By Kayla Ahenakew, Founder of Newo Wellness & Miyo Movement
When people think about entrepreneurship, they often picture long hours, big goals, and the pressure to keep pushing forward.
I’ve lived that version of entrepreneurship.
In the early years of building my business, I was constantly focused on the next deadline, the next opportunity, and the next thing that needed to get done. Like many entrepreneurs, I believed success came from doing more, working harder, and pushing through. But over time, I realized something important: if I wasn’t taking care of myself, I couldn’t show up fully for my business, my community, or the people I wanted to serve.
“My journey to entrepreneurship has always been connected to wellness.”
Growing up, I experienced grief, loss, and challenges that many Indigenous families and communities know firsthand. At the same time, sport became one of my greatest teachers. Through soccer, fitness, and movement, I learned discipline, teamwork, respect, resilience, and confidence. As I grew older and deepened my connection to ceremony and culture, I began bringing those lessons together. That journey eventually became Newo Wellness, a business focused on helping people nourish all aspects of themselves through the teachings of the Medicine Wheel.
While there are many teachings connected to the Medicine Wheel, one of the ways I apply it in my daily life is through the four aspects of self: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. The teaching reminds me that these parts of ourselves are interconnected. When one area is neglected, it affects everything else.
For me, entrepreneurship isn’t separate from those teachings. It’s one of the places where I practice them every day.
Entrepreneurship Starts With the Entrepreneur
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that you can’t outwork imbalance.
I used to experience burnout much more often than I do now. The irony wasn’t lost on me: I was teaching wellness while also putting enormous pressure on myself behind the scenes. I was creating deadlines, carrying stress, and believing I always needed to be doing more.
Today, I pay much closer attention to what I need in order to stay balanced.
Movement is a big part of that. Soccer, boxing, running, and strength training help me stay grounded physically. Reading helps me stay engaged mentally. Yoga gives me space to slow down, reconnect with myself, and regulate my nervous system. Spending time on the land and participating in ceremony helps me feel spiritually connected and grounded.
“The biggest lesson the Medicine Wheel has is balancing and finding that balance within yourself.”
What I’ve learned is that balance doesn’t look the same for everyone. Some people use the gym as a mental reset. Some people find clarity through creativity, spirituality, or time outdoors. The important thing is understanding what helps you feel like your best self and making space for it consistently.
When I stop caring for one aspect of myself, I can feel it. If I’m not moving my body, anxiety starts to creep in. If I don’t take time to reconnect spiritually, I feel less grounded and less connected to my intuition. The Medicine Wheel helps me recognize those signs before I reach the point of burnout.
Miyo Pimatisiwin: Living the Good Life
One of my businesses, Miyo Movement, takes part of its name from miyo pimatisiwin, an Indigenous teaching often translated as “living the good life.” Miyo translates to “good,” and Miyo Movement reflects the belief that movement can be a pathway to becoming your happiest and healthiest self. For me, that idea goes far beyond business success.
When I think about success today, I think about balance. I think about meaningful relationships, strong community connections, good health, purpose, and being able to enjoy the life I’m building.
In recent years, I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on what it means to move beyond survival and into a place of genuine wellbeing. We often talk about intergenerational trauma, and those conversations are important. But I also find myself thinking about intergenerational peace. What does it look like to create a future rooted in wellness, joy, opportunity, and connection?
Entrepreneurship can easily become a pursuit of the next milestone. The next client. The next launch. The next goal. But the Medicine Wheel reminds me to ask a different question: Am I creating a life that feels good while I’m building this business?
Life will always have challenges. Entrepreneurship certainly does. But I’ve learned that there is still good to be found every day, even when things are difficult.
To me, that’s part of living the good life.
Wahkohtowin and the Power of Community
Another teaching that has shaped how I approach entrepreneurship is wahkohtowin, which can be understood as kinship, relationships, and our connections to one another.
“Like many entrepreneurs, I once felt like I needed to do everything myself.”
