Yoga2Sleep is our April Amber Grant Recipient

Earlier this week we announced our April finalists. Now, we’re thrilled to finally introduce you to our April Qualification Grant winner, Pamela Stokes Eggleston, Founder of Yoga2Sleep.

Read our interview with Pamela below to learn more about her and her business.

Video Transcript

WN: Talk about the purpose of Yoga2Sleep and your motivation behind the business.

Pamela: To understand why I chose (or why it was chosen for me by the Universe) to create Yoga2Sleep, I need to share my story. I am the daughter of an Air Force veteran and granddaughter of an Army veteran who served in WWII. And for close to 15 years, I’ve been a veteran caregiver to my husband, an Army veteran and three-time Purple Heart recipient who was initially pronounced dead only to survive his visible and invisible wounds during two OIF tours. His PTSD and my subsequent PTSD produced sleep deprivation for the both of us….and I LOVE sleep. And I LOVE yoga….so Yoga2Sleep was born!

My caregiving journey has been an arduous challenge; some days I didn’t know how we were going to make it. I still don’t. It’s a day to day journey. I suffered in silence as many caregivers do. I struggled with my “new normal.” All I loved – yoga, gardening, reading, writing – dropped to the side. Alas, it was these hardships and an invitation to the Maryland State Caregiver Support Coordination Council that ignited my passion: I cofounded a military families national nonprofit, I created a caregivers program for the organization, and I began teaching and sharing yoga and mindfulness with veterans, service members and their families, most recently using my Yoga2Sleep platform.

WN: Where is your business located? Describe the place(s) you operate in.

Pamela: Yoga2Sleep is located in the Washington DC metropolitan area, serving Maryland, DC, Virginia and globally. I work within several yoga studios, but also within wellness centers and corporate offices.

WN: What qualifications do you have as a Yoga instructor?

Pamela: I am a 500+ hour yoga instructor and meditation teacher, including certifications in yoga therapy and prenatal yoga, with a focus on everyday mindfulness and yoga for all.

WN: What are your goals for the future? How will you use the April Qualification Grant to reach them?

Pamela: I’d love to do a radical self care retreat for women with trauma and sleep deprivation. Women are more sleep deprived than men (surprise!) and we don’t take care of us enough.

WN: What’s your advice for other women entrepreneurs?

Pamela: Create, create, create! It’s your natural state; don’t worry about what has not been done. Develop it yourself and do it. Don’t allow naysayers’ messages to slip into your psyche; silently dismiss and focus. Don’t tell everybody your plans – many will not be able to handle your truth – everything isn’t for everybody! Do focus on at least ONE thing towards your venture daily.

Thanks for reading. Remember that we award a grant each month – if interested, please apply today.