Written by Karissa Norton, Sales & Community Engagement Specialist at Alternative Balance
Hello AB Members!
Can you believe it’s already 2026? Time really does fly when you’re learning, growing, and having fun together! As we step into the new year, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on some highlights from 2025, share a few exciting updates, and give you a sneak peek at what’s coming next.
Highlights from 2025
2025 was full of growth, connection, and exciting changes here at Alternative Balance. First off—I joined the team at the beginning of the summer! 👋 Thank you all for welcoming me with open arms. It’s been such a joy getting to know so many of you and seeing familiar faces during our monthly webinars. Watching members engage, share ideas, and experience those “aha” moments has been incredibly inspiring! 💜
And okay, yes, I work here… but it’s truly amazing how our founders imagined something far beyond just insurance. Alternative Balance provides not only tailored insurance for niche wellness businesses but also practical tools and resources to help your business thrive. Just as important are the people behind it—the care, collaboration, and genuine support from this team is something you feel every day. We joke that AB is a “unicorn,” and after seeing it from the inside, I can confidently say it lives up to the hype. 🦄✨
This year, we were also thrilled to welcome several fantastic new partners, bringing even more value and resources to our members:
- Smartwaiver – the perfect complement to our free templates and waivers, helping you streamline client onboarding
- Noterro – a secure, easy-to-use platform for note-taking and documentation, keeping your wellness business organized and compliant
- SimpleSet – an intuitive scheduling and client management system that simplifies booking, reminders, and client communication
- Member-Added Discounts – a growing collection in the Healing & Wellness category, curated by members like you to support your everyday business needs
With these additions, members have even more tools at their fingertips to save time, stay organized, and grow their businesses with confidence.
And if you haven’t noticed yet—our Member Dashboard got a glow-up! Finding your benefits, accessing webinars, or browsing partner discounts is now easier than ever. Log in and check it out—the updates put everything you need right at your fingertips. And the best part? More features and improvements are coming in 2026!
Monthly & Member-Led Webinars
We LOVE seeing you in our webinars! Hosting and attending these sessions is one of the many perks of being an Alternative Balance member. Each month, we offer 2–3 webinars with a mix of learning, inspiration, and connection—plus a chance to share your expertise and shine. ✨
Here’s a quick breakdown:
AB Member-Hosted Webinar
- Hosted by AB members, open to anyone who registers
- Share your expertise, promote your services, and offer special AB member perks
- AB handles hosting, registration, and promotion
- Exposure to 15k+ AB members plus the general public
Business Growth Workshop
- Led by business growth pros sharing tips and tools
- Exclusive to AB members
- Must offer a discount to members
- AB manages everything from start to finish
- Exposure to 15k+ AB members only
💡 PSA: Can’t make it live? No worries! Sign up anyway and we’ll send the recording, key takeaways, and resources straight to your inbox the next day. You’ll never miss a thing!
And remember—any AB member can host their own webinar! Our Collab & Connect program makes it easier than ever:
- Fill out the form here: https://alternativebalance.com/collabconnect/
- Tell us what you’d like to present and when
- A member of our marketing team (that’s me!) will review it and get back to you
We can’t wait to see what you’ll share!
Didn’t Catch the First Business Series Webinar?
We kicked off 2026 with our first Business Series webinar, featuring Hailey Rowe! A big thank you to Hailey—and to everyone who attended. 🙌
If you missed it, no worries! AB members can access the link to the full Business Series webinar library once logged in, and the public can watch replays of all member-hosted webinars on YouTube anytime, anywhere:
Looking Ahead into 2026
I’m especially excited about our first member webinar of 2026, coming up this Thursday, January 15th, hosted by Gina Fox of Art of Transformation. Gina will guide you through hands-on NeuroSomatic™ Art exercises—including drawing, breathwork, and mindful movement—to show how gratitude can transform your mind, body, and relationships. It’s a wonderful opportunity to release stress, heal trauma, and cultivate resilience… and a perfect example of what you can share during your own AB Member-Hosted Webinar!
At the end of the month, we’re thrilled to host a live Q&A with Joy Taylor for the first time! Joy’s webinars are always inspiring, and in this special session, she’ll be answering your most important business and professional development questions—from clarity and confidence to growth, organization, communication, and everything in between. Don’t miss this chance to get her insights live! Register and submit your questions by January 18th to have them answered on the 30th.
Along with these new webinars, a few familiar quarterly favorites are coming up:
- Community Engagement & Networking events with Joy Taylor, happening each quarter
- Becoming a Better Soul-Centered Practitioner series with Gavin Frye, also quarterly throughout 2026
To learn more about these events and all upcoming sessions in 2026, log in to your AB member account, scroll down to the Member Benefits section, and you’ll find the shortcut to the webinar and member event pages listed under the Charity Poll.
If there’s a program you loved, a software you can’t live without, or a resource you think could help someone else—I’d love to hear about it! Feel free to reach out to me directly at [email protected]. I’m always looking for fresh, practical ideas and resources that support our community—let’s help each other thrive!
Thank you all for welcoming me into this amazing community! Being part of this team has been such a joy, and working alongside each one of you—our wonderful members—makes it even better. I’m so grateful to be here at Alternative Balance and to share this journey with all of you. As we step into 2026, I’m excited for a year full of learning, collaboration, and growth.
Here’s to a year of connection, creativity, and fun—let’s make 2026 our best year yet! 🎆
Alternative Balance supports over 16,000 holistic and wellness professionals with affordable insurance, member collaboration, and business resources and discounts to help your practice grow.
Explore all member benefits here: alternativebalance.com/benefits-services
We’d love to have you join our community!
