From Finance to Fulfillment: The Yoga Strategist™ Journey to Transformative Body-Mind Harmony and Conscious Leadership

Hana Winter, director of Body Mind & Sound,  has transformed her career from finance to wellbeing, becoming a specialist in body-mind work to help aspiring leaders, ambitious individuals, and business owners overcome emotional, financial, and leadership challenges. through her Off the Mat program. She is also the founder of The Yoga Strategist,  merging her expertise in finance, wellbeing, and leadership, delivering stress management and leadership programs, as well as training that recognises the body-mind connection.

What motivated you to transition from a successful career in finance to becoming a wellbeing specialist? How has your background in finance influenced your approach to wellbeing and leadership?

While in finance, I often found myself helping clients manage their anxiety and stress about paying taxes and understanding complex financial matters. This nurturing approach was always a part of my professional identity. However, I noticed a recurring theme: no matter how much profit some clients made, they still felt unfulfilled. This realization struck a chord with me, highlighting that true fulfillment goes beyond financial success—it’s about something much bigger than money.

Personally, I battled with public speaking, a significant obstacle in advancing my career. Despite taking numerous courses and workshops, it was the wellbeing and self-awareness I experienced during a yoga session that ultimately boosted my confidence and alleviated my concerns. Yoga practice not only helped me overcome my public speaking fears but also provided clarity essential for decision-making, enhanced vision crucial for future strategy, and empowered my communication. This profound personal transformation inspired me to extend these benefits to my clients and community. I saw a deeper purpose in fostering happiness and fulfillment through self-awareness, rather than merely focusing on profit. This journey led me to integrate wellbeing practices with my financial expertise, creating a holistic approach to leadership and personal growth. My “Off the Mat” program was created to extend these benefits to a wider audience, combining financial acumen with wellbeing practices to support holistic development.

Can you explain the significance of the mind-body connection in your stress management and leadership programs? How do these programs address physical ailments like back pain, migraines, and acidity?

The mind-body connection is central to my stress management and leadership programs, recognizing that our mental and emotional states are deeply intertwined with our physical health. Stress can prevent best performance through physical, emotional, and mental discomfort. Stress can manifest in the body as physical ailments like back pain, migraines, and sometimes high acidity. Practices like yoga and sound healing help clients become more aware of this connection, teaching them to manage stress holistically. Yoga postures and breathing exercises can alleviate these physical ailments by promoting relaxation, improving circulation, and balancing the nervous system. Additionally, yoga practice boosts clarity essential for decision-making, enhances vision crucial for future strategy, and empowers communication. By addressing both body and mind, I have carefully put together programs that offer comprehensive relief and overall wellbeing.

How do conscious leadership principles, such as self-compassion and setting boundaries, play a role in your coaching and training sessions? Can you share an example of how these principles have impacted one of your clients?

Conscious leadership principles, such as self-compassion, setting boundaries, mindfulness, and self-leadership, are fundamental to my coaching and training. I work with clients teaching and encouraging  self-awareness, empathy, and a balanced approach to work and life. I believe it all stems from effective self-leadership, and practicing the principles of self leadership help clients grow into the leaders they aspire to be. One of my clients, a high-performing executive, struggled with burnout due to a relentless work schedule. Through our sessions, they learned to practice self-compassion and establish healthy boundaries, leading to a remarkable transformation. They not only regained their energy and focus but also became a more empathetic and effective leader, fostering a more supportive work environment for their team. These principles help leaders know their values, define their priorities, and pursue their purpose, enabling them to set and maintain a balance without compromising themselves for anything or anyone.

As a licensed and certified partner of the Archetypes at Work program, how do you incorporate this framework into your teachings and coaching? How has it helped your clients recognize and develop their unique gifts?

The Archetypes at Work™ program is a powerful tool in my teachings and coaching. It helps clients identify and leverage their unique archetypal energies, such as the Innovator, the Nurturer, the Strategist, and the Warrior. By understanding these archetypes, clients can align their actions with their inherent strengths and values, leading to more authentic and effective leadership. For instance, one client discovered their strong “Visionary” archetype, which enabled them to drive their business forward with innovative ideas and a clear sense of purpose, ultimately leading to significant growth and success.

What is the process of energetic clearing, and how does it help individuals release trapped memories and overcome blocks that hinder their progress? Can you describe a transformation you witnessed through this technique?

Energetic clearing is essential for achieving clarity and finding the courage to release trapped memories and emotional blocks within the body’s energy system. This process helps individuals let go of past traumas and negative patterns that hinder their progress. I witnessed a profound transformation in a client who struggled with chronic anxiety. It became apparent that the anxiety was formed around a traumatic experience due to trust issues. Through regular energetic clearing sessions, using mainly sound and archetypal coaching, they were able to release deep-seated fears and past traumas, leading to a significant reduction in anxiety and a newfound sense of freedom and confidence in both their personal and professional life.

Reflecting on your experience as the youngest manager and the only female and person of color in a male-dominated industry, what lessons did you learn about resilience and self-leadership? How do these lessons inform your current work?

Being offered a startup position as Finance Manager and Head of Finance at 27 was both an honor and a huge challenge. I had to build the finance and operations departments from scratch without any guidance. Coming from a supportive home with strong role models—a successful father and a creative mother, and then followed by incredible boss role models at the start of my career—this new assignment was a real shock to the system.

Navigating a male-dominated industry as the youngest manager and as a female and person of color taught me invaluable lessons about resilience, self-leadership, and the importance of self-care. The isolation and lack of mentoring support meant I had to rely on self-belief, perseverance, and the power of authentic leadership.  These experiences underscored the necessity of advocating for oneself and others, and they deeply inform my current work. Success has gained a new meaning in my eyes.

My journey through this particular challenging working experience has equipped me to help aspiring leaders tap into their self-power and grow. I emphasize inclusive, empathetic leadership, ensuring that no one feels the isolation I once did. The strength I gained from my trials has shaped me into someone dedicated to fostering wellbeing, self-leadership, and self-care in others.

How have you managed to balance professional demands with personal priorities, especially as a mother? What strategies do you recommend for others trying to maintain a harmonious approach to life and work?

Balancing professional demands with personal priorities, especially as a mother, requires intentionality and boundary-setting. I prioritize time management, self-care, and delegation to ensure that both my personal and professional lives thrive. I recommend strategies such as knowing your values, defining your priorities, and pursuing your purpose. By setting clear boundaries between work and personal time, practicing regular self-care routines, and seeking support when needed, you can maintain a harmonious approach to life and work. Embracing flexibility and being present in the moment are also crucial for maintaining this balance without compromising yourself for anything or anyone.

How did your journey into yoga and sound healing begin, and what impact have these practices had on your personal and professional life? How do you integrate these practices into your wellbeing programs?

Coming from a cultural background that connected strongly with higher consciousness and found trust in the universe through Sufi practices has eased my journey into the philosophy of Yoga and made it very meaningful and relevant. My journey into this philosophy and sound healing began with a deep fascination for their transformative power. These practices have profoundly impacted my personal and professional life by enhancing my self-awareness, reducing stress, and fostering a deeper connection with myself and others. Through self-discovery, I realized how sound enables one to access states of consciousness that could take years to achieve. Sound healing is essentially a fast-track meditation to brain waves and states that are not easy to access, allowing for a deep connection with one’s true self-power, as well as deep relaxation of body and mind.  The trick is to give yourself permission to pursue the knowledge revealed to you. In my wellbeing programs, I integrate yoga and sound healing to help clients achieve physical, mental, and emotional balance. These practices serve as powerful tools for stress management, personal growth, and holistic leadership development.

Can you share the story behind founding The Yoga Strategist? What are the key components of your stress management and leadership programs, and how do they help aspiring leaders and wellbeing business owners achieve success?

Founding The Yoga Strategist was inspired by my own personal experience as a finance strategist who connected with the philosophy of yoga and self-awareness to overcome obstacles in leadership. The Yoga Strategist is a concept and an academy that trains holistic business owners to grow and develop their own businesses so they can help their own communities. It offers them business, yoga philosophy, personal development, and leadership training. The key components of my stress management and leadership programs include yoga, sound healing, mindfulness practices, and the Archetypes at Work™ framework. These programs help aspiring leaders and wellbeing business owners achieve success by promoting self-awareness, resilience, and authentic leadership. By addressing both the mind and body, I have carefully put together programs that offer comprehensive relief and overall wellbeing.

What is your vision for the future of The Yoga Strategist? How do you plan to continue empowering individuals to unlock their potential and lead fulfilling lives through the integration of finance, wellbeing, and leadership?

My vision for the future of The Yoga Strategist is to expand its reach and impact, helping more individuals strike a balance between the physical, material, emotional, and spiritual aspects of life. It is through the spiritual that we find inspiration and the strength to manifest our dreams while also having the grounding to find balance and happiness in the physical and material. I plan to continue integrating finance, wellbeing, and leadership through innovative programs, workshops, and one-on-one coaching. By fostering a supportive and inclusive community, I aim to empower individuals to embrace their unique gifts, achieve their goals, and contribute positively to their communities and the world. Leading from the heart and connecting with what resonates, rather than just ticking boxes to satisfy external demands, will be the guiding principle in helping individuals lead fulfilling lives.