Building Mindfulness, Connection, and Community: A Conversation with Ana Tootle, FemCity Miami President
ANA TOOTLE
Wellness, retreats and giving back to community
Can you share what inspired your passion for building connection and community through your work?
I have a heartfelt belief that in community we elevate the individual and we don't have to go it alone. Instead, we can garner the wisdom and experience of others to make our own journey richer and more pleasurable. Covid confirmed that concept by witnessing how much people wanted to connect with one another again after the pandemic was over once we were able to hug each other again and gather in groups. The journey of mindfulness, ending hunger in our local communities and networking was no exception.
How has practicing mindfulness personally impacted your journey as a leader and entrepreneur?
Simply put, mindfulness makes life's journey a more pleasant one especially when you are hit with a curveball which is all part of the package. When we change our perspective, we change our experience, so why not make it as meaningful and rewarding as possible? Entrepreneurship is no exception. There are trials and tribulations that are opportunities for growth so you have to learn to pivot constantly. How you pivot makes all the difference in the world. That's where mindfulness comes in and it's worth every ounce of effort to have an established practice in place.
Tell us about your "Mindfulness Made Easy" classes — what makes your approach to mindfulness unique and accessible for everyone?
Mindfulness apps and instruction abound so you have to pick a practice that resonates with you, otherwise, the whole process can seem so overwhelming making it easy to simply give up. My approach takes into account that we are all busy and our plates are spilling over, especially the plate of a woman entrepreneur. Often times, she is a mother, a wife, a daughter caring for elder parents and the CEO of her own company. As a result, her mindfulness practice has to be practical with easy steps to follow that render results. She is already showing up for others all the time. Now, she can show up for herself in a way that has ramifications in all the other areas of her busy life. It is imperative that her mindfulness journey remain pragmatic with instructions not only on the what (i.e., meditation) but also regarding the how.
Why do you believe mindfulness is an essential tool for today's busy women and business leaders?
Mindfulness is important for today's women and business leaders because we want to show up as the best version of ourselves. In doing so, we become a beacon of lights for others therefore inspiring others to become a better version of themselves. It is a win win for all.
You’ve found a beautiful way to combine your love for baking and giving back by supporting Feeding South Florida through the sale of your pumpkin bread. Can you share how that idea came to life?
In true entrepreneurial spirit, I wanted to combine the foodie in me with the philanthropic purpose of ending hunger and I didn't see anyone around me doing it. So i felt was the the next logical step was to bake something most people like and donating a portion of the sale to Feeding South Florida. That's it! I chose to ignore the analysis paralysis in me and take a leap of faith because I didn't have any examples to follow, only my own intuition, which unapologetically shouted out to me, "just do it, Ana!" Over the past almost 9 years now, every time I send Feeding South Florida my weekly donations, my heart swells and I know I am doing something right. I's not a perfect system but I know I am doing my best to "bake a difference" in our community and that sits well with me.
How does giving back to your community fuel your personal mission and entrepreneurial spirit?
Giving back to the community fuels my personal mission and entrepreneurial spirit because I am doing something meaningful toward my belief that no one should ever go hungry and I am incorporating that into my business. Sure, I could simply send money to Feeding South Florida like I did for many years before creating Feel Good Foods but that did not satisfy the entrepreneur in me like it does now. Now, I have the satisfaction of uniting passion with purpose and that makes my work all the more worthwhile.
As the President of FemCity Miami, what does leading a community of women entrepreneurs mean to you?
Leading other entrepreneurs in our community as President of FemCity Miami has been a gift from the heavens that I was honestly not expecting. When I was asked to step into the role a couple of years ago, I already knew that supporting one another in our business journeys was valuable. But as President, I had to lead by example and speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. In short, I have to bring a variety of talents together so that we can all learn from our respective business and personal journeys. Connecting people with others comes easy to me so I take the opportunity of this wonderful community and its collective talent to shed the light for others to see their own journey in an even more meaningful light. This is where my mindfulness practice kicks in. Our perspective navigates our circumstances, not the other way around. If I can lead others to see their journey as a more elevated one where additionally, they have the support of a tribe of women behind them, then I have done my job effectively. Again, I stand by the conviction that no one has to go it alone and when we elevate one another, everybody wins.
