Do something you love and start early because not a day will feel like work.
Today, more than ever, wellness is at the forefront of societal discussions. From mental health to physical well-being, women are making significant strides in bringing about change, introducing innovative solutions, and setting new standards. Despite facing unique challenges, they break barriers, inspire communities, and are reshaping the very definition of health and wellness. In this series called women in wellness we are talking to women doctors, nurses, nutritionists, therapists, fitness trainers, researchers, health experts, coaches, and other wellness professionals to share their stories and insights. As a part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Cleo Vo-Dai.
Cleo Vo-Dai is the founder of Miami-based IMA Yoga. The Montreal native, who has called Miami home since 2008, opened the doors of her studio under the name Modo Yoga Miami Beach 2017. With the help of an all-star team of teachers, Cleo has since built a strong community focused on growth and grounding rituals.
She originally opened her own yoga studio as a passion project in parallel to a successful career in PR and International Marketing, including a PR role she held for a decade, working on new shows and traveling the world with Cirque du Soleil. In 2024, after surviving and thriving during a pandemic, Vo-Dai made the decision to separate from the group Modo Yoga as a natural evolution and rename her studio, on her own terms, and IMA Yoga was born.
IMA means ‘MOTHER’ in Hebrew and Arabic, ‘NOW’ in Japanese, and “TO BE PRESENT” in German, and signifies the nurturing role Vo-Dai gives to all, including her students and teachers. IMA Yoga is the culmination of Vo-Dai’s desire to give people the freedom and space to create.
Vo-Dai resides in Miami Beach with her two children and has a profound love for the community.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?
Ohmy god there have been so many interesting moments in my career. Previous to owning a yoga studio, I worked on tour with Cirque du Soleil and I have witnessed so many wild moments. What I have learned is that it is key to surround yourself with amazing people. Your vibe attracts your tribe and life is short so if you are surrounded by great people, it will not feel like work.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about a mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
Honestly, taking things less personally when it comes to business was a great lesson. Choosing your business partners really carefully was also a very important lesson for me. I made a poor choice at the beginning of my career and it was a very difficult moment. Now my business partners are my two best friends and we have the best work relationship.
Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?
Ima Yoga is such a wonderful community of incredible humans who are committed to being the best version of themselves for the most part. We plant the seeds by raising awareness about kindness, asking people not to use plastic for example. People start noticing these elements in their life and we try to inspire them to carry these values to their lives. Magic is contagious….
Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing?
1 . Turn off your phone once a day and disconnect. Everything can wait.
2 . Take time to connect with friends, have tea after class. Human connection is so important.
3 . Cut out what does not serve you. People and things that consume your energy, who do not bring you joy.
4 . Make sure to have fun, go out dancing, let your hair down. You cannot be of service to others, your family and friends, if you do not refill your cup.
5 . My newest passion is yin and sound healing. It is the best gift you can give yourself. Something you did not even know you needed.
If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?
I think the best way to improve the world is to teach people to have love for themselves. Everything is rooted in self-love and self care. If we can teach this early on, we would avoid so many situations.
What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?
1. Do not give birth the week you open a business. ( I did this and it was a tough month)
2. Do something you love and start early because not a day will feel like work.
3. Work with people you trust and follow your intuition. If something doesnt feel right, it isn’t.
4. There are no shortcuts.
5. Work with people who have the same values as you. everything else can be worked on.
Sustainability, veganism, mental health, and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?
These are all very important but I believe that mental health is what I have the most impact on because having a regular yoga practice is SO key in regulating oneself.
What is the best way for our readers to further follow your work online?
Follow us on instagram @imayogastudio or sign up for the newsletter at imayogastudio.com
Thank you for these fantastic insights! We wish you continued success and good health.
About the Interviewer: Wanda Malhotra is a wellness entrepreneur, lifestyle journalist, and the CEO of Crunchy Mama Box, a mission-driven platform promoting conscious living. CMB empowers individuals with educational resources and vetted products to help them make informed choices. Passionate about social causes like environmental preservation and animal welfare, Wanda writes about clean beauty, wellness, nutrition, social impact and sustainability, simplifying wellness with curated resources. Join Wanda and the Crunchy Mama Box community in embracing a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle at CrunchyMamaBox.com.
