Long Established Business Looks to Small Business Development Center for Guidance and Growth

Arkansas Small Business Center

Arkansas Yoga and Therapy Center

Arkansas Yoga and Therapy Center, a holistic yoga center founded in 1998, focuses on the benefits of a safe, accessible, sustainable, adaptable practice of authentic yoga. 

Andrea Fournet, owner of the Arkansas Yoga and Therapy Center, found yoga during rehabilitation from a back injury and the practice quickly became her passion.

After moving to Fayetteville from Hawaii in 1993, Fournet wanted to spread the word about the therapeutic benefits of a yoga practice and spent the next nine years teaching yoga at Washington Regional Center for Exercise. In 1994, she even introduced yoga to the U of A men's basketball team, the year the Razorbacks won their first NCAA National Championship!

In 2005, Fournet built and opened a new facility with classes in yoga, Tai Chi and other health-related modalities. The Arkansas Yoga and Therapy Center is a registered Yoga Alliance School, and the center's schedule includes classes, workshops and teacher training — the largest yoga teacher training program in the state. 

In March 2020, life changed for the world. With the onset of the global pandemic, the center was forced to close for two months. As with other small businesses, Fournet just managed to keep her head above water. Moving forward and needing help to create clarity about next steps for the center, Fournet reached out to the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center at the U of A.

With the help of Lori Lieblong and Catherine Corley, ASBTDC business consultants, the goals for the Arkansas Yoga and Therapy Center were achieved. Working with both Fournet and the studio manager who handles center's digital presence, Lieblong and Corley provided expertise in brand strategy, framing the target audience, brand positioning and how to execute clear messaging to ensure the brand was properly communicated.

"I highly recommend the ASBTDC and their services. Working with Lori and Catherine in 2022 and into 2023 has really helped me through some rough patches," Fournet said. "They were encouraging, knowledgeable and willing to share their insights and ideas with me. I never felt judged for some of my ideas, and my business is now thriving, and I attribute some of it to these two women!"

Arkansas Yoga and Therapy Center
1949 N. Green Acres Rd.
Fayetteville, AR 72703
479-521-9642