Tristen Vieaux, LPC, NCC, ACS, RYT

I attribute my success to perseverance and my faith in God. Never giving up, trusting my intuition, and recognizing that my own lived experiences hold lessons worth sharing have shaped every step of my path. Helping others discover their own purpose, value, and inner strength has been the most rewarding part of my journey.

Starting my own company was a profound milestone—one that grew from years of working alongside powerful, insightful, and deeply compassionate women in hospital settings and within the eating disorder community. I witnessed these remarkable women navigate burnout, confront their insecurities, and transform their struggles into something meaningful. They created spaces where girls and women could begin to see their beauty, their resilience, and their inherent worth.

Those experiences ultimately inspired me to create Chara Yoga and Wellness. My work with fierce and dedicated women in the eating disorder field, combined with my volunteer work in domestic violence shelters, strengthened my commitment to helping women take courageous steps toward leaving abusive relationships and reclaiming their lives. I’ve also been profoundly shaped by the women in my own life—especially my mother—whose resilience, compassion, and strength left an enduring imprint on me.

All of these experiences gave me the courage to take a leap of faith and build something of my own. I believe each of us carries something meaningful to offer the world, and I feel called to share what I’ve learned with the next generation and with the women I’m honored to walk alongside today.

Societal expectations and pressures placed on women contribute significantly to mental health challenges, including body image concerns, anxiety, and eating disorders. Some of the greatest opportunities for change lie in early intervention—especially through mindfulness and mind–body education for children and adolescents. There is also a growing need to expand community‑based supports that give women access to trauma‑informed care and biology‑backed, women‑centered science during key transitional life stages, such as perimenopause or infertility. It can't be a one size fits all approach.

I would say: be gentle with yourself. Take the time to identify what you truly love, and nurture that within yourself first. As women, we naturally pour into others, and from both my own experiences and what I’ve witnessed across generations, we tend to over‑commit, over‑extend, and over‑judge ourselves. We can be our own harshest critics.

That’s why it’s so important to cultivate a sense of inner beauty and clarity—ask yourself what genuinely lights you up AND give that to yourself before offering it to the world. Then, surround yourself with women who champion you. Find a community where you can support one another, challenge one another, and be vulnerable enough to grow.

Keep close the people who speak truth into your life with love, honesty, and without judgment. That kind of support is invaluable.

Societal expectations and pressures on women contribute significantly to mental health challenges, including body image issues, anxiety, and eating disorders. The greatest opportunities lie in early intervention through mindfulness and mind–body education for children and adolescents, as well as expanding community-based supports for women gaining access to trauma informed and women informed biology backed science within transitional life stages, such as perimenopause or infertility.

Perseverance and my faith in God are the foundations of my life. I believe in never giving up and in trusting that what’s been placed on my heart is worth pursuing. Following that inner calling—and sharing it with others—has been the most meaningful part of my journey. I’m passionate about giving back to the community and supporting organizations like the Denver Rescue Mission, which uplifts women and families experiencing homelessness by helping them gain skills, find employment, and reclaim their independence. Empowering others to find their own voice is deeply important to me.

I also support Hubbard House in Jacksonville, Florida, a domestic violence shelter that has been doing extraordinary work for more than 50 years.

In my spare time, I love skiing in the mountains, scuba diving, and staying active through my personal yoga practice. Yoga has been truly life‑changing for me and has become an integral part of my lifestyle. I’m also an author and poet—something I’m incredibly proud of. 

Last year, I published Unearthing Inner Gold, a feminist poetry collection exploring the cycles of love, grief, transformation, and the development of a personal gratitude practice.

Creative expression is profoundly healing for me, so I also enjoy painting, writing, and engaging in any form of art that allows me to connect more deeply with myself and others.