Kasia’s award-winning yoga enterprise held up as a shining example

A yoga business set up six years ago in Catford has been recognised for its excellence with a local business award – and led to its founder being the poster-girl for the borough’s campaign to buy local.

Kasia Blackwell founded her dream business, Yoga House, in 2018, and her studio is a much-loved oasis in the heart of Catford at Winslade Way.

Yoga House was the winner of the Best Independent Business at the 2023 Mayor of Lewisham Business Awards, receiving 2,700 votes – representing almost one third of all public votes.

Kasia is now one of the five award-winning business owners who are the faces of the council’s Discover Lewisham this Summer campaign.

Initially Kasia was drawn to practicing yoga because of how it supported her mental well-being following having children. She wanted to share the benefits of practicing yoga with others and there, Yoga House was born.

“I live here, my kids were born here, my business is here, so it feels amazing to have the business here,” she said.

With Yoga House, Kasia has created a retreat where local people can take a moment out of their busy lives to focus on themselves.

“When people come in for their classes, you can tell they instantly relax when they walk through the door. We think it’s the presence of the plants, the incense, the music. The whole atmosphere.”

With a seven-day a week programme for all abilities, it offers restorative and dynamic classes, meditation and sound practice. It’s clear that Yoga House has fostered a loyal community and created a space where everyone is welcome.

Kasia says having her own business has taught her that even if you have the wildest dream, and it feels impossible, with enough effort, determination, and a good team behind you, you can make it a reality. She hopes to see more small businesses open in the borough, so they can collaborate with one another.

The Discover Lewisham this Summer is the fourth time in the past two years that an initiative has been launched by the local authority to promote businesses and encourage people to buy local – as well as entice people from outside the borough to visit.

Lewisham council said: “In London, it’s calculated that for every £10 spent locally, £3.80 remains in the local economy. This could double if people actively choose to spend more locally. So, we are encouraging people through this campaign to stay local and spend local, because if our Lewisham businesses thrive, so does the community.”

Picture: Kasia at Yoga House (Picture: Lewisham council)