Some businesses are built on hustle.
Some are built on spreadsheets.
And some—like Intuitive Peace Yoga Studio in Port Byron, Illinois—are built on courage, community, and the willingness to do it scared.
When I sat down with Dassah Skelton, what stood out immediately wasn’t just her love for yoga—it was her clarity about why she became an entrepreneur in the first place.
A Childhood Blueprint for Entrepreneurship
Dassah didn’t grow up dreaming about revenue models or marketing funnels.
She grew up watching her dad—an entrepreneur—come home for lunch, push her on the swing, and put family first.
That image stayed with her.
What she really wanted wasn’t just “to own a business.”
She wanted flexibility, freedom, and the ability to build her life around people—not a schedule.
Even before she practiced yoga, she had a vision:
A café.
A yoga studio above it.
An old building in her hometown.
Years later, without forcing it, yoga found her.
And everything clicked.
Starting Small (Really Small)
Dasa didn’t open a studio overnight.
She started in a five-person “she-shed.”
For nearly a year, she taught tiny classes—sometimes outdoors, sometimes inside—renting space from a local massage therapist. When those five mats filled consistently, she didn’t rush into something huge.
She simply asked one powerful question:
If five people will come… will ten?
That question led to her first real studio space in downtown Port Byron—a modest room, low overhead, and a growing sense that this might actually work.
Building the Dream While Working Two Jobs
While growing her studio, Dasa was also working full-time as a nanny.
Her days were filled with childcare.
Her nights were filled with yoga classes.
Her weekends were filled with teaching, planning, and cleaning.
She went weeks without a full day off.
And she did it anyway.
Why?
Because she had a timeline.
She knew that when the child she nannied started kindergarten, she was going all-in.
She didn’t wait for the perfect moment.
She prepared for it.
Two years later, she was ready.
The Leap That Changed Everything
Right after going full-time, an opportunity appeared:
A bigger studio—right across the street.
Bigger space.
Higher rent.
More responsibility.
She needed just three more memberships to cover the increase.
She said yes before she felt ready.
Then she sold all three memberships… in one day.
That moment wasn’t just about money.
It was about confidence.
“It was a calm. A peace. I realized—if I show up, this will work.”
And it has.
From Studio to Community Hub
Today, Intuitive Peace Yoga Studio is more than a place to stretch and breathe.
It’s a second home.
A place for:
- Book clubs
- Member dinners
- Walks along the Mississippi River
- Real connection
- Real people
- Real community
Dassah’s vision isn’t about becoming the biggest studio in town.
It’s about becoming the most meaningful one.
The Real Work: Growing as the Leader
As her studio grew, so did Dasa.
Her biggest breakthroughs weren’t technical—they were internal:
- Confidence
- Money mindset
- Overcoming fear
- Choosing faith over worry
She credits mentors, her students, and a “rainy day file” of handwritten notes and testimonials she rereads when fear creeps in.
Those reminders help her remember:
“This matters.”
“People are being helped.”
“I can do this.”
Her Advice to Aspiring Entrepreneurs
When I asked what she would tell someone standing where she once stood, her answer was simple—and powerful:
“Do it scared.
Do it anyway.
Don’t let fear decide your future.”
Because the real regret isn’t failing.
It’s wondering what if.
Final Thought
Dassah didn’t build her studio with a massive loan, a huge team, or flashy marketing.
She built it with:
- Courage
- Consistency
- Community
- And a willingness to take the next brave step before she felt ready
And that is exactly how loved businesses are built.