om beginnings
US yoga pioneer Rachel Estapa recognised for her work bringing
yoga to more diverse and plus-size people
T
hree cheers for Rachel Estapa,
founder of More to Love Yoga
(moretolovewithrachel.com)
in Boston. As well as her
pioneering work to bring yoga
to more plus-size people in the USA, she
was recently named as the overall winner
of Mastercard’s ‘Grow Your Biz Contest’ for
small business owners.
“I am so honoured to have More to Love
Yoga win this incredible opportunity,” she said.
Estapa landed a $25,000 prize from the
credit card giant as well as one-on-one
business consultation.
Entrants were asked to submit a
30-second video online or via Twitter
using the hashtag #GrowYourBizContest
answering the question: “How do you plan to
grow your small business?”
Four finalists were chosen but the
selection panel picked More to Love as the
one grand-prize winner.
“I am thankful that Mastercard and Bankom beginnings
of America valued the backbone of our local
community small businesses,” said Estapa.
“With this support now more people are
able to experience More to Love’s ability to
transform lives — no matter their size.”
Estapa created More to Love, a supportive
and empowering way to practice yoga, after
finding that the clientele in many boutique
fitness classes were not always accepting of
bigger individuals.
She now rents space at the Somerville Art
Armoury, a community centre that caters
to artists of all types, delivering yoga to
all people, no matter what shape, size or
ability, teaching body acceptance and other
empowering messages.Watch this space: we’ll bring you more of
Rachel Estapa’s yoga story soon.To view More for Love Yoga’s winning
video in the ‘Grow Your Biz Contest’ visit:
growyourbizcontest.comWay to go, girl!
Photos: Scott Eisen / AP Images