Today we’d like to introduce you to Kat Wernow.
Hi Kat, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As I began researching yoga products prior to opening my business, I was focused on demonstrating a commitment to limiting its carbon footprint and a sustainable approach to limiting the use of fossil fuels and natural resources.
I chose to use organic cotton straps and was thrilled to discover an environmentally friendly option to foam—cork—which I used to make customized yoga blocks, balls and journals.
Cork grows mostly in the Mediterranean and is a renewable material that uses the outer bark of the cork tree, so it doesn’t harm the tree. The tree bark will regrow in 9-12 years. While it is growing it removes CO2 from the atmosphere. These
trees can live up to 200 years. The cork forest is home to many species including hares, weasels,
wolves, wild boar, deer and the Iberian Lynxes. Using cork from the forest helps preserve the habitat
for these animals, plus it’s biodegradable and can be recycled.
We are proud to have met the highest verifiable standards of sustainability to be named a
Certified Green Innovator by the California Green Business Network. We were also a finalist for the
2023 BIZX Award in the Best Green/ Sustainable Business category. My passion for doing what we
can to protect the environment is driven by the fact that I’m the mother of two little children.
We have a starter set that is fabulous for anyone that is starting out in yoga or just needs a
little extra support to get into the poses and have proper alignment. The starter set comes with
everything you need in an accessory pack. Two all natural cork small blocks (9” x 4.75” x 3”), 8’
organic cotton strap and an all natural cork therapy ball (2.9” dia.) to relieve sore muscles.
The all natural cork blocks bring the floor closer to you to give extra support and stability. You
gain the ability to get fully grounded into a pose. They provide a stable surface to lean on to gain
more confidence in poses. They are the perfect size to take with you to class or pack for travel. It is
lightweight, and has a non-slip surface for easy grip. It’s easy to clean, just wipe down or use mild
soap.
The 8’ organic cotton strap is perfect for Yogis of any size. It gives plenty of length and support to
help you get into any pose. Use the strap to add length and maintain posture for any pose. The
yoga strap gives you the ability to get into poses and twists that would have otherwise not been
accessible. Our favorite use for the strap is to hold in gomukhasana, arms behind the back.
Our all natural cork therapy ball is perfect to relieve sore muscles after you exercise. To use,
roll the ball over sore muscles or place it between you and a stable surface like a wall or the floor
and roll to out muscle tension. You can also roll your foot over the ball to relieve sore feet. (especially
in the arch). The ball is just under 3” which makes it the perfect size to slip into a gym bag or travel
bag to bring with you anywhere. Cork is long lasting, antibacterial and easy to clean.
The blocks can be customized with logos, names, or phrases to suite the customer’s needs.
Contact us for details.
www.coastalcalmyogaco.com
Facebook : Coastal Calm Yoga Co
IG: Catherine Wernow
Etsy CoastalCalmYogaCo
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No it has not been a smooth road. I started with having a booth at the La Jolla farmers market and a booth at the Big Bear Yoga Festival. At this time business was starting to pick up. After being named as a Certified Green Innovator by the California Green Business Network and finalist for the 2023 BIZX Award in the Best Green/ Sustainable Business category, we had a lot going on with our family so I took a step back from the business while we got things sorted. My family is my primary goal so I paused moving forward with the business at that time.
My new challenge is getting the cork product from Portugal since shipping prices have increased. I am attempting to keep my prices affordable.
Recently I have been learning more about instagram and marketing techniques. I did not use instagram before I had a business.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I teach yoga online to encourage people who feel like they are not flexible enough for yoga to use props. I focus on making yoga accessible and to be a mindful practice to reduce stress as opposed to a fitness class. I often joke about the fact that I am not super flexible. Flexibility is not the sole purpose of yoga.
The other part of the business, the thing that really sets us apart from other yoga prop companies is that we can engrave a logo, image, or saying on the block itself. This gives the customer a more personal connection to our product. We have filled many orders for yoga studios, yoga teachers, and mother-daughter gifts. We also engrave the therapy balls and the journals.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I would say the most important quality is perseverance. There are always going to be obstacles that get in the way. Life will always have its up and downs. Learn from your mistakes, as entrepreneurs we will have many. The only way to be successful is to keep moving forward.
Pricing:
- Block set $42.00
- Therapy Ball $12.00
- Journal $ 15.00
- Organic Yoga Strap $9.97
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.katwernowyoga.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coastalcalmyogaco
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoastalCalmYoga
Image Credits
The first photo was taken by Elizabeth Ratliff Photography & Designs.
