Natalie Peterson, founder of Vim and Zen and a member of the Master of Business Creation program at the University of Utah, inspires the people around her through her guidance to transformation.
Vim and Zen teaches self-regulation as the foundation for everything else in life. Peterson provides educational content through social media that teaches people how to pay attention to themselves — the prerequisite skill that makes therapy, relationship advice, and personal development actually work.
At Vim & Zen, Peterson calls the balance between energy and calm your VZ — your sweet spot. “Some people call this ‘regulated,'” Peterson said. “We call it feeling grounded and energized at the same time: steady AND alive.”
Peterson has lived in Wyoming, Utah, and Idaho, cold-weather states that keep her dreaming of warmer climates and adjusting her thermostat. She’s a life coach, a mom to four boys, and a retired special education teacher — so yes, she knows a thing or two about adding some calm to that energy.
“The first step is what people call ‘awareness’. We just call it paying attention,” Peterson said. “What’s your baseline? Where are you now? Most people have never been taught to simply notice what’s happening internally.”
“You can’t use boundaries, communication skills, or self-care strategies when you’re dysregulated. We teach the foundation that makes all of that possible,” Peterson said.
Looking into the future, Peterson sees her company becoming the resource for anyone who knows what they “should” do but can’t make themselves do it.
Peterson had no business background, which led her to the Master of Business Creation program at the David Eccles School of Business. The program provides one-on-one mentorship, applied curriculum, and access to business grants.
“I love that the MBC gives me hands-on experience and that I am able to get mentorship and help for my business,” she said.
While navigating significant life changes, Peterson became her own first client. Vim & Zen was born out of that journey. “It’s like we’ve been growing up together,” she says, “and we still are.”
Through the Vim & Zen curriculum, clients learn to identify where they are on the regulation spectrum and respond appropriately. Peterson uses a thermostat analogy: “Your VZ works like a thermostat with a baseline you return to. You turn the dial throughout the day—warmer for energy, cooler for rest. The goal isn’t perfect balance; it’s paying attention and adjusting as you go.”
“You’re learning to pay attention to yourself, the foundation for everything else,” she states.
After going through her own journey, Peterson discovered that self-regulation was the missing piece. Vim and Zen is her way of teaching this foundational skill to adults tired of trying solutions that don’t stick.
Learn more now about Vim & Zen at Vim and Zen.
