From Redundancy to Fully Booked: How Sam Elvidge Built Happy Kids Yoga Leeds Bradford
Some businesses begin with a long-held plan.
Others appear at exactly the moment life is changing direction.
For Sam Elvidge, Happy Kids Yoga Leeds Bradford arrived during a period of uncertainty. After nearly five years working as a Health and Wellbeing Adviser, supporting unemployed adults with mindfulness, confidence and emotional wellbeing, Sam learned that redundancies were coming.
She began looking at what else might be possible.
Then she saw an opportunity to teach yoga to children.
“I was like, wait, you can teach kids yoga? That’s amazing.”
The work immediately connected with everything Sam had already been doing. She had spent years helping adults develop tools to manage stress, understand their emotions and move forward with greater confidence.
Now, she could introduce those tools much earlier.
Giving Children the Tools Adults Often Missed
Sam’s motivation was shaped by the adults she had supported.
Many had spent decades struggling with anxiety, confidence or emotional regulation without ever being taught practical ways to help themselves.
Children’s yoga offered the chance to change that pattern.
Through stories, movement, breathing exercises, games and mantras, Sam now helps children aged two to 12 slow down and notice what is happening in their bodies and minds.
The sessions are designed to feel playful rather than instructional. Children might believe they are acting out an adventure or making the sound of a bee, while quietly learning techniques that support:
- Concentration and engagement
- Confidence and emotional awareness
- Breathing and self-regulation
- Listening and body awareness
“They’re having fun and they don’t realise that they’re learning techniques at the same time.”
Taking the Leap Into Self-Employment
Franchising was not something Sam had previously considered.
When she first realised the opportunity involved running her own business, her instinct was fear.
“This is terrifying. I am too scared to do this.”
Instead of dismissing it, she followed the franchisor, Jen, online, asked questions and gradually allowed herself to imagine that it might be possible.
Sam signed her franchise agreement while still employed and used the months before redundancy to work through the practical setup one task at a time.
That approach became even more important shortly after launch.
Only a month into full-time self-employment, Sam experienced a serious deep vein thrombosis. She was unable to walk properly or work for several weeks, just as she was trying to establish the business.
Rather than forcing herself to recover or grow faster than her body allowed, she returned to the principles she already taught.
“Practice makes progress.”
Her recovery, and the business, moved forward slowly.
Creating Safe Spaces for Children
Sam’s first year has included sessions in nurseries, primary schools, holiday clubs, after-school settings and Girlguiding groups.
Free taster sessions have been one of her most effective ways of opening doors with nurseries. Staff see how the children respond, and the conversation about regular sessions grows naturally from there.
The impact is often seen in small moments.
Sam shared the story of one child who initially watched from the side and was not expected to join in.
There was no pressure.
Over several weeks, he moved closer, sat on a mat with a member of staff and began trying small parts of the session.
By the final week, he was taking part in the whole class.
“He realised that it was a safe space for him.”
That story reflects the wider philosophy behind Sam’s work. Participation does not always begin with jumping straight in. Sometimes it begins with watching, feeling safe and being allowed to join when the child is ready.
Letting Go of Perfection Online
One of Sam’s biggest concerns when starting the franchise was social media.
She had spent years encouraging people to spend less time on their phones, and suddenly she needed Instagram to build her own business.
At first, she would record videos seven or eight times, worrying about the lighting, how she sounded and whether she looked right.
As bookings increased, she simply did not have time to keep repeating every clip.
That helped her stop overthinking and start sharing the real stories happening in her sessions.
Her content became less polished and more natural, covering moments such as:
- A child enjoying a particular pose
- A nursery reporting better focus
- A parent noticing their child feels calmer
- The reality of running between classes
“I just need to get the message out rather than worrying about what it looks like.”
The more Sam showed up as herself, the more people responded to her.
What Comes Next?
By the end of her first year, Sam had reached the point of being fully booked.
Her next goal is to return to that level after the summer and potentially recruit another teacher so Happy Kids Yoga Leeds Bradford can reach even more children.
For Sam, the ambition is not simply about filling a timetable.
It is about giving children tools they can carry into school, home and adult life.
Watch the Full Interview
Sam Elvidge is a finalist for Content Marketing of the Year in The Class Business Awards 2026, and her journey is a powerful reminder that confidence does not always arrive before we take action.
Sometimes it grows because we take one small step, then another.
From redundancy, to a serious health setback, to becoming fully booked in her first year. It’s all in this conversation.
👉 Watch Sam’s full interview here.
And if you want to be in the room with finalists like Sam, hearing these stories first-hand and connecting with the people shaping this sector right now…
Come along and join us on Saturday 10 October 2026 at the National Conference Centre in Solihull for The Class Business Live, followed by The Class Business Awards & Afterparty.
Expect a full day of insight, energy and connection, from 9:00am to 3:00pm, with guest speakers, mastermind discussions and real conversations with people who get it. Then we come back together in the evening from 6:00pm to celebrate everything this community has built.
Book your place for the Class Business Awards here.
