“I didn’t set out to go digital. I just wanted to keep my studio alive. But along the way, I discovered a whole new version of what ‘wellness’ could mean.”
The Wake-Up Call
Before 2020, Seri Santai Wellness Studio in Petaling Jaya was a peaceful escape from city life. Soft music, calming scents, and familiar faces. Aisha Rahman built it from scratch with heart, patience, and a dream to help people slow down.
Then came the MCO. Overnight, the studio fell silent.
“I remember sitting there in the empty room thinking, ‘What now?’”
Aisha said. All our bookings were on WhatsApp, payments manual, records in a notebook. Suddenly, that old-school way just… couldn’t work anymore.
Like many small business owners, she faced a harsh truth: adapt or fade away.
First Steps into the Unknown
When one of her instructors suggested trying Zoom, Aisha hesitated.
“I thought, online yoga? Can meh? It won’t feel the same!” she said, laughing.
But survival doesn’t wait for certainty. With a borrowed webcam and a shaky internet line, they held their first virtual class.
“It was chaos. People couldn’t log in, mics didn’t work, my cat walked through the camera! But you know what? The students didn’t mind. They just wanted to connect.”
That day, Aisha realised something powerful: technology could keep the human connection alive, just in a different way.
Building a Digital Routine
After that, she decided to take it one small step at a time. No fancy systems, no big budgets, just practical tools that solved daily problems.
She started with:
- Online booking and payments to replace endless message threads.
- Pre-recorded mindfulness videos for clients who couldn’t attend live sessions.
- Simple social media analytics to post at the right times.
- Free design tools for creating class posters and wellness tips.
“It wasn’t about chasing trends,” Aisha said.
“I just wanted to make things easier for my clients, my instructors, and myself.”
Slowly, the benefits started to show. Bookings became smoother. Payments came on time. And she had more time to focus on the community she loved.
Her instructors also benefited. They could manage their own schedules and get paid automatically. Before this, Aisha had to track everything manually. It was exhausting.
Guiding Her Team Through Change
But not everyone jumped on board immediately. Some of her instructors, especially the senior ones, weren’t comfortable with the digital shift.
“They told me, ‘Aisha, this is not real yoga lah.’” And honestly, I understood where they were coming from.
So she did something simple yet powerful, she learned with them.
“We did what we called ‘tech nights’. Just us experimenting with camera angles, lighting, audio. We laughed so much because everything went wrong at first. But that’s how we learned together.”
That empathy built trust. Aisha didn’t force change; she nurtured it.
“I realised leadership isn’t about being the expert. It’s about staying calm when everything feels new, and helping your team believe they can handle it.”
Balancing Business and Transformation
While figuring out new tools, Aisha still had to run day-to-day operations.
“The hardest part was balancing both — teaching classes, paying rent, then learning software at night. There were times I just wanted to give up.”
To cope, she set boundaries. Sundays became her “digital day” — the time to test new apps, review performance, or update the website.
“It wasn’t perfect, but it kept me moving. Transformation isn’t one big leap; it’s small steps, over and over again.”
Setbacks, Skepticism, and Small Wins
Not every idea worked.
“There were months when attendance dropped. People said they were tired of screens. I panicked, I thought maybe we should just stop the online thing.”
Instead of quitting, she adapted. Aisha introduced hybrid passes that allowed students to join classes in-person or online. The flexibility brought people back.
Some clients even joined from overseas. Others discovered Seri Santai for the first time online.
“That’s when I knew this wasn’t just survival. It was growth.”
Technology with Heart
Through this journey, Aisha found creative ways to use technology to add value, not just efficiency.
- She opened a small online wellness store, promoting local aromatherapy products.
- She started virtual corporate wellness sessions, helping office teams de-stress remotely.
- Her instructors gained digital confidence, and some even started their own online classes.
- Most importantly, her clients found new ways to connect with wellness in their everyday lives.
“Now, even people in smaller towns can join us. It’s not just about yoga anymore, it’s about accessibility. That’s what tech should do: make wellness reachable.”
Lessons from the Journey
Five years ago, Aisha never imagined herself leading a digital transformation. Today, she’s not just running a wellness studio. She’s leading a digital community.
Her biggest takeaways?
- Start small. Don’t wait for perfect. Even one digital tool can make a difference.
- Stay human. People still want to feel cared for. Use tech to make that easier.
- Learn together. Empower your team to experiment. You’ll grow faster together.
- Keep your purpose clear. Digitalisation isn’t about gadgets. It’s about amplifying what you already believe in.
The Ripple Effect
Today, Seri Santai Wellness Studio thrives as a hybrid business — digital, physical, and deeply human. Aisha continues to explore simple apps and digital marketing tools, always looking for ways to improve.
But what she’s most proud of? The mindset shift.
“I used to think tech was cold and complicated. Now I see it as an enabler, a bridge. It helps me do what I love, better.”
Her story is proof that digitalisation doesn’t mean losing tradition. It means finding new ways to bring it forward.
“If my story can help one more business owner believe they can do it too, then it’s all worth it.”
Takeaway
Aisha’s journey shows that digitisation isn’t a destination. It’s a mindset.
Her story reminds us that:
- Vision doesn’t need to start big. It starts with saying “yes” to something new.
- Technology should never replace humanity, only empower it.
- And courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s moving forward despite it.
Do you know someone like Aisha?
We are looking for SME Digitization Heroes who:
- Transformed their traditional business through digital tools
- Created innovative solutions, even with limited resources
- Inspired others in their community to embrace change
These SME Digitization Heroes aren’t just about their digital success. They’re about vision, resilience, and the courage to break free from old ways and embrace new possibilities. They’re also focused on creating the life they really want—one that fits their passions, dreams, and values.
Know someone inspiring? Nominate them here! We’re looking for passionate SME owners to feature in our SME Digitization Heroes.
The SME Digitization Heroes series features real experiences of entrepreneurs and SMEs. In some cases, names and identifying details have been changed protect privacy. Any resemblance to actual persons or companies is purely coincidental.
