Today we’d like to introduce you to Bianca Natali.
Hi Bianca, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
I was born and raised in Miami, FL, and moved to NYC at 20 years old (2014) where I hustled my way through the fashion industry and received my Bachelor’s Degree online. After 4 years of supporting myself, while I was working full-time and a full-time student, I decided to move back to Miami for a change of pace. At only 24 years old, I suddenly felt burnt out and developed a panic disorder which led me to start to 8 months of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
During this time, I began my yoga practice as a way to practice mindfulness and control the anxiety I felt in my body through breath and movement. I practiced yoga for 3 years and found that every pose I mastered, led me to reflect on the first time I tried the pose. I began to feel the benefits of yoga because it taught me that life is a never-ending journey. I decided to get my 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Certification to deepen my practice. Once I graduated, I started getting teaching jobs, and a year later, I decided to quit my Corporate Position in Product Development and pursue teaching full-time. I host and manage monthly wellness events, and weekly free classes, and teach in-studio.
A year before receiving my Certification (2020), I found myself in a place where I wanted to share what’s helped me with my anxiety and panic disorders so I started Beyond Grey. What started as a platform to share my story, slowly became a Trademarked, 501c3 nonprofit that has provided mental & physical fitness programs to over 100 recipients in underserved communities in Miami, FL. I’m proud to announce that our next program launching in 2024 will provide Licensed Therapy for women enrolled in college who have limited access to mental health care. I truly feel my journey over the past 5 years with mental & physical health has led me to this moment.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I have been working full-time since I was 18 years old. I’ve put extreme pressure on myself during transformational years in my life. I started a nonprofit at 26 years old.
I taught myself everything – how to create a brand, find trustworthy lawyers, invest my own money, become a 501c3 under the IRS, receive a Trademark, host Fundraisers, manage events, find donors and volunteers, pitch my ideas to other organizations, find recipients for our programs, find coaches to lead our programs, and the list goes on.
Beyond Grey inspired me to become an entrepreneur and become a full-time Yoga Instructor. Finding jobs, choosing which classes I want to teach, and deciding who I want to work with. It’s been rewarding but also a constant challenge to put myself out there with the potential chance of rejection. I’ve been told no more times than yes – and that’s what most people don’t see.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Beyond Grey isn’t just a nonprofit – it’s a term that inspires everyone. Grey is known as a depressive color in psychology and our mission is to help others feel beyond that – What brings color to your life? What is your Beyond Grey?
Our eclectic programs provide reach that’s accessible to all our recipients – creating a safe space for men, women, and children. From therapy, yoga, meditation, motivational speakers, journaling, and vision boarding, to even running their first half marathon, our recipients have found their Beyond Grey. We serve a purpose that inspires others to connect with themselves on a deeper scale to live a more purposeful and mindful life.
I’m proud of what I’ve built with Beyond Grey because it’s come from a place of my personal growth & triumphs. Searching for color in my life has inspired others to find theirs. Beyond Grey is a constant full-circle moment. Our programs are funded through our fundraisers which consist of mental or physical workouts all around Miami. When you sign up for one of our classes, proceeds from your ticket sale go directly to our programs.
Your workout supports someone else’s workout from an underserved community. With every ticket sale, we’re creating a world where mental health care is accessible to all.
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Patience! As stated earlier, I’ve been told no more times than yes. When you start a business you think that all your visions are going to happen come to life overnight. Most of my ideas have taken a lot of patience. You have to give yourself the time to strategize, find the right partners, and stay consistent. Every time someone tells me no, I change my perspective and focus on who is saying yes.
Don’t waste your time on the person or company who isn’t aligned with your vision, spend your time building a strong partnership with someone who believes in you. When you have a new idea, start by proposing it to people you already know. When you start with someone you already have a relationship with, it gives you leverage to succeed because you already know their level of commitment and expertise.
When you start to look through your network, you’ll be surprised by how many of these people are willing to help you. If they can’t offer the help, they most likely will connect you with someone else. My last tip is the “just ask” method. You never know the answer until you just ask for it. You’d be surprised at how many people say yes!
Pricing:
- $65 donation – supports one therapy session for a recipient
Contact Info:
- Website: www.beyondgreyinc.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyond.grey/
https://www.instagram.com/biancabnatali
Image Credits
Té Johnson, Alan Biasi, and Xavi Magallon
