Influential Yoga Visionary Shaping Wellness, 2026
Hannah Barrett | Yoga Teacher, Author, and Founder | Yoga Happy
Hannah Barrett- Making Yoga Accessible for Everyday Life
Hannah Barrett is a leading yoga teacher, author, and founder of Yoga Happy, a wellness app dedicated to making yoga accessible, joyful, and sustainable in everyday life. With a background in high-stress corporate work as an actuary, she experienced firsthand how yoga could transform wellbeing. Today, she combines science, mindfulness, and movement to help people build strength, resilience, and calm while creating healthier and more balanced lives. Through Yoga Happy and her work as an educator, she continues to make yoga more approachable and relevant for people of all ages and backgrounds. At EliteX, we are proud to have Hannah Barrett as part of the edition: Influential Yoga Visionaries Shaping Wellness, 2026.
Before becoming a recognized figure in the wellness industry, Hannah followed a very different career path. She spent nearly a decade working as an actuary in a demanding corporate environment. Long hours, high levels of responsibility, and constant pressure became part of her daily routine. During that time, she discovered yoga and quickly realized that it offered something she desperately needed. Yoga helped her slow down, manage stress, and gain a healthier perspective on life.
What began as a personal practice eventually became a life-changing journey. After becoming a mother, Hannah trained as a yoga teacher because of her love for the practice. However, a particularly challenging period in her life further strengthened her connection to yoga. When her daughter was born prematurely and faced serious health challenges, yoga became a source of support and stability. It gave her practical tools to navigate uncertainty and emotional stress. That experience deepened her understanding of the true value of yoga and inspired her to share its benefits with others.
“Yoga found me during one of the hardest periods of my life. And it didn’t let go.”
This vision led to the creation of Yoga Happy, a platform designed to make yoga accessible, enjoyable, and sustainable. Rather than promoting perfection or unrealistic expectations, Yoga Happy focuses on helping people incorporate movement and mindfulness into their everyday lives. Hannah believes yoga is not about achieving difficult poses or following rigid routines. Instead, it is about creating habits that support physical and mental wellbeing over the long term.
Alongside Yoga Happy, Hannah also co-founded Alba Yoga Academy with her business partner, Celest Pereira. Together, they provide evidence-informed yoga teacher training programs that combine traditional yoga philosophy with modern understanding of anatomy, movement science, and neuroscience. Their goal is to prepare teachers who can deliver yoga in a way that is both authentic and relevant to modern life.
One of the defining qualities of Hannah’s leadership is her collaborative approach. She does not view leadership as having all the answers. Instead, she believes in creating an environment where talented people can contribute their ideas, skills, and perspectives. She values open communication and encourages honest discussions that lead to better solutions. This approach has helped her build strong teams and meaningful partnerships throughout her career.
Like many successful women leaders, Hannah has faced challenges along the way. Some of the most significant obstacles were internal rather than external. Self-doubt, questioning her abilities, and wondering whether she deserved a place at the table were challenges she had to overcome. At the same time, balancing the demands of entrepreneurship with motherhood required flexibility, organization, and determination. Through these experiences, she learned that confidence often develops after taking action rather than before it.
Hannah is also passionate about creating positive change within the yoga industry. She believes yoga is often presented in ways that feel intimidating or exclusive. Social media can sometimes create the impression that yoga is only for certain body types or lifestyles. Hannah works to challenge those perceptions by showing that yoga can be adapted to different needs, abilities, and schedules. Her mission is to make people feel welcome, regardless of their experience level or background.
“Yoga should meet you where you are, not where you think you should be.”
Mentorship and collaboration have played an important role in her growth. She values learning from experts, teachers, and colleagues who challenge her thinking and encourage continuous development. This commitment to learning keeps her work fresh, relevant, and impactful.
Beyond her professional achievements, Hannah is committed to supporting other women. She believes success becomes more meaningful when people help one another grow. By creating opportunities, sharing knowledge, and celebrating the accomplishments of others, she encourages a culture of collaboration rather than competition.
Looking ahead, Hannah hopes to continue changing perceptions about yoga. She wants more people to see it as a practical tool for living well rather than something reserved for a select few. Through Yoga Happy, Alba Yoga Academy, and her ongoing work as a teacher and author, she is creating a lasting impact. Her vision is to help people feel stronger, calmer, and more connected to themselves, proving that small daily practices can lead to meaningful transformation.
“The internal challenges have been the hardest. The questioning of whether I’m qualified enough, experienced enough, whether I have the right to take up space in a room.”
