Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Carla Martini. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Carla, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
When I was younger I didn’t even know I was looking for a purpose. I was unaware and as with most young people I was navigating the challenges and experiences of life. I was never very sporty at school and a bit quirky. I had friends but also felt like an outsider. I had a strong connection with animals and I remember being shocked that people actually ate meat. I never liked it and became vegetarian on my 14th birthday. I discovered ashtanga yoga in my early twenties and this helped to give me discipline and connection with my body and breath. While I loved the practice I was never really able to show the commitment that I saw in others. I would practise religiously every morning for two weeks and then something would happen and I would just stop. It would stop and start for almost twenty years. Nevertheless the practice stayed with me and was an anchor for me during many times in need. I knew that whatever happened I could go back to my mat and after practice I would feel better. When I was 27 I also discovered vipassana meditation. My first 10 day retreat (meditating for 10 hours a day and no talking) was gruelling to start with, as with all transformation and healing, but I felt amazing afterwards and pleased that I had fulfilled a personal challenge. That mediation technique has stayed with me ever since and has been a constant part of my wellbeing toolkit.
Yet with all this yoga and meditation I still struggled to maintain a consistent practice. I felt between two aspects of myself. The part of me that was pulled to spirituality and the part of me that liked to party with my friends, take ecstasy and smoke weed. Raving was a big part of growing up in the 90s and early 00s. I used to love dancing all night in clubs. I loved the feeling of togetherness of everyone on the same vibe, the same rhythm. While the feeling at the time was amazing it took me a long time to realise that rave culture could only take you so far. While it was fun it didn’t fulfil me completely.
When I was 35 I was blessed with a pregnancy. I found it easy to give up drugs and embraced my pregnancy. I saw it as a gift and I treasured every moment. I meditated a lot more and endeavoured to connect with my baby and do my best to give him the very best start in life. While my son was so small my purpose became nothing but him. Completely consumed in the purpose of caring for him. I even surprised myself by breastfeeding him for over two years.
I wanted to finally fulfil a dream of teaching yoga and I finally trained as an Ashtanga and Yin Yoga Teacher. Strangely while my initial ambition was to teach ashtanga it was yin yoga that I developed an affinity with and started teaching regularly.
When my son was 4 years old his father and I split up and my life changed dramatically. I became a single mother while working full time and it hit me hard. My uncle who I was very close to also died and my partner started seeing my friend. That was a gruelling period. Lots of stuff happened in a short space of time. I lost a lot of weight and I constantly tormented myself over things I had done to cause the break up combined with grief for people I had lost. I was on a downward spiral and I barely kept it together. I would cry every day and my internal monologue was like a broken record.
One day I looked in the mirror and I barely recognised the person staring back at me. My face was gaunt and I was painfully thin. I knew that I couldn’t go on like this and I needed to take action.
That’s when I started researching neuroplasticity and came across Jason Stevenson’s youtube videos. I would listen to them at night and I allowed his words of positivity seep into my psyche. Then I found a book by Kamini Desai called ‘Yoga Nidra; The Art of Transformational Sleep. I had never heard of Yoga Nidra before but the practice was just what I needed. After reading the book I researched more about Kamini and took online courses with her to become a Yoga Nidra Facilitator. I would also listen to a Yoga Nidra every day, sometimes twice a day. It became a place I could go where I could leave all my worries and receive healing.
I found that the more I practised the better I felt. I loved Yoga Nidra because it was easy. I didn’t have to sit in meditation for an hour. I could just lie down and listen and breathe and the hardest thing was not to fall asleep! In Yoga Nidra there is also the concept of Sankalpa, setting an intention. This was the first time I understood that so far in my life I had been allowing karmic tendencies of the past to influence decisions I made in the future. I realised that I could reprogram my internal software to create a reality that I wanted to manifest. I could plant a seed of intention in the fertile soil of my subconscious and be the person I was destined to be. The most wonderful aspect of Yoga Nidra is that there are no expectations that you need to choose your purpose. It’s more about developing faith and trust in a power higher than yourself. I realised that when I was in the super conscious state the prana that animates my body was able to heal and guide me. As soon as the fluctuations of my mind stopped trying to control everything and I let go that i could receive.
For a few years I practised Yoga Nidra and my life started to transform. I felt so much happier and more balanced. I fell in love and for the first time in my life I felt secure and balanced in the relationship. I gave unconditionally.