Over time, I learned that building a business isn’t about doing everything yourself. It’s about understanding your strengths, recognizing where others can support you, and creating relationships where everyone contributes their gifts.
Some of the most meaningful opportunities in my business have come through community. Communities have approached us to co-create programs. Partnerships have opened doors I never could have planned for myself. New ideas, new skills, and new opportunities have often come through relationships rather than through carefully crafted business plans.
Entrepreneurship can feel isolating at times, but it doesn’t have to be. We grow stronger when we build alongside others.
Ceremony, Identity, and Trusting Yourself
As an Indigenous woman and entrepreneur, one of the most transformative parts of my journey has been reconnecting with ceremony and strengthening my sense of identity.
For a long time, I was focused on healing, growth, and figuring out who I was. Through ceremony and the teachings connected to the Medicine Wheel, I began to understand myself differently. I learned that wellness isn’t only about what we do physically. It’s also about knowing who we are, where we come from, and what keeps us grounded.
That connection changed how I approach entrepreneurship.
When we’re building a business, it’s easy to feel like we need to control every outcome. We want every opportunity to work out exactly as planned. We want certainty before making decisions. But ceremony has taught me to trust more and hold on less tightly. Instead of trying to force everything into place, I’ve learned to focus on what is within my control: caring for myself, showing up with integrity, and continuing to do the work.
“I feel more confident making decisions, more grounded in my values, and more trusting of my own path.”
The more I nourish the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of myself, the more connected I feel to my intuition. I feel more confident making decisions, more grounded in my values, and more trusting of my own path.
That doesn’t mean I have all the answers. It means I no longer feel the need to constantly look outside myself for them. I trust the work I’ve done. I trust the tools I’ve built. And I trust that when opportunities come my way, I can meet them as my best self.
Start Small
One misconception about wellness is that it requires a complete lifestyle overhaul.
In reality, some of the most impactful practices are often the simplest.
That might mean reading for five minutes each day. A short walk. A few moments of meditation. Time spent outside. A yoga class. The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is consistency.
I also encourage people to find practices they genuinely enjoy. Not everyone connects with the same routines, and that’s okay. The best wellness practice is often the one you’ll actually return to.
Small habits create momentum, and momentum creates change.
Returning to Balance
If there’s one lesson the Medicine Wheel continues to teach me as an entrepreneur, it’s the importance of balance.
Not perfect balance. Not balance every single day.
Just the willingness to notice when something feels out of alignment and the commitment to return to yourself.
The Medicine Wheel doesn’t ask us to be perfect. It asks us to pay attention.
When we make time to nourish all aspects of who we are – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual – we create the conditions not only for business success, but for a meaningful life.
Whether you’re building a business, raising a family, pursuing a goal, or navigating a season of change, that balance can help you move forward with greater clarity, confidence, and purpose.
The Medicine Wheel continues to remind me that all things are connected.
Looking for Support on Your Business Journey?
Building a business doesn’t mean doing it alone.
Business Link’s team of strategists provide free one-on-one support for entrepreneurs across Alberta. Whether you’re exploring a business idea, planning your next step, or looking for guidance on growth, funding, marketing, or operations, we’re here to help you navigate the path forward.
About Kayla Ahenakew
Kayla Ahenakew is the founder of Newo Wellness and Miyo Movement. Through wellness programming, movement, yoga, and community-based initiatives, she helps individuals and communities build healthy habits, strengthen wellbeing, and nourish all aspects of self through the teachings of the Medicine Wheel.
Newo Wellness takes its name from the Cree word newo, meaning “four.” The name reflects the idea of the four aspects of self and can be interpreted as “Four Wellness,” “For Your Wellness,” and nourishing all four aspects of self for overall well-being.
It represents the four aspects of self: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual, and the importance of nurturing balance among them. Through yoga, wellness programs, and community, Newo Wellness encourages people to care for all aspects of themselves in pursuit of healing, growth, and living well.
Learn more:
- Website: miyomovement.com
- Instagram: @miyomovement
- Facebook: miyo-movement
- Instagram: @newo.wellness
