From Yoga Mat to Award Finalist: Jodie Freestone’s Journey with FIRST

When Jodie Freestone first heard about FIRST’s Level One Business Course through her Wallsend library, she was already teaching yoga but wanted to understand how to build her work into a sustainable business. What began as curiosity about enterprise has since become a journey of courage, community, and growth - one that’s seen Jodie become a two-time finalist at Startup Awards North East. First recognised in the SkillUp category in her first year, before progressing into the StartUp category the following year.

Jodie, founder of JogaHealth, has spent the past six years helping people improve their health and wellbeing through yoga and meditation. But her path to entrepreneurship wasn’t straightforward. After graduating from university in 2015 with a degree in Dance and Choreography, she began a four-year training programme with the British Wheel of Yoga, during which she discovered how deeply yoga could transform lives - including her own.

“Yoga helped me manage my epilepsy and gave me something positive to focus on,” Jodie says. “I wanted to share that feeling with others.”

Her teaching began in local parks and cafés across Wallsend, and over time, she developed a loyal client base, offering both group sessions and one-to-one classes for those who felt less confident in public settings.

But while her teaching experience grew, Jodie felt she lacked the business knowledge to turn her passion into a reliable income. That’s when she joined FIRST’s Level One Business Course - a supportive, practical introduction to enterprise designed for those exploring self-employment or looking to develop their ideas.

“I found the Level One course really useful and beneficial,” she explains. “I already knew what I wanted to do, but it helped me understand the business side of things and how to make it work.”

After completing Level One, Jodie became a finalist in the SkillUP category at Startup Awards North East 2024, celebrating her progress and the early success of JogaHealth. The experience encouraged her to keep building on her achievements, so she continued her learning journey through FIRST’s Level Two Business Course.

The Level Two course, aimed at aspiring business owners ready to take the next step - helped Jodie refine her priorities and focus on growth. “It was a bit trickier but really helpful,” she says. “It made me think about what to focus on first, and I learned a lot about marketing and how to attract new clients. It was also lovely to talk to others who were in a similar boat.”

That peer support proved invaluable as Jodie expanded her vision for JogaHealth. By 2025, she had completed FIRST’s Advanced Course and returned to Startup Awards North East 2025, this time as a finalist in the Startup category.

“It felt amazing to tell people about how much had changed since my last time at the awards,” she reflects. “I was nervous about getting on stage again, but it was such a good experience.”

Since her first Startup Awards appearance, Jodie has opened her very own studio in Ouseburn, a thriving part of Newcastle known for its creative community and independent spirit. The space allows her to host intimate classes of up to ten people, as well as private sessions for individuals and small groups.

As part of her evolving studio offer, Jodie has begun introducing aerial hoop therapy into some of her sessions. These classes combine breath work, hatha and yin yoga with supported aerial hoop movement, helping clients build strength, flexibility and balance. Jodie explains that the aerial element offers significant mental health benefits, providing a creative and empowering way for people to connect with their bodies before finishing each session with some stretches and a moment to relax.

“Community is really important to me,” she says. “I want everyone to feel they can do yoga, no matter their physical health. My hope is to create regular sessions that people can book individually, so they can meet others and feel part of something.”

Alongside her new studio, Jodie continues to offer house visits for her long-term clients and still hosts outdoor yoga sessions in the park during the warmer months. Always looking to diversify her offer, she plans to soon introduce aerial hoops into her classes - combining her background in movement with her ongoing commitment to accessible, holistic health.

From outdoor classes to business courses, and from first steps in Wallsend to an award-finalist studio in Ouseburn, Jodie’s story is one of resilience, learning, and purpose. Supported through FIRST’s enterprise pathway and empowered by opportunities such as Startup Awards North East, she continues to prove that when passion meets perseverance, real transformation is possible - both personally and professionally.

Website: https://jogahealth.co.uk/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodie-freestone-85302049/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JOGAHEALTH/