In the spotlight - Effie Love

Thanks to About Balance, we have a fantastic prize on offer for those who book a ticket to the Brighton Summit. Anyone who books a ticket in the month of July will be entered into a prize draw for two hatha yoga flow classes and a karma card entitling you 50% off all treatments and classes at About Balance. Find out more about the competition and book your ticket here.

Sophie Turton, content strategist at Bozboz Creative agency interviews Effie Love, co-owner of About Balance.

“Mighty oaks from small acorns grow.”

I recently had the great pleasure of chatting about growth with a lady hero of mine - Effie Love, co-owner of About Balance, an affordable holistic centre based in Brighton’s South Lanes. 

For Effie, growth is multifaceted. It isn’t just focussed on her business, personal or spiritual growth, but is equally looking towards facilitating the growth of others.

I chatted to her about how she has successfully grown About Balance, and in the process of doing so, has opened up holistic well-being to the local community, no matter what’s in their pay cheque. 

Where did it all start? 

I’ve been working as a therapist in Brighton for quite a few years now and for the first few years of my practice, I was in an absurd situation - I couldn’t afford to go to see myself if I wanted too. 

That made me feel terrible, but I couldn’t really cut costs because I was working out of clinics that would take 50% of my wage (a very common practice in this field) or pay up to £15 for room rent. But charging high prices meant that I was cutting loads of people, including myself, out of being able to afford my services. 

Hannah, the other partner of About Balance, was in the same situation. Being a yoga teacher that can’t really afford to go to many yoga classes is both silly and frustrating. We met while working and studying in China, were we shared these frustrations with each other. When we came back to the UK and found out that the old Aloka space was now free, we just  knew we had to do something about it! 

We wanted to create a space that would allow people to have affordable well-being, providing therapists and practitioners with an affordable space so that they in turn could provide an affordable service.

How did you turn your idea into reality? 

The initial idea was for something much smaller, but as I’ve said, when we found out that the gorgeous space was free, we knew we were going to have to dream, and act, big.

While walking in fringe city last year and talking about the idea, we were approached by the enterprise loan people who asked us if we wanted to start our own business. We both got a low-interest government loan and were open within a few months. It all happened so quickly - less than 6 months from dream to reality. We were very lucky.

Who or what is your inspiration?

Wow. Where to start? I spent quite a few years travelling with a massive bunch of hippies that taught me that if you dream it, you can be it, and that the more you give, the more you’ve got to give. 

So that is the basis of everything that I do, but I’ve also been inspired by Deborah Wolf of Anahata, who seems to be a magical woman and who has managed to do pretty much everything.

Where do you go from here?

Taking over the world? hehe. We hope to continue to get busier and then maybe spread around, open new branches. But mainly enjoy being here, now. Who knows what will be? 

3 tips for growing your business

Do It
Do it
Don’t give up, and do it. - Things takes time…
Also ask for help, people are kind and usually want to help you out, if you’re not afraid to put it out there.

If you want to contribute to the Chamber blog, contact us on hannah@brightonchamber.co.uk