Today we’d like to introduce you to Lori Atkins Williamson.
Hi Lori , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
2020 change a lot for my perception have a yoga studio as a business. I spent the early part of 2000 getting Yoga Teacher and became very interested in the social impact of it all. Right after training, I assisted a friend opening her yoga studio. I worked in that studio for over 10 years, engaging with the community, observing transformational experiences and obtaining a deeper understanding of the impact of practice. As a physician, I felt called to do more than just teach classes. I’ worked with a nonprofit at that time that served children, teachers and social workers allowing them to experience the practice of yoga, meditation and inquiry giving them an opportunity to have a tool that they could use in their everyday lives when stress became overwhelming. It was this work that sparked my interest in a nonprofit model for yoga studio. I believe that Yoga belongs and then I’ll profit world. In 2022 I formed our LLC in 2023. We opened the doors and received our 501 C3. Over the last three years we have built an incredible community.
Our impact has been felt in grade school through high school, and settings of suicide prevention and education, in the community, where we open the doors to all. We spent time working in hospitals with nurses doctors and ancillary care providers. We also make our business to be involved with our community and creative events that allow people to enjoy each other’s company while serving our mission of transforming suffering into power..
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
We’ve had many obstacles, including finding the right people for the right jobs, funding, working to understand the needs of the community and then also being able to spread our word into our story so this meaningful to others. When folks don’t have a sense for what we do and how Yoga can transform they’re less likely to engage with us. Becoming visible was a huge obstacle.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I feel like I have two full-time jobs. My first as a physician, an obstetrician gynecologist for over 25 years and secondly, I’m an entrepreneur. I founded Bumble Bee Yoga Community and I still serve as president of the board. As a primary source of funding myself I I am also very involved in the business, mostly as an overseer, creative thinker, motivator.
Obgyn, I’m very proud of the practice. I moved to Fort Worth in 1999 and built my practice at three office locations in 4 different hospitals finally settling at Baylor All Saints Fort Worth. My partners and I have built a great group.. I’m honestly most proud of the relationships. I built the practice. It’s really something to be able to take care of a woman to her entire lifespan and then her children and then their children.
Yoga studio I’m just proud that we’re up and running. I’m proud that we’re doing the work that we’re doing that. We are getting the visibility that we have used our first grant and I can see that with this team that we have that we are going to continue to grow and continue to serve Fort Worth.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
I would really like to refrain from giving advice. As motivation, I would say that honestly, you can do anything you put your mind to and you just have to start to look at things a little differently sometimes to find that way.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bumblebeeyoga.co and www.fenomhealth.com
- Instagram: @fenomlaw
- LinkedIn: Bumble bee yoga community
