I recently enjoyed interviewing Tara Stiles, Founder of Strala Yoga and author of his latest book, Clean Mind, Clean Body: A 28-Day Plan for Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Self-Care.

Tara Stiles is a wellness expert, bestselling author and founder of Yoga Strala. The Strala approach combines yoga, tai chi, and traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine to help people release stress, heal, let go of negative habits, and deal with everyday challenges faster.

Tara’s work was used in a case study by Harvard University. She is a sought-after speaker on entrepreneurship, health and wellness, and has lectured at venues such as Harvard and New York University.

Tara is working with The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, an initiative of the American Heart Association and the Clinton Foundation that fights childhood obesity to deliver Strala classes to more than 30,000 schools in the United States. She also supports the BOKS program, which offers Strala classes and wellness resources to educators across North America.

Speaking with Tara, I immediately noticed how much community focus she had, and that’s how she built her successful business, one client at a time. Treating each person with kindness and acceptance has heightened a sense of community, which allows her clients to get involved regularly and appreciate the services they offer.

Recognizing that these are essential attributes for a successful business, Tara shares these tips on how to start a business while maintaining a sense of community:

1. Share information that really helps people

People need more information that truly helps them improve their lives, and sharing that information creates a better and stronger community. When people feel seen, they feel more accepted, creating a sense of belonging.

2. Be inclusive

Recognizing that no two people are the same and that each has their own needs is the basis of the Tara community. All are welcomed on a level platform where there are no systems that value one person over another. Community is about recognizing that all members are equal.

3. Set values ​​and be true to them

Community leaders can define the core values ​​of the community and encourage and hold others accountable to remain loyal to them. For example, since inclusiveness is an important value, Tara ensures that it is practiced regularly by all members, including leaders.

4. Be curious about others

Learn about others and see what they really need. When you serve people based on their needs, not what you think they need, they feel valued and valued. Customers are more likely to stay and continue with your services when their needs are met.

5. Be true to who you are

When you run a community, you have to show yourself as you are, as yourself. If you are not genuine, people will feel that ingenuity and things will feel bad. They will probably leave to find another place where they belong.

6. Don’t be afraid to monetize

Building and growing a community doesn’t mean you can’t make it a business, and businesses charge for their services to ensure their survival. Your community business provides a service that people need, and you can request money for that service.

The bottom line is that a community business is a great way to gain the trust of your community while providing a valuable service. When starting a community business, these tips will help you build a community that keeps customers involved.