to walk away from an approach that didn’t feel right and instead build something slow, intentional, and authentic. I’m proud of every client who’s told me, “I can breathe again,” and every yoga student who’s said, “This is the first time I’ve felt peace in months.”

I’m also proud of Vibrance Apothecary, which started as small batches for friends and family and is now blossoming into a line that people are truly connecting with. These blends aren’t just pretty scents—they’re carefully crafted energetic allies.

What I Want You to Know
If you’re looking for healing that honors your body, acknowledges your story, and helps you reconnect with your inner wisdom—I’m here for that. My work is not about quick fixes or surface-level solutions. It’s about slowing down, tuning in, and creating space for what you truly need.

Whether you’re a mid-life woman seeking hormonal and emotional balance, a caregiver burned out from holding everyone else up, or simply someone curious about how yoga and scent can help you live more vibrantly—I invite you to connect.

You can find me teaching therapeutic yoga in the Washington, DC metropolitan area working with clients privately, leading events or sharing stories and tools on my Aligned Expressions podcast. I also love offering consultations, workshops, and custom blends—because healing should feel personal, beautiful, and sacred.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Aside from training and knowledge—which are, of course, essential—I believe the most helpful ingredients for succeeding in this field are relationships, self-trust, and wholehearted belief in your mission.

Building meaningful, reciprocal relationships has been one of the most grounding forces in my journey. Whether it’s with clients, fellow practitioners, wellness collaborators, or mentors, these connections not only offer support but also expand your vision of what’s possible. Community reminds you that you’re not alone on the path, even when things feel uncertain.

Equally important is being confident in yourself—especially in an industry where wellness trends can be loud, and outside voices can easily shake your foundation. There was a time when I doubted my place in this work. When I was told by others in entrepreneurial circles that I was “doing it wrong” or “oversharing.” But I’ve learned that listening to those who don’t support your mission only delays your purpose. You have to believe in your work before others do. That belief becomes your anchor.

One of the pivotal influences on my confidence and vision has been Elena Brower, a yoga luminary whose mentorship and teachings helped me realign with the deeper why behind what I do. Elena’s presence, grace, and unwavering devotion to integrity in both yoga and life gave me permission to show up as I am, and to lead with intention.

Ultimately, loving what you do, trusting your voice, and surrounding yourself with mentors who see your light—that’s the true magic. Everything else flows from there.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Yes, absolutely. One of the most profound resources that has deeply shaped my entrepreneurial philosophy is Hiro Boga’s book, The World of Your Business Playbook: How to Create a World of Welcome & Belonging for You and Your Customers.

This book completely reframed the way I approach my business—not just as a series of offerings or transactions, but as a living, breathing energetic ecosystem that reflects who I am at my core. Hiro’s teachings invited me to think of my business not as something separate from me, but as a sacred partnership—one that deserves devotion, boundaries, and love.

What impacted me the most was her invitation to infuse every aspect of business—from branding to client interactions—with soul, integrity, and energetic alignment. Her work helped me understand that my business isn’t just here to make money or reach goals—it’s here to serve, to express my values, and to create a world of welcome for those who interact with it.

This philosophy helped me shift how I show up. I began to consider not just what I offer (therapeutic yoga, aromatherapy, holistic wellness), but how people feel when they step into my world. I ask myself:

Does my language convey care?
Do my products and sessions embody beauty and nourishment?
Am I running my business in a way that honors my capacity and honors the people I serve?
Because of Hiro’s influence, I’ve allowed myself to be more intuitive and relational in business. I’ve created from a place of integrity, and that has led to stronger relationships with clients, more ease in my work, and a deeper trust in my vision. Even the birth of Vibrance Apothecary was grounded in this idea of creating something that radiates warmth, care, and purpose—something more than just a product line, but a world people feel good stepping into.

This book is a quiet revolution. It teaches you to trust your inner guidance, to co-create with the soul of your business, and to lead from a place of wholeness rather than hustle. It’s one I return to again and again as I grow and evolve.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sbwaligned.com
• Instagram: @alignedexpress