Accessible Yoga for All Bodies: From Moving to London Alone to Building a Thriving Yoga Business - Maria Peace Yoga

Maria Caballero moved to London in 2013 with a thousand euros in cash, one friend, and a vision. She walked down Regent Street handing out CVs to every shop until someone gave her a chance. Fast forward to 2025, and she's built one of the most vibrant yoga communities in London—retreats that sell out in days, students who laugh so hard they get stomach aches, and a teaching method centred entirely on accessible yoga for every body type.This episode of Successful AF is about what happens when you stop hiding who you are and start building the life you actually want to live. Host Jess West sits down with Maria for a conversation about body positive yoga, career transitions from fashion to teaching, and why making yoga available for all bodies—regardless of size, age, or ability—became her mission.As a former ballet dancer who never looked like anyone else in the room, Maria knows what it feels like to be the biggest, curviest person in a space that wasn't designed for you. Now she's rewriting the rules. Her inclusive yoga method works backwards from complicated poses to create pathways everyone can walk, not just modifications for people who "can't keep up."Maria's definition of success? Freedom. Freedom in your body, freedom in your relationships, freedom in your work. And the freedom to show up as your authentic self—purple Crocs and all.Perfect for listeners interested in yoga business, female entrepreneurship, career change stories, or anyone tired of fitness spaces that weren't built with them in mind.About Maria Maria Caballero is the founder of Maria Peace Yoga and creator of an accessible yoga method that makes every pose available for all body types. Born in South America, raised in Spain, she moved to London in 2013 and built a career in fashion before transitioning to teaching yoga full-time during the pandemic. She runs sold-out retreats, teaches at East of Eden and More Yoga in London, and mentors new yoga teachers through her six-month Evolve programme. Maria's approach to yoga is rooted in her experience as a ballet dancer with curves in a room full of people who looked nothing like her—and her determination to create something different.Connect with Maria:Instagram: @mariapeaceyogaClasses: East of Eden (Walthamstow) & More YogaKey TakeawaysAccessibility over perfection - Working backwards from complicated poses to create pathways everyone can walkYour body is not the problem - Yoga spaces should adapt to bodies, not the other way roundIf you can see it, it will happen - Closing your eyes and truly visualising yourself doing something is the first step to making it realCreate the life you want to live - Give yourself permission to build something different, even if it means walking away from what looks good on paperAuthenticity builds community - Showing up as your rawest self is what makes people gravitate towards youConfidence comes from knowing yourself - You can't be truly confident whilst wearing a mask or pretending to be someone elseSuccess is freedom - The ability to be fully yourself across all areas of your lifeReflection QuestionsWhat would change if the spaces you entered were designed with your body in mind?Are you building the life you want to live, or the life you think you should want?Who would you be if you stopped hiding parts of yourself?Love this episode? Hit subscribe and leave us a review! Nominate someone redefining success at [email protected] to redefine success? Work with Jess one-on-one or join her workshops on sustainable success and leadershipLove this episode? Hit subscribe and leave us a review! And if you know someone who's redefining success on their own terms, nominate them at [email protected] - we're always looking for incredible people to feature.Connect with Jess:Instagram: @kalicoaching.coWebsite: www.kalicoaching.co.uk