Now at 62, Ms. Nava is making waves on social media. But none of this happened overnight. She reached this point through genuine sweat and tears. There were days filled with deep self-doubt when she seriously considered permanently closing the main gates of her business, Nava’s Zen. Yet, she stood stronger than ever, a remarkable achievement considering she only started her business at 58.
Three and a half years ago, when she took her first steps as a solo woman entrepreneur, almost everyone believed she had made the wrong decision. There were constant whispers behind her back. People struggled to understand her choice because of the common mindset that women in their late 50s should be retired, travelling, or spending time showering love on their grandchildren.
Worse than the doubt was the jealousy.
Some people she knew felt she was setting the “wrong” benchmark for women her
age. Quietly, behind her back, challenges began to emerge. Familiar faces
started replicating her health and wellness ideas, launching businesses of
their own and creating a domino effect of competitors.
Looking back, Ms. Nava can still hardly believe how far she has come. Just a month ago, Nava’s Zen expanded into a “One-Of-A-Kind Nature-Inspired Boutique Zen” retreat escape (GROWING YOUR OWN FOOD). It leaves one question: what was the true inspiration that drove Ms. Nava to begin her entrepreneurial journey, and what really happened behind the scenes?
The Leap: Starting a Business in Your Late 50s
Some things in life are difficult to
explain, including what led Ms. Nava to start her own business. It was never
part of her original plan. In fact, the journey to Nava’s Zen began with an
unexpected turning point in her life.
At 50, Ms. Nava experienced a severe
relapse of menopause symptoms after reaching menopause at 45. The relapse was
so intense that she frequently sought medical attention. Different medications
brought little relief, and one doctor even diagnosed her with depression.
However, the medication only worsened her condition. Eventually, another doctor
identified the real cause. Her menopause hormones had triggered migraines, and
she was prescribed mild medication to help manage the condition.
Although her health gradually improved,
Ms. Nava still felt that something was missing. There was an emptiness she
could not explain. Family matters at the time also added to her emotional
burden, leaving her mind unsettled. A doctor she knew suggested yoga and
recommended an instructor (YOGA FOR INNER CALM).
Her first experience did not resonate with
her. Instead of giving up, she searched for another instructor. That decision
became a turning point in her life.
Yoga gradually restored more than just her
physical health. It strengthened her breath, mind, and soul. Pranayama, or
breathwork, became her therapy, bringing an inner calm she nneded badly. What
began as a search for better health slowly transformed into a new way of life.
Ms. Nava continued practicing under
different yoga instructors, believing that everyone had something to offer. At
55, she felt an unexplainable calling towards yoga. It was as though the universe
was guiding her towards a different path. She decided to pursue professional
yoga training and, after delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, graduated at
the age of 58.
Her original plan was simple. She wanted
to work as a freelance yoga instructor. While waiting to complete her
credentials, she continued attending yoga sessions to deepen her knowledge.
Then another unexpected chapter unfolded – the passion and vision of creating
Nava’s Zen came to her.
During the COVID-19 lockdowns, she planned
every detail of the business. From the renovations and interior design to the
logo, colour theme, registration, and the name, Nava’s Zen Holistic Wellness,
everything slowly came together.
When the lockdown was lifted, there was no turning back. In 2022, at the age of 58, Ms. Nava officially opened Nava’s Zen Holistic Wellness. What began as a personal search for healing became the foundation of her entrepreneurial journey.
Transition: From Lecturer to Woman Entrepreneur
Ms. Nava began her working life
immediately after completing her secondary education at 18, starting in
administrative positions and gradually working her way up to become a
secretary. At 28, she returned to her studies, obtaining a Diploma in
Management.
From a secretary, she eventually became a
lecturer, earning her degree, an MBA, and a long list of professional
credentials along the way. Her final role was as a lecturer in the Curtin
Australia Degree Twinning Program, a position she held for 14 years.
For years, her career was fulfilling.
However, a major transition took place under new management. Things began to
change, and her passion for lecturing slowly started to fade as the workplace
evolved into a toxic environment. Working hours extended into weekends, working
from home became the norm, and the demands of the job became constant, leaving
little room for personal or family life.
Over time, this environment took a toll on
Ms. Nava’s wellbeing. The workplace pressure coincided with her severe
menopause symptoms and growing family challenges. Everything came together at
once, creating an overwhelming period that deeply affected her health.
Unable to cope with the relentless
pressure, she resigned at 50. It took almost six months for her to recover from
the burnout and stress of leaving behind a career she had once been deeply
passionate about.
The next five years, until she turned 55, became a period of rediscovery. She continued with yoga, gardening, cooking and continuing her passion for blogging.
Holistic Wellness - Nava’s Zen
Nava’s Zen first made its presence known
in the business world through yoga. Until today, yoga remains the core
foundation of not only Nava’s Zen, but Ms. Nava herself. Having experienced its
tremendous benefits through her own health journey, Ms. Nava continues to stand
firmly behind yoga as a natural approach to supporting overall health and
wellness.
Over time, as the roots of yoga became
firmly established at Nava’s Zen, Ms. Nava integrated her skills as a Certified
Professional Coach and qualified Counsellor into the business. By combining
these with her knowledge of cooking and mental health, her weight loss programs
became a natural extension of her holistic wellness living.
This year, at the age of 62, Ms. Nava
obtained her Zumba credentials. While she initially introduced Zumba as an
alternative fitness workout, she soon recognised that standard Zumba had become
a highly saturated trend. To create a distinctive niche, Ms. Nava designed
“Wellness Fusion Dance”, a unique blend that brings together her knowledge,
expertise, and credentials in modern dance, Zumba, Pilates, and yoga into one
complete program.
Alongside this, her latest service
extension is currently underway as she prepares to introduce zen retreat stays.
To bring all elements together, the tagline of Nava’s Zen is now “One-Of-A-Kind Nature-Inspired Boutique Zen.” Nature has been another core of her business from day one, as she has been avid gardener all the while. The connection with green living and sustainable development definitely has set Nava’s Zen apart from literally everyone in the health and wellness industry.
Older Women Entrepreneurs
While the average age of a woman
entrepreneur is generally around the early 40s, and concrete data on women
starting businesses in their late 50s remains limited, Ms. Nava’s journey
challenges the perception of what is possible at this stage of life. Starting a
business at 58, she has shown that age does not have to define the boundaries
of entrepreneurship. Her story stands as an example of courage and possibility
for women who may be considering a new beginning.
In Malaysia, corporate careers typically
come to an end at age 60, which is the standard retirement age. For women
generally reaching this milestone, it represents the completion of a long career.
Retirement often becomes a time to focus on other priorities, such as family
and grandchildren. Those who were unhappy in their careers may have chosen to
leave the workforce for time to family, a common Asian mindset.
For some women, starting a business in
their late 50s feels too late. Others prefer the comfort and security of
familiar routines rather than investing their energy into building something
new. Some hesitate because they fear risking their retirement savings on an
uncertain business venture, while others prefer preserving their wealth for
their children. The fear of taking risks often becomes the greatest barrier.
There are women who join multi-level
marketing (MLM) businesses during retirement as a way to stay active and earn
additional income. Others choose to be part of their husbands’ or children’s
businesses as a way of occupying their time.
Very few in fact take the bold step of starting a business in their late 50s. However, it can be predicted that women in this age group may realise that a new chapter can still be written later in life. Perhaps future conference papers and academic discussions should explore how more women can be encouraged to step forward, embrace change, and begin their own entrepreneurial journeys.