How do you foster a sense of connection, collaboration, and support within FemCity Miami?
Fostering a sense of connection, collaboration and support within FemCity Miami is easy and fun as long as you are organized and thankfully, I am. There are a lot of moving parts in addition to all the other components we have in our lives. Violette has done an incredible job of providing structure and instruction on how to try and keep it all together. With our amazing FemCity Miami Board and all of their collective talents, it is impossible to fail! Furthermore, I like to keep our events fun and light of heart with a little peppering here and there of positive impact for our community. Miami is already a fun city. Making our FemCity community one of impact in the Magic City makes it even better.
You’re about to lead your first retreat in Colombia alongside fellow FemCity Founder Circle Member Beatriz Martinez-Peñalver — can you tell us what participants can expect from this experience?
I am indeed excited to lead my first retreat which will take place in Medellin, Colombia this year from October 16-21. Co-FemCity Founder Circle Member, Beatriz Martinez-Peñalver, will be adding her psychotherapist experience of over 30 years to certify for CEUs (continuing education), CLUs (continuing legal education with the Florida Bar) and Triumph Steps Coaching Certification for those in the mental wellness space looking for these added services which will be provided by her at an additional cost. The retreat promises to show attendees that mindfulness can be fun, adventurous while making new friends and learning to take your mindfulness to another level in a country that has a huge respect for Mother Nature's bounty and inherent beauty. Our lineup includes yoga, mindfulness and meditation, and a cooking class after a permaculture tour of the breathtaking Cannua Hotel grounds in Marinilla outside of Medellin. We have an excursion the colorful colonial town of Guatape in a private van and will end the retreat in the city of eternal spring, Medellin, where we will do some unforgettable dining and shopping to say goodbye to the warm and hospitable country of my ancestors, Colombia. The retreat is curated to be intimate with quality dining, lodging and first hand insight into the culture and history of Colombia.
Why do you believe retreats, travel, and stepping outside of our daily environments are so transformational for personal and professional growth?
Retreats and travel are transformational for personal and business growth because by default they take us out of our daily grind and expand our awareness like no other activity can. We leave (most) of our worries behind and we get to unapologetically hit the reset button while learning about new cultures, food and adventures so different from our own. Then there's the added bonus of making new friends and connections that expand not only our network but our hearts and minds. We return home with a refreshed perspective and a new way of navigating our ever evolving lives realizing that perhaps the minutia that once kept us in resistance mode no longer has a hold on us.
What advice would you offer to women who are looking to build deeper connections — both with themselves and within their communities?
The advice I would offer other women looking for deeper connections with themselves and their communities is that they do not have got it alone and that these connections can be so much fun. You don't have to show up perfect or have it all figured out. Nobody does. You have something valuable to share with someone else and vice versa. Whether you know it or not, you always have something to contribute and therein lies the golden nugget. We are all but a thread in the tapestry of life and need one another to fulfill the big picture.
What exciting dreams or projects are you envisioning for the future?
What I envision for the future are more retreats in breathtaking venues all over the planet while making an impact. Not surprising, I will be making a donation to the organization Alianza Medellin Cero Hambre after this first retreat in October 2025. Locally in South Florida, I would love to lead cooking classes to underserved communities so that we can all satisfy the foodie within us. Getting out of our comfort zone to connect with others and elevate the vibration of the planet together in beautiful destination sounds pretty amazing to me. To that end, Beatriz is already to alluding to putting together another retreat in 2026 somewhere in Italy. And we've only just begun...
Looking to deepen your mindfulness practice, build powerful community connections, or join an inspiring women's retreat? Connect with Ana Tootle, President of FemCity Miami, and discover how mindfulness and community leadership can transform your life and business.
To learn more about Ana or connect with her, visit her at her here.