I was working long hours at my job and because I had been there so long I got used to the income and the expectations. I wanted to dedicate more time to teaching yoga however the day job didn’t allow for it. As I now realise the universe will make things happen to push you towards your purpose and a new situation at work encouraged me to hand in my resignation. It was like a break up! I had been there for 12 years and it hurt. But the resilience I had developed through Yoga Nidra helped me bounce back and I took some time out to dedicate to me! I would spend my days practising yoga and studying yoga and listening to youtube videos of Kamini’s father Amrit Desai. I would listen to his online Yoga Nidras daily and I also discovered kirtan and chanting. It was at this point that I started to really feel the presence of a higher power surrounding me and my faith became stronger and stronger. I would dance around my flat listening to Krishna Dass and suddenly started feeling shivers of energy going up my legs and my body. Like nothing I had ever experienced before. I would also get a lot of neck shivers. I never gave it too much thought though.
Then on the 15th May 2022 everything changed. I had let go of my old life, my old friends, my work and I had given myself over to a higher power. I had just taken an online course by Paul Grilley about Chakra Meditation and then I lay down on my bed and started practising the meditations. I dropped into such stillness and a state of surrender and then it happened. All of a sudden I saw a vision of a snake unravelling from the base of my spine and an energy powered through me with such vigour that I’m certain it lifted me up from my bed. At no point did I feel scared. I could feel this energy tapping inside the top of my skull. Somehow I knew I had to release it and like a switch it burst through the top of my head and I then had an outer body experience. I was transported into a completely different place. So much happened during this time. I saw visions and then my consciousness went into a noiseless dimension. An infinite galaxy where I could see an egg-shaped milky way of stars. I could also see a body in 3d form with chakras – different colours. I’m not sure how long I stayed there for but I was fearless and didn’t even think about my physical body or earthly matters. Suddenly I could feel a bliss like I have never experienced before. It was the most bewildering and magical feeling I have ever experienced. I knew at that point that the whole universe was pure love. Nothing else mattered but love and that we were all creations of this love. Eventually I returned to my body. It felt a little cold and stiff but my heart still pounded with this sereneness while bursting with bliss. I just lay there for a while trying to comprehend what had just happened.
Things didn’t go back to the way they were. I had changed. I could feel a powerful energy literally pouring out of my hands and feet and even my eyes. I could feel energy whirling at the chakra points in my body. I could also feel something above the top of my head almost guiding me. My body would start to move involuntarily and I was sucked into a constant meditation.
I craved the guidance of a teacher as sometimes the energy powered through me so strongly that I spent days in bed. I could literally feel the energy rewiring my brain, releasing energy blockages and opening up the energetic pathways in my head.
While this was mind blowing for me but I also had faith and trust that everything was happening as it should be. I was extremely fortunate to have my boyfriend living with me to help support me and care for me during this time.
I developed a thirst for understanding of what had happened and I consumed as much information as I could via books and online and subsequently started to understand what had happened. I found a teacher online called Raja Choudhury who was describing his Kundalini Awakening and his experience sounded very similar to mine. I had found someone who could give me some answers and I have continued to learn from Raja ever since. He shares so much ancient wisdom while also encouraging you to be your own guru and tap into that innate intelligence within us.
It’s been almost 3 years since the Kundalini Awakening. While the energy is not as strong as it was, my sense of purpose has never been greater. I understand now that I saw the hiranyagarbha – the womb of the divine mother and I felt her power and her love. My sense of faith has never waivered and I continue to practise yoga nidra and meditation to quiet the mind and tap into her healing vibrations.
Now I know empirically that the only reason we are in these human bodies is to remember what we truly are. All droplets from the same ocean of bliss consciousness. All connected. All Love. My purpose is to help others remember, to heal and to awaken to their true selves.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My work life is much more balanced. I still work part time in marketing however I now teach more yoga and have expanded my sessions to incorporate tantric practices such as mantras, chakra meditations, mudra and kriya pranayama (breathing techniques) to help guide people on ways to connect with the divine mother and receive healing.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I have learned that we are much more powerful than we have been led to believe. I feel what I offer is a more integrated and complete experience of yoga. So much more than being able to bend into different poses. It’s a gateway to transformation. As I continue to teach I am looking to reach more people by recording more online sessions. So watch this space!
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these? Be forgiving – don’t judge yourself. Accept that everything that has happened to you so far has brought you to this present moment. You need to be able to let go of guilt and shame as they will stop you moving forward.
Surrender – There is a power much higher than the physical You. Whatever you want to call it, whether it’s God, the Universe, the Divine Mother, Your Higher Self – the name is irrelevant. It’s the faith that is most important. Have trust that you are loved.
Raise Your Vibrations – Override the internal dialogue that is powered by the subconscious through the use of mantra. You can learn some simple mantras and chant them either out loud or in your head as often as you can. Not only will they stop the negative thought patterns they will also help awaken energies within you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.carla-yoga.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlamartiniyoga
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carlamartiniyoga
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carla-martini-1780231a/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2fy0bBWNcBQkLOtqCw2D5A
Image Credits
Yoga Nidra photo with eyebag – Danny Evans Yoga in the garden – Sue Haynes
