Meet Anna Sofia Ibarra

We recently connected with Anna Sofia Ibarra and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Anna Sofia, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?

I recently found out that I am the only Mexican immigrant who owns a yoga studio in New York City.
How have I learned to succeed in the wellness industry as a minority? Through two key focuses: creativity and accessibility.

I believe being different is a magic power; and in any business it helps you understand important community qualities and necessities that others may be missing. In the yoga world in specific, I noticed that NYC was lacking of spaces where yoga could be accessible in areas that went beyond the financial aspect. By having become a mother and constantly having found myself trying to keep up with my new life’s demands, is when I realized that most yoga spaces in the city weren’t presenting yoga in a way that was friendly enough for people who either have never done yoga or just don’t have the time to commit to a full time practice.

Accessibility to me became more than a “community” priced class or a “beginner” class, but rather a whole core value as a yoga space. This is where our studio and brand’s personality comes to life: Everyone Yoga NYC is a community space that brings neighbors together for a movement practice without the pressure that can often come with it – a place where Everyone is invited to Come As They Are to practice yoga at their own pace and time, without us expecting them to become advanced or stereotypical “yogis”. As Founder & Director, I have used my creativity to come up with names for classes that are inspired by the different purposes of those to make it easier for students to pick and choose which ones to take depending on their personal goals and without the need to have any previous “yoga knowledge”. At EY we don’t care so much about fancy yoga clothes or headstands, we care about how our students feel when they walk out of our doors and to this day we have hundreds of students who resonate with our. mission.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am someone who is passionate about community and movement practices that provide us well-being. Through my small business, I am able to contribute to my local community and there’s nothing that makes me more proud than that. My job as the Founder & Creative Director at EY is to bring people together and uplift them through constant creativity and collaboration and that is something that I carry at heart in everything I do. I am proud to share that at EY we promote a down to earth environment where we welcome imperfection and believe that we are all “Works in progress”, so students can focus on practicing in a way that is truthful to them and joyful in nature. Through Yoga, Breathwork, Pilates and even Zumba classes, as well as family focused offerings such as Kids Yoga, Prenatal & Baby & Me, is how we support our community of students through all seasons and phases of their unique lives.

Coming up on 2026 at Everyone Yoga:

-NEW studio mats and limited edition EY mats for sale!
-Seasonal “WARM” classes as the perfect antidote for the winter season.
-More Rebuild (Mat Pilates) classes – ready to feel the burn?
-Exciting community events and collaborations with other local businesses
-More “Community Perks” soon!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Opening a business as an immigrant was no easy task and it took a lot of passion, creativity and deep support from my loved ones.

When you are truly passionate about something, it’s almost as if there’s an external energy force that guides you to where you are supposed to be. This energy becomes so strong that you defy any feelings of insecurity and you develop this innate hope in it’s place. Passion translates into authentic creativity and that just enables all the magic to happen. Last, but not least, the support of loved ones play the role of strong grounds that hold and uplift you and are there to catch you if you ever stumble. I whole heartedly believe that the greatest work is rooted in community support, passion and creativity.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

My roots are Mexican and I carry them with me in all that I am. My parents taught me a lot of things, but the most impactful lessons came from their example. It was through them that I learned the values of compassionate leadership and honest work.

Both of my parents overcame poverty through years of hard, honest work. They were able to use the limited resources that they had to open up a small business that up to this day has given them everything that they have. It was through a community focused mission and compassionate leadership that their business was able to flourish and has now served their local community for over 40 years.

I grew up watching them lead with heart, bravery and mission, and it inspired me in the deepest ways I could ever imagine. I can proudly say that I carry their essence within me everywhere I go, no matter how many thousands of miles away I am of them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.everyoneyoga.nyc
• Instagram: @everyoneyoganyc
• Facebook: @everyoneyoganyc

Image Credits

Kelsey Ann Rose