Have you ever tried yoga?
How about your children?
Kids naturally love to be active, and there are people like Leah Kalish who know that yoga is a great outlet for their energy. Leah has developed several yoga products for multiple companies that aimed to encourage play and exercise in children, but together with her producer/writer husband, she launched her own business, Move With Me Action Adventures.
Move With Me seeks to inspire kids, parents, and teachers to play through workshops, curriculum, and DVDs like the Scooter & Me series.
Please welcome Leah to the Alumni Spotlight!
MCA: Welcome to the spotlight Leah! Can you please tell us about what motivated you to create your yoga product for kids?
Leah: Thanks for having me! Well, to answer your question, there were 2 motivations.
The first was that, as a national trainer of teachers and parents, I personally experienced their need for affordable, accessible, high quality movement resources for their children.
The second was tha, as the creator of several successful products for other companies (Gaiam, Barefoot Books, School Specialty, Yoga Ed, Imaginazium), it was time for me to create and produce for myself!
MCA: Now that you have an award-winning product, what are your goals for the next year?
Leah: I guess things come in twos today. We have two goals!
- To get our DVDs out to the kids and families who need them most by connecting with the foundations, organizations and schools that serve them.
- To generate a stronger, more interactive online community by translating our combined expertise and experience into free videos tips and activities as well as blog posts with valuable info and ideas for playing more and stressing less.
Well, I guess we’re going to get a little bigger! We’re climbing up to three! Can you tell us three ways your Mom’s Choice Award® will help you attain your goals?
Leah: The Mom’s Choice Award® gives us:
- an influential calling card;
- product quality credibility; and
- product value validation.
MCA: Can you share with us what you learned about yourself as an entrepreneur in creating your award-winning product?
Leah: I learned that even we artistic / educator types can launch a successful business. We just need to think we can and bring our creativity and determination to it.
I had always let someone else handle the “money” because I thought that the “business” part was not my strength. I realize now that like any skill, entrepreneurship can be learned. In fact, I have thoroughly enjoyed learning about business and marketing. I feel proud of how I’ve integrated the creative and CEO sides of myself.
MCA: Since launching your book, what has been your most rewarding experience in promoting or sharing it with the public? Do you have a favorite memory?
Leah: What is most rewarding is the feedback we get from thrilled customers.
- The woman that shared that her daughter, who would refuse to exercise more than 5 minutes, played along with the whole 25 minute sample story on the computer and when it was over, wanted to do it again!
- The director of the childcare center at Davis Monson Air Force Base telling me people should know that the Move with Me DVDs are much more than just fun exercise; they are engaging, educational early childhood curriculum that supports all the major developmental standards!
MCA: As a new honoree, do you have any questions you’d like some of the “old hands” to answer for you?
Leah: With an internet based business, where my customers buy online and then receive the product, do you think it is worth investing in awards stickers or awards placement in packaging?
MCA: That is a great question, Leah! There are several honorees who have a business model like yours that can definitely help you with that decision.
Mom’s Choice Awards® Honors
[amazon_link id=”B004EJTGTO” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Scooter & Me[/amazon_link]
Move With Me Action Adventures
Gold 2011 – Family-Friendly Media, Products and Services
Contact, Connect and Network with Leah
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The Alumni Spotlight is a periodic feature on the official Mom’s Choice Awards® blog. It is part of our ongoing effort to “shine the spotlight” on you and your award-winning, family-friendly products, services, and media.