Who says pleasure has to be a guilty indulgence? Yasmin certainly doesn’t. With her platform heyyoli, she’s turning self-care into a sensual ritual—no shame, no pressure, just pure body-joy. We caught up with her to talk audio, inclusion, and why “me-time” deserves a whole new meaning.

What inspired heyyoli what was the story behind it?

Pleasure is an essential part of well-being, yet it is often overlooked or treated as a luxury. I created heyyoli to change that. It is a digital platform designed to help people reconnect with their bodies and experience the variety of pleasure without shame - at any age or stage in life. What is missing in most products and conversations, is a mindful and sensual approach to pleasure including the whole body - that is exactly what we offer.

When did you see the need for audio content in the market?

In a world of 8-second attention spans, many of us stay stuck in our heads. Guided-audio offers a hands-free way to reconnect with the body, ideal for busy lives. Unlike typical meditation apps that stop at calming the mind, heyyoli focuses on sensual awareness, embodiment, and daily self-care. These are all essential for physical and emotional health, especially during hormonal transitions like menopause.

You've also gravitated towards inclusive content for men as well. Is that recent? Can you tell us more about it?

Inclusion has been part of our concept from the beginning. The name heyyoli comes from Sanskrit words for yoni and lingam. Our breathwork, massage, and body-based practices are for all genders. Currently, only our intimate touch content is vulva-specific, but we’re expanding more inclusive formats. Pleasure is for everybody and we all deserve to experience the variety of it in our daily life!

Seeing as it's a taboo topic, can you tell us more about what the challenges were working in this industry?

Pleasure is still stigmatized, especially when it is not linked to sex or performance. We’re bridging a unique space between wellness and intimacy. This makes it hard to categorize a product like ours. But that’s also our strength. People crave honest, stigma-free tools for self-connection. heyyoli meets that need and is not just another well-being app, it reframes pleasure as part of everyday life. We’re here to redefine me-time and make pleasure feel empowering, not indulgent. As we like to say in our slogan: it’s my pleasure.

What was the public reception of it? Do you think people understand it?

Very positive. Once people understand that pleasure is a form of self-care, they are in. The challenge is that many do not know where to start or do not feel entitled to prioritize their own needs. heyyoli removes the pressure and gives people an easy way to experience body connection. Once they try it, they feel the difference right away. Ask yourself: How can I make small moments of pleasure a regular part of my day?

What do you want people to understand about sexual health and heyyoli?

Sexual health is not separate from mental or physical health. It includes how you feel in your body, how you handle stress, and how you access joy. Also during menopause, this connection is more important than ever. heyyoli offers simple, guided practices that support sexual wellness and emotional balance without pressure or expectation.

What tips would you give to people prioritizing sexual health within their worklife balance?

Add pleasure to what you already do. Breathe deeply in the shower, apply lotion with care, or take five minutes to move or stretch. You do not need hours. Our 2023 user study showed that stress, lack of time, and low libido are the biggest blockers to pleasure. That is why heyyoli focuses on short, accessible self-care rituals that work.

Why do you think it's important to pay attention to your sexual health in your work-life balance? Can they be correlated?

Because pleasure affects everything. It is linked to better sleep, lower stress, stronger focus, and more energy. When sexual well-being is ignored, people feel disconnected from themselves. When it is supported, everything works better. heyyoli helps people bring that connection into daily life in simple and meaningful ways. That’s why we talk about Work-Life-Pleasure Balance - it’s not a luxury, it’s self-care.