While getting her PhD in sociology from Temple University, Sheena Sood, CLA ’19, taught preschool and yoga to help pay bills while in grad school. She quickly realized the need for her preschool students to connect with their physical and mental well-being through yoga and began incorporating yoga sessions for her preschoolers.  

When the pandemic hit, her teaching came to a halt, and she had to pivot her yoga business as well.  

“I found myself wanting to create digital content for kids to connect them with yoga, even while they were learning at home,” says Sood.  

As she began creating content using zoom sessions, she saw students from around the country joining her yoga sessions. Inspired, she worked to create content that was accessible to children no matter their location or income level. This is when Sood founded Yoga Warrior Tales and began using Kora the yogi dog and herself to guide the children through her lessons.  

“Through Yoga Warrior Tales, we are connecting children with the magic of love, justice and peace through storytelling and yoga,” says Sood.  

In 2019, Sood submitted her idea for funding consideration to the Lori Hermelin Bush Seed Fund, a competition hosted by the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute (IEI) for women-founded ventures to get funding, mentorship, and a community of support from other women in entrepreneurship. The IEI supports Temple students, alumni faculty, and staff that want to become entrepreneurs, freelancers, and creatives through workshops, mentoring opportunities, pitch competitions, and non-diluted seed funding. 

“I met with a couple of mentors during the grant process, and they helped me create my business plan,” says Sood.  

The mission of yoga warrior tales is to give children the skills they need to develop healthy relationships with themselves, deal with everyday challenges, and teach social justice. The biggest highlight of the process is that she achieves this mission through her own creative process and purpose. Her advice to other entrepreneurs: remind yourself of your business’s mission.  

“Big ideas can happen in baby steps and remember the purpose that drives you,” says Sood.  

To support Yoga Warrior Tales, you can check out their website for the new season as well as merchandise. You can also look to their social media for updates on the show. Learn more about how the IEI supports creative entrepreneurs on our website.