Today’s Notable Young Entrepreneur is Sabrina Smith of Calgary’s health and wellness company BeneEsse. While maintaining a hectic schedule, she also acts as an ambassador for the Africa Yoga Project, which is committed to spreading the gift and benefits of yoga all over Africa…
Sabrina Smith is a warm, passionate and driven young entrepreneur who runs BeneEsse with her partner Nathan Norville. The company is focused on bringing health and wellness to Calgarians by offering personal training, yoga classes and health coaching that is tailored to every client’s needs in such a way that working out and getting in shape is fun and achievable. When you ask Sabrina what she does for work she will tell you that she doesn’t really consider her job to be work because she loves what she does for a living, which involves inspiring and motivating others to live well.
For the last few years Sabrina and Nathan have been kept very busy getting BeneEsse off the ground, and between running the company and keeping clients fit she has a pretty hectic schedule. Despite this, she still makes time to work as an ambassador for a very special cause known as the Africa Yoga Project.
Started in Kenya, the AYP is a brilliant and moving mission inspired by the concept of social entrepreneurship and based on the idea that yoga can help transform people’s outlook on their lives when faced with the harsh realities of poverty, political instability and the high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS.
Previously an activity of leisure reserved only for the wealthier people of the country, AYP has made yoga accessible to the masses, who can seek out a better life in the urban slums. AYP is focused on teaching yoga to students with the intention of bringing about positive changes. Each week there are roughly 5,000 people that participate in 250+ community classes and that number continues to grow throughout Africa and to other satellites around the world. Through the medium of yoga, a group of certified instructors are trying to give their students a viable form of employment while teaching them about leadership, the importance of community and their own well-being.
Sabrina is making it her mission this year to raise $10,000 for the project so she can make the trip to Kenya to work with the AYP team and meet the communities that are embracing yoga for social change. We asked her to give us a few more details on how she became involved with the project and her favourite words to live by:
In your own words, what is the Africa Yoga Project?
AYP is a registered charity that is spreading the gift and benefits of yoga all over Africa. They empower young Kenyans through their yoga teacher training and give them teaching jobs throughout the community in schools, prisons, orphanages and villages. They offer people in some of the poorest areas of Africa, hope, personal empowerment, emotional healing, and greater physical health and vitality through their programs.
What inspired you to get involved with the Africa Yoga Project?
For over five years now I have made my birthday a day to raise money for a local charity. This year, I wanted to do more and go bigger. I decided to dedicate all of 2014 to fundraising (as a New Year’s resolution) and I picked AYP because of my love for yoga. Yoga has recently become a big part of my life (and career). I truly believe in its benefits and if I can help others who live in a place where yoga may not be as accessible as it is here, then I won’t hesitate. Here in North America, or right here in Calgary, a yoga mat is almost an accessory to people’s outfits… its at our finger tips.
I think it’s amazing what AYP is doing; bringing yoga to the slums, villages, orphanages, and schools… it’s beautiful!
What are your responsibilities as an ambassador? What is your goal by the end of the year?
Becoming a part of the ambassador team is about embodying the mission of AYP, building a connection, and being dedicated to raising $10,000 by the end of September to support the use of yoga to elevate individuals and empower communities in Africa.
Upon reaching the fundraising pledge, ambassadors are invited to join the team in Kenya where we spend 14 days working directly with AYP teachers and the communities they empower.
As a way of fundraising, my business, BeneEsse, is offering donation-based small group boot camps or yoga sessions to people who are interested. People can get their friends together for a yoga and wine party, or a little indoor/outdoor boot camp to have fun and do something for a good cause. So far this has been a lot of fun for us and really rewarding for everyone!
I’m also hosting a silent auction in the fall. The event will be held downtown at Gerry Thomas Art Gallery where there will be a yoga demo, videos and images of AYP, as well as some wonderful prizes. This will be the major fundraising event. As of now, we’ve raised 25% of our $10,000 pledge.
What is inspirational to you?
People who overcome challenges, people who do great things and make a positive difference, and people who give off good energy and smile. Everyday people like that inspire me!
Words to live by?
I live by the saying, “My life is my message” (Gandhi). I think my footprint (message), is the greatest thing I can leave behind. I want it to be inspiring and impactful.
To make a donation to Sabrina’s cause, click here.
#LYNL | (Live Your Notable Life)
Want more updates on the most Notable things happening so you know before your colleagues do? Get our exclusive newsletter here and follow us on Twitter for all the latest.