Somatic Healing by Astra

Business Introduction:

Somatic Healing by Astra is a 100% woman-owned startup helping clients through private yoga instruction, ayurvedic diet & lifestyle consultations, and personalized programs for pain and anxiety. Astra Apsitis, Owner

What inspired the owner to start a business?

Somatic Healing by Astra is the result of her dream to share the open secret of how to heal yourself. She is excited to share that the great mystery of healing your body and making life more fulfilling and enjoyable turns out to be wonderfully simple. It’s all about forging the mind-body connection. Astra Apsitis started the business to share what she’s learned to support their healing.

What challenges did SBDC assist the business owner to overcome:

Astra initially started working with the SBDC when she entered the CSU Monterey Bay Startup Challenge in 2022. The business she pitched then was different from the one she’s ultimately settled on. At the time, Astra was being stretched thin by all the various tasks that needed to be done on the website and in other areas of her business. She was also working with an outside digital marketing company to help with sales funnels. Ultimately SBDC consultants helped her better frame her business goals and objectives, which resulted in shutting down the initial business and launching a brand-new business with a new name, new products, new DBA, new business license and new location. This new launch better reflects what she was hoping to accomplish as a business owner.

How was SBDC able to assist the client?

Through 15 hours of business advising, using multiple specialized consultants, SBDC helped assess her existing business and determine that it was not meeting her overall objectives. As a result, SBDC consultants guided her through closure of her existing Monterey Peninsula-based business and startup of a new Salinas-based business, developing a business and marketing strategy that aligned with her overall mission and goals for the business. Investing $8,000 in her new startup, Astra launched in January 2023. The new launch and relocation have opened up many new business opportunities, including a local government contract with Salinas Public Schools for an after-school program featuring yoga classes.

Any metrics obtained:    

Somatic Healing by Astra was launched January 2, 2023, and with the help of the SBDC, the business has grown by improving her e-commerce and scheduling procedures and developing multiple income streams including obtaining a $20,000 contract to provide after-school services.

What did the owner feel was the most important part of the assistance received:

“The most important guidance I received was how to look at business development as a proven formula with specific steps.  My consultant repeatedly brought me back to central themes that are crucial to the success of any business, keeping me focused. Her attention to detail has been invaluable through my rebranding, the help with the technical details got me moving. I had been stuck and the SBDC got me moving in the right direction.